Take a few seconds for yourself and enjoy this gentle giant swimming in the Galapagos.
Did you know whale sharks are the biggest fish in the ocean and can reach lengths of 40 feet (12 meters) or more?
#OceanSchool
โYou notice as soon as you see them that they are an evolutionarily distinct species.โ said wildlife photographer
@PaulNicklen
Images of Canada's coastal wolves help promote ocean conservation efforts
Seemingly suspended within the depths of the ocean, a pod of sperm whales peacefully rests. The blue hue of the water blankets them as they take their pleasant slumber, lying perfectly still holding their breath.
Video by
@paulnicklen
#wildlife
#ocean
Our storytellers have been in the water with many different
#shark
species while on expedition โ and every single dive is a lesson in how extraordinary and inquisitive these apex predators are.
RT if you love & respect sharks ๐ฆ
#Bullshark
#Bahamas
#WorthMoreAlive
#Sharks
are
#WorthMoreAlive
!
Did you know a single live Caribbean reef shark in
#TheBahamas
is estimated to be worth $250,000 over its lifetime for tourism versus a one-time value of $50-60 when fished?!
RT if you โค๏ธ ๐ฆs!
๐ "I'm not sure that there is a stronger bond than the one that exists between a mother whale and her calf. For a humpback
#whale
, it is 24/7
#love
, care, nursing, & protecting. The mom is there, constantly making sure her calf is safe & happy,"
@PaulNicklen
#WhaleWednesday
"Critically-endangered oceanic white tip
#sharks
, dancing in the shallows right in front of me. I can never bottle the emotion of it. I canโt capture that part & I can never make you feel it the way that I feel it. Itโs like drinking from a firehose,"
@andymannphoto
#TheBahamas
Yesterday, we uncovered the hydrodynamics associated with the
#hammerhead
โs skull shape. But one day wasnโt enough to unpack all the mysteries of this ecological outlier, so they're back for todayโs Species Spotlight Sunday on Instagram:
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
๐๐๐โHow inappropriate to call this planet 'Earth,' when it is clearly 'Ocean.'โโ Arthur C. Clarke
Video of hammerhead shark in Galรกpagos by:
@shawnheinrichs
๐จHammerhead
#sharks
have one of the most memorable faces in the whole
#ocean
โ but did you know this isn't just for show?
Their unique head-shape awards them hunting advantages, giving them increased agility, panoramic vision, and improved sensory capabilities.
#oceanschool
Unfortunately, despite providing ecosystem and economic services for the area, there are currently no legal protections for sperm whales in
#Dominica
. This is why it's important for people to understand the value of
#whales
and advocate for their protection. RT if you agree!
We call it โour ocean.โ Ours to share with every person, every plant, and every animal below the surface and above. So, with gratefulness and hope, we celebrate
#WorldOceansDay
. Join us and sign up for the Tide: .
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
#whale
#ocean
#fluke
#Biodiversity
is the reason that there are animals as large as blue whales, as small as krill, and as colorful as these sea anemones & sea stars.
Visit >> to learn how protecting 30% of the
#ocean
by 2030 would boost biodiversity
#30x30
#campaignfornature
1.3M signatures are on their way to the Faroese Prime Minister to encourage the Faroe Islands to end the cruel dolphin hunts. Your voice is making a difference! Remain strong and continue to put pressure on the government to make a change!
#StopTheHunt
Gliding through an endless journey through the sea, the spotted eagle ray rides along the currents with ease. They soar along the open coast their entire lives, leaving whomever crosses their path in a wondrous awe.
๐ธ
@paulnicklen
#nature
#explore
#video
Incredible news for our high seas! After decades of grueling negotiations, the
@UN
reached a consensus on March 4th, setting in motion plans to establish and effectively manage our global ocean commons for the first time in history.
Video by
@PaulNicklen
#ocean
#30x30
Over the past hundreds of millions of years, plankton and photosynthetic aquatic plants took carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turned it into oxygen. Helping purify the air, our ocean acts as the lungs of our planet!
Video by
@paulnicklen
#turtle
#ocean
#conservation
Whale sharks help balance plankton populations and spread nutrients throughout their yearly migrations. We can protect this endangered species from fishing, bycatch, and ship strikes by creating marine protected areas.
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
#sharkweek
#whaleshark
#sharks
Despite their profound impact on our ocean, shark populations are dwindling from overfishing and habitat loss. As we seek holistic solutions that aim to strengthen our oceanโs health, prioritizing sharks becomes paramount.
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
#sharkweek
#shark
#ocean
"There are some breath-hold dives where the experience is so mesmerizing I completely forget about the burning sensation in my lungs.
This was one of those occasions."
-
@PaulNicklen
Yesterday, we honored the life and legacy of Maโah, the matriarchal spirit bear of Great Bear Rainforest. Continuing the celebration, today on our Instagram, we shine a light on her special kind for Species Spotlight Sunday!
Video by
@PaulNicklen
Sharksโ skin sports an arrangement of v-shaped scales, called denticles, which help increase hydrodynamics and provide a hard exterior. Unlike the traditional shape of fish scales, denticles share an uncanny resemblance to the teeth.
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
#shark
#sharkweek
We use wildlife photography and filmmaking as a tool to educate the public and drive conservation actions, but getting THE shot is rarely an easy task.
It took years of planning and some major mishaps for
@PaulNicklen
to capture 'A Gathering of Unicorns'!
Take action and help end the shark fin trade in the European Union. This is our reality, our future. How can we continue this injustice? It's now that we need to make a change. It's today that we must take action.
Photo by
@shawnheinrichs
#stopfinningeu
Leopard seals are vital to maintaining balance within Antarctica's vast underwater territories and ecosystems. It is crucial we protect their populations along with the breathtaking amount of wildlife found within the ice continent and its surrounding seas.
Video by
@paulnicklen
Chilean Patagonia's waters house the largest continuous kelp forest in the world. Protections must be implemented to help maintain its ability to perform essential ecological processes and house diverse life.
Video by
@andymannphoto
and Sam Kretchmar
#octopus
#patagonia
#ocean
Around the world, humans kill more than 11,000
#sharks
every single hour.
#CostaRica
hasย essentially legalizedย overfishing of sharks - they are a major exporter of
#sharkfins
. Add your voice to the
#petition
to demand better for sharks!
Happy World Seagrass Day! These beds support a vast array of biodiversity. Sea turtles, manatees, and other grazing animals forage on the dense beds, while predators like stingrays prey upon the tiny creatures that hide beneath the grass.
๐ธ by
@cmittermeier
#seagrass
#nature
Hammerheads are one the few types of
#sharks
that congregate in giant schools. Studies suggest it could be a form of defense, but the exact reason why they love to be together isnโt fully understood. Itโs just one of the beautiful mysteries of life in our ocean!
@shawnheinrichs
Meet an ocean hero that is keeping hope alive in his blue country by sharing the beauty of the fascinating creatures that live beneath the surface and promoting the endless benefits of exploring a blue economy together at: .
@AndreMusgrove
๐ธ
@paulnicklen
95 endangered fin whales have been killed. 11 were pregnant & 1 was a blue-fin hybrid. Over 100 more will die in coming weeks. How can we stand by and watch? Click here and sign to
#StopTheHunt
:
#StopIcelandWhaling
Gently gliding through their underwater kingdom, the spotted eagle rayโs graceful presence reminds us of how lucky we are to share this planet with other living beings of such magnificence.ย
Video by
@paulnicklen
#ocean
#conservation
#nature
#photography
For
#WorldSeaTurtleDay
, we celebrate the remarkable reptile that greets humanity at the starting line of their environmental awareness journey and encourages them to charge into advocacy. Help us protect them. Sign up for the Tide: .
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
Whale sharks explore the ocean, bringing balance and beauty to the warm waters lucky enough to meet their acquaintance. Help us stand up for their protection by joining our Tide community. Visit the link to sign up: .
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
#whaleshark
#ocean
The hammerhead sharkโs scull may seem like just a cumbersome feature. But what may appear bizarre to some is actually vital to their ecosystem niche. Join the Tide to help us advocate for increased ocean protections: .
๐ธ by
@andymannphoto
#shark
#ocean
Only 8% of our ocean is currently under some degree of protection, but only 3% is fully protected. Share this post and ask our world leaders at
@UN
's
#COP15
to agree on an action plan to protect nature and our future โ while ensuring no one is left behind.
Video by
@paulnicklen
Words and images by
@cmittermeier
on
#WorldStorytellingDay
: โStories have the power to galvanize the people, topple empires, and unite us all under the banner of one cause. This is why I chose storytelling as a medium for giving our ocean a voice.โ
#ocean
#conservation
#Orcas
have language, culture, and value their family above everything else, not unlike human beings. The more we learn about the secret lives of these spectacular animals, the more we seem to have in common.
๐ฝ๏ธ
@PaulNicklen
#OceanSchool
#TurningTheTide
#OnlyOneOcean
Weโre still fighting on! Do not miss the opportunity to come forward, add your name, and move us forward in ending the shark fin trade and help reverse the decline of shark populations: .
Video by
@shawnheinrichs
@StopFinningEU
#stopfinningeu
#FinBanNow
Panamaโs
@CITES
proposal seeks the listing in Appendix II of the whole requiem shark family. If adopted, it would help regulate the majority of the shark fin trade for the first time. Letโs support this proposal and letโs give sharks a chance!
Video by
@paulnicklen
#CITESCoP19
"Antarctica feeds my soul, senses, and camera more than any other place on Earth. It is all about the wildlife, the encounters, and the experiences. In 2006, a huge female leopard seal took me under her care for four days and constantly tried to feed me penguins."
@PaulNicklen
Next week, we join forces with
@UNbiodiversity
, as we take over their Instagram page and share our unique approach to our shared objective with their audiences. Join us for a look at SeaLegacyโs methods and areas of activationโ starting tomorrow!
Photos by
@cmittermeier
#shark
The time is now! Today is the FINAL DAY to sign the petition to stop the shark fin trade in Europe. Each name added encourages the EU to make a concrete legislative amendment and save our sharks: .
@StopFinningEU
Video by
@shawnheinrichs
#stopfinningeu
Happy
#InternationalWhaleSharkDay
! These stunning, slow-moving giants remind us how peaceful our natural world can be. A whale sharkโs tranquil presence seems to slow down time and lure us into a state of aweโ hanging onto the most gradual movements.
๐ฅ by
@sheltondupreez
Great hammerhead sharks are invaluable assets to the economy in The
#Bahamas
, one of the best places in the world to encounter these amazing prehistoric fish.
Did you know that
#shark
#ecotourism
there brings in more than $100 million USD every year?
Photo by
@mitty
Beneath the waves of Baja California Sur lives an enamoring variety of species.
@BetaDiversidad
proposes encircling the region in an enormous biosphere reserve called Dos Mares to protect Baja's biodiverse aquatic life.
Learn more:
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
Over time, orca family units, or pods, formulated varying sects of orca culture. Pods even have distinct dialects from one anotherโ demonstrating a type of accent from group to group.
Video by
@paulnicklen
#ocean
#orca
#nature
#conservation
"A curtain of molten gold draped across the sky as we bobbed along the light chop of Norwayโs coastal waters. With a powerful puff of salt spray, I watched this massive bull rise to the surface, his towering dorsal slicing the waves."
Photo and words by
@cmittermeier
This week, Argentina and Chile accumulate support for a protected area shielding the Antarctica Peninsula, and especially its krillโ a keystone species that feeds Antarctic ecosystems and beyond. Explore the region: .
๐ฅ by
@andymannphoto
and
@paulnicklen
I wonโt lie, when we first saw the orcas moving at speed towards us I began to get just a bit nervous. They examined me closely. I could literally feel the echolocation in my bones. Were they considering me as prey or just some weird sea monkey with a camera? Photo
@ABC4EXPLORE
#Japan
is leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume full scale commercial
#whaling
in 2019. This is madness - a barbaric move that could set species recovery back decades. Itโs time for all of us to speak up and stop
#cetacean
hunting for good.
#SaveOurWhales
Happy International Polar Bear Day! As our team gears up for
@OurOceanPanama
, we hope to expand protections for key marine ecosystems that decarbonize the atmosphere and help all our ocean's wildlife thrive, including polar bears. Stay tuned for more!
๐ฅ by
@PaulNicklen
"I remember the moment 15 years ago when I first descended beneath the
#ocean
surface in
#WestPapua
. It was beyond anything I had ever seen. Underwater, there was an unfathomable diversity and abundance of life pouring forth from every crevice,โ
@shawnheinrichs
โจ
#onlyoneocean
Ocas rely on their mothers to pass down dialects, hunting techniques, and other skills. The femalesโ knowledge and guidance ensure the podโs success.
Photos by
@paulnicklen
#ocean
#nature
#orca
How do we halt habitat loss, protect biodiversity, and recuperate biomass with a single action? By implementing marine protected areas (MPAs), officials limit human interference and allow ecosystems the room they need to recover.
๐ธ by
@cmittemeier
#ocean
#nature
#conservation
In a peaceful Mexico morning, a large, docile whale shark swims toward the surface of crystal clear waters to feed. A globally endangered species, these gentle creatures play an important role in balancing - and bringing both serenity and beauty to the ecosystem.
Today is
#WorldSeaTurtleDay
! Sea turtles have been swimming in our oceans since the time of dinosaurs. They travel 1000's of kilometers of open ocean, migrating between foraging and nesting grounds. Amazingly, all female sea turtles return to nest on the beaches they hatched on.
We are alarmed by the actions of
@FAO
at
#CITESCOP19
. A
@UN
agency shouldn't lobby in favor of industrial fishing interests and misuse funds on materials that oppose proper management of marine biodiversity. We join our partners and urge the
@UN
to audit FAO's actions
@CITES
.
#Climate
conversations took center stage as our
#ocean
reached record-breaking temperatures, and now more than ever, people are stepping up to protect our planet. Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with our climate action: .
๐ฅ by
@paulnicklen
A major win for whales this morning at the International Whaling Commission meetings! Japanโs proposal to return to commercial whaling was rejected and the results were clear with a 41 to 27 vote. Letโs continue to stand up for the worldโs largest mammals and keep
#TurningTheTide
Today, the Dominican Republic becomes the first Caribbean country to reach the 30x30 goal with their announcement of an expansion to the Marine Mammal Sanctuary of Silver and Navidad Banks and the creation of the Marine Sanctuary Orlando Jorge Mera!
#ocean
#protection
Happy
#SharkAwarenessDay
!
โIf youโre in tune to the natural world, itโs pretty clear that
#sharks
have certain behaviors that are undeniably charismatic. Itโs powerful when they look at you โ I feel like thereโs a rudimentary understanding" - Andy Mann
๐ธ by
@andymannphoto
As we work to extend protections for our ocean, we help the ecological processes beneath the waves operate at their fullest potentialโ mitigating the effects of climate change naturally.
Photos by
@cmittermeier
#seal
#polarbear
#ocean
#conservation
Last week
@Panama
achieved a major milestone in
#oceanconservation
. They announced the Cordillera de
#Coiba
marine protected area (MPA) will be tripled in size, with many thousands of square miles of irreplaceable ocean life being safeguarded as a result.
Did you know that orcas are actually a type of dolphin? On this
#NationalDolphinDay
, we knew the friendly and curious bottlenose dolphin would get their flowers. But we had to ensure that the easily-miscategorized orca got their moment to shine too!
๐ธ by
@paulnicklen
We're still waiting for the results from the dolphin hunt review by the Faroese government! "It was never our tradition to hunt dolphins. Why begin now?," shared Rannvรก Torfrรญรฐ Jรธrmundsson. Keep signing and continue sharing!
@Avaaz
@whalesorg
#StopTheHunt
Have you met the underwater hero that swims across the open sea and interacts with its creatures? Dive into our latest episode to meet the freediver that is actively changing the narrative for sharks and his blue country: .
๐ธ
@paulnicklen
#TheBahamas
Dipping below the surface into the inky dark water might seem intimidating, but night
#diving
opens the door to a whole new world. As the
#reef
transitions into darkness, many nocturnal
#ocean
animals that hide or rest during the day become more active.
#Bahamas
#OnlyOneOcean
Below the waterโs reflection of
#Patagonia
โs signature chiseled peaks lies a treasure trove of biodiversity in the regionโs kelp forests. This week, we explore what lies hidden within these abundant Chilean waters.
๐ฅ by
@andymannphoto
& Sam Kretchmar
@missionblue
#kelpforest
Panama just announced the expansion of the Banco Volcรกn protected area. With this action, they protect more than 50% of their total marine area. Weโre thrilled to partner with this ambitious
#BlueLeader
in the protection of our ocean.
@BluNatAlliance
@ConservationOrg
#ocean
Restoring our ocean's health requires a comprehensive and intricate approach. We use the scientifically engineered Rebuilding Marine Life Roadmap to guide our action and light the way to a biodiverse future for our ocean.
Video by
@paulnicklen
@andymannphoto
@cmittermeier
The ecosystem landscape in the absence of the humpback
#whale
would be like attempting to paint a lake scene without the color blue. Vital and irreplaceable, whales fertilize our
#ocean
and ensure its survival. Learn more: .
Video by
@paulnicklen
Sea turtles lie in the middle of the food chain, being both predator and prey. They excel in keeping jellyfish populations in check and stabilizing fish populations, while also being one the oceans' many fish taxis, providing refuge for aquatic hitchhikers. Video by
@paulnicklen