A pod of sperm whales have been captured on film swimming through the deep blue waters near the Caribbean, accompanied by a freediver who looks minuscule compared to their huge bulk.
Holding her breath for up to two and a half minutes at a time, Sabrina Belloni swam alongside the giant mammals as they guided their young through the water while hunting for food.
Despite the whales dwarfing Miss Belloni – with bodies almost as long as a bus – and despite being a tight-knit family, the creatures seemed more than happy to welcome her to their group.
Majestic: Freediver Sabrina Belloni, 49 (left), spent ten days swimming with a pod of seven sperm whales in the waters off the Caribbean and was dwarfed by the massive mammals which can grow to be 60ft long
Majestic: Freediver Sabrina Belloni, 49 (left), spent ten days swimming with a pod of seven sperm whales in the waters off the Caribbean and was dwarfed by the massive mammals which can grow to be 60ft long
Graceful: Miss Belloni was followed on her adventure by specialist underwater photographer Franco Banfi, who captured her paddling alongside the gigantic creatures
Graceful: Miss Belloni was followed on her adventure by specialist underwater photographer Franco Banfi, who captured her paddling alongside the gigantic creatures Skilled: Laws in the Caribbean mean oxygen tanks cannot be used while swimming close to the whales, so Miss Belloni held her breath for up to two and a half minutes in order to get within 3ft of them
Skilled: Laws in the Caribbean mean oxygen tanks cannot be used while swimming close to the whales, so Miss Belloni held her breath for up to two and a half minutes in order to get within 3ft of them
The pod of seven whales was captured swimming with Miss Belloni, 49, by photographer Franco Banfi, who specialises in underwater wildlife and spent 10 days with the animals.
Freediving is a form of underwater diving where divers do not rely on oxygen tanks – instead they must hold their breath until they resurface.
Mr Banfi, 56, of Cadro, Switzerland, said: ‘It’s really an amazing experience to be so close to huge animals that can weigh 30-40 tonnes and look at them in the eye and understand that it is looking at you.
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