Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary photos

1 2 -3- 4 5
Male humpback whale emits an underwater stream of bubbles as it dives quickly during competitive group activities, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whales turning sharply in competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Male North Pacific humpback whale streams a trail of bubbles. The primary male escort whale (center) creates a curtain of bubbles underwater as it swims behind a female (right), with other challenging males trailing behind in a competitive group. The bubbles may be a form of intimidation from the primary escort towards the challenging escorts, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale underwater, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale underwater, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale underwater, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whales, competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale holding fluke (tail) aloft out of the water, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale with one of its long pectoral fins raised aloft out of the water, swimming on its side (laterally) as it does so, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale, adult male with bloody head nodules wounded from colliding with other escorts during competitive interactions, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Male humpback whale with head raised out of the water, braking and pushing back at another whale by using pectoral fins spread in a "crucifix block", during surface active social behaviours, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Green sea turtle, Maui Hawaii, Chelonia mydas
Blade Runner, the injured North Pacific humpback whale, is seen with her calf swimming alongside. This humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from a boat propeller, on dorsal ridge. This female North Pacific humpback whale was first seen with the depicted lacerations near the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-90s, and is the original humpback to bear the name 'Blade Runner'. This female has apparently recovered, as evidenced by her calf in the background. A South Pacific humpback whale endured a similar injury in Sydney Australia in 2001, and bears a remarkably similar scar pattern to the above-pictured whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas, West Maui, Hawaii, Chelonia mydas
Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas, West Maui, Hawaii, Chelonia mydas
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male humpback whale singing, suspended motionless underwater. Only male humpbacks have been observed singing. All humpbacks in the North Pacific sing the same whale song each year, and the song changes slightly from one year to the next, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Male humpback whale diving amid competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Male humpback whale slowing/maneuving amid competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale competitive group, several adult male escort whales swimming closely together as part of a larger competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale, competitive group with bubble streaming, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a mother and calf (barely seen in the distance), Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale underwater, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Primary escort male humpback whale bubble streaming during competitive group socializing. This primary escort is swimming behind a female. The bubble curtain may be a form of intimidation towards other male escorts that are interested in the female, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
1 2 -3- 4 5
All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.