How big do sperm whales get?

Mature males average about 16 metres in length, with the head making up as much as one-third of the body.

How deep can sperm whales dive?

Sperm whales have been recorded diving to about 2,250 metres, making them among the deepest-diving mammals.

What is their social structure?

Females and young males form social groups and cooperate in caring for young; mature males are mostly solitary outside the breeding season.

How long do they live?

Sperm whales can live 70 years or more.

Are sperm whales threatened?

The species was a major target of historic whaling for spermaceti; it is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and protected by the International Whaling Commission moratorium.

Do sperm whales produce ambergris?

Ambergris, a waxy substance sometimes present in their digestive system, can be produced and has been valued for use in perfumes.

Do sperm whales have predators?

Healthy mature sperm whales have no natural predators, but calves and weakened adults are sometimes killed by pods of orcas.

What unique anatomical features do they have?

Their heads contain a waxy substance called spermaceti; they also have the largest brain of any animal.

Where to See Sperm Whale While Diving

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale superfamily Physeteroidea, alongside the pygmy and dwarf sperm whales (genus Kogia). Sperm whales are pelagic with a worldwide range and migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding. Females and young males live in groups and cooperate to protect and nurse young, while mature males are largely solitary outside the mating season. Females give birth every four to twenty years and care for calves for more than a decade. Mature males average about 16 metres in length, with the head representing up to one-third of total length. Sperm whales are capable of very deep dives (documented to about 2,250 metres) and use echolocation and powerful vocalizations (reported source levels up to 236 dB re 1 μPa m). Their heads contain spermaceti, and ambergris is sometimes produced in their digestive system. Lifespan can exceed 70 years. The species was heavily targeted by historic whaling for spermaceti and ambergris; it is currently protected by the International Whaling Commission moratorium and listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and protected under the International Whaling Commission moratorium; historically heavily impacted by commercial whaling for spermaceti and ambergris.

Pelagic with a worldwide distribution; individuals migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding. Females and young males form groups while mature males are largely solitary outside the mating season.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Cape Town, Khao Lak (Similan and Surin Islands) and countries such as Greece, South Africa, Thailand for divers building trips around sperm whales.