The largest-brained animal that ever lived. Pods of females and calves rest at the surface between 1km-deep squid hunts.
Sperm whales have the largest brain of any animal in Earth's history, 8 kg in adult males. They dive to depths beyond 2,000 metres to hunt giant squid, holding their breath for 90 minutes at a stretch, and surface only briefly to recover before diving again.
Sri Lanka's Trincomalee coast is one of the world's best sperm whale destinations, with pods of 10–30 females and calves resting at the surface between hunts, Mar–Sep. Dedicated whale-watching boats are the encounter setting; in-water swims with regulated operators (snorkel, never scuba) are possible.
Their click-trains echolocate at over 230 decibels, the loudest sound made by any animal on Earth, and can stun prey or be heard underwater from kilometres away. Hover quietly at the surface and you can hear the clicks vibrate through your chest.
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1 destination across Indian Ocean, peak seasons vary by location, so plan your trip around the right destination AND the right month.
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