Vietnamese divers swim alongside sperm whales in Mauritius

The images were shot by Hanoi-based amateur photographer Nguyen Van Vang, who brought a VND250-million (US$9,616) underwater camera set-up to document the close encounters between the divers and the massive marine mammals.

Against the open blue water, the divers appear almost tiny beside the whales, creating dramatic images of humans sharing the ocean with one of its largest inhabitants.

A close encounter with ocean giants

Vang began freediving in 2024 and has earned an SSI Level 2 certification, allowing him to dive to depths of around 20-30 meters.

In 2026, he traveled with family and friends to several well-known diving destinations, including Panglao in the Philippines, Komodo in Indonesia, Koh Tao in Thailand, and Mauritius.

“Mauritius is not only known for its beautiful blue waters, but it is also a dream destination for many diving enthusiasts because of the chance to encounter and swim alongside giant sperm whales,” Vang said.

The group consisted of 10 Vietnamese travelers, nine of them women. On land, they observed and photographed large animals such as lions and leopards, while at sea they encountered giant sea turtles, pods of bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales.

Hoang Ngoc Quynh, a swimming coach from Hanoi, described the sperm whale encounter as unforgettable.

“Swimming alongside these wild giants and hearing their clicking sounds resonating through our chests was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had,” she said.

According to the group, diving with sperm whales is manageable for experienced freedivers, but requires good physical fitness, confidence in deep water, and an understanding of how to approach the animals without disturbing them.

Capturing the moment underwater

To capture striking underwater images, Vang said he has been studying and practicing photography regularly since 2010.

Over the past two years, he decided to invest more seriously in the craft with the support of his wife, Tran Le Thuy, who also enjoys photography.

“My original intention was simply to take photos for fun and preserve memories with my family. Later, many friends saw the photos and were impressed by the beautiful moments I was lucky enough to capture, which encouraged me to keep going,” he said.

Underwater photography requires specialized equipment, including an aluminum waterproof housing for the camera, which alone costs nearly VND100 million ($3,850).

“The first thing is to become a competent diver,” he said. 

“You need to control your breathing and buoyancy, and handle unexpected situations underwater.

“Besides basic photography skills, you need a camera with fast autofocus, a suitable lens, usually a 12-24mm wide-angle lens, and a good understanding of how to use the underwater housing.

“Over time, you also learn how to work with underwater light, colors, and currents. But safety must always come before getting the perfect shot.”

When photographing other divers, Vang prefers natural moments because it is difficult to communicate underwater and the subjects often do not know exactly when a photo is being taken.

“I choose the angle, dive down, and follow the divers until they move into the frame I want,” he said.

“A good underwater photo often uses the diver as a focal point beside a fish or a school of fish, creating a strong contrast between the huge marine animals and the much smaller human figure.”

Because underwater photography is so spontaneous, the photographer and models usually agree on poses before entering the water.

“Sometimes a model accidentally swims out of the frame, and I have to chase after them until I am exhausted just to get the right angle, because there is no way to call out to each other underwater,” Vang said.

For Poko Pham, an office worker from Hanoi who joined the Mauritius trip, the experience was deeply emotional.

“Coming face to face with such enormous sperm whales in the middle of the ocean made me realize how small our everyday worries are compared with nature,” she said.

Vang and his group are already planning more trips in 2027, including dives in the Maldives to see tiger sharks, in Moorea in French Polynesia to encounter humpback whales, and another return to Mauritius.

Experienced divers in the group stressed that swimming with large marine animals is never completely risk-free.

Divers should be strong swimmers, know how to use fins efficiently, conserve energy, and strictly follow instructions from boat crews and safety personnel.

Careful preparation and proper procedures, they said, are essential to keeping risks to a minimum.