There’s nothing quite like hearing the song of a humpback whale.
The sound reverberates through your body as you realize such a powerful vibration can be created by another living being. It feels otherworldly — a moment suspended in the vast blue where you’re simultaneously reminded of your smallness and your undeniable connection to the universe. The rest of the world fades away, leaving just you and the whale in a moment that feels both infinite and fleeting.
Our cofounder Paul Nicklen captured this humpback’s song in the Dominican Republic’s Silver Bank a few years ago. He and Cristina Mittermeier spent days filming and photographing humpbacks in this critical breeding and calving zone, working to ensure its protection. In 2024, we celebrated the Dominican Republic’s monumental decision to protect 30% of their oceans, including Silver Bank.
We’re still rejoicing with the knowledge that the whales are safe to sing their songs here for generations to come.
Video by Paul Nicklen
Up Next in Season 1
-
The Voice of the Sea
Zandi The Mermaid dives and enjoys the beauty of the ocean. While out filming one day, she sees something unusual. Is it a stingray, is it turtle…? Only to discover that it’s a plastic bag, deep and close to the ocean floor. Presented by Polo Purpose, watch as Zandi’s experience leads her on to a...
-
Oceans Initiative
On the misty shores of the Pacific Northwest, SeaLegacy founders Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier follow Oceans Initiative as they work to save a critically endangered population of orcas. Their research uncovers the threats these whales face and the solutions that could give them a fighting...
