By Natasha Fujimoto
THERE are those who adventure from the safety of books, and then there are those who step beyond their comfort zone to experience the wild — curious, brave and determined to encounter up close that which intrigues and awe inspires them most. For ardent naturalist and conservationist Wendy D’Armore, it is the latter spirit of adventure that has taken her across the globe, swimming alongside and coming remarkably close to multiple species of whales.
Having long been fascinated by the sea and its creatures, Wendy’s love of nature and deep appreciation for its inhabitants stems not only from her qualifications in zoology and botany, but also from a rich and full career working hands-on in the field as a conservationist, wildlife guide and educator, as well as penning two books on native vegetation in collaboration with local resource management groups.
Traversing the world with her husband, Michael, Wendy’s passion for whales of all kinds has taken her from one oceanic realm to another. From snorkelling with dwarf minke whales along the Great Barrier Reef, to coming within just metres of a blue whale in Timor-Leste, Wendy has plunged into the depths with — or viewed — humpbacks, orcas, dugongs, sperm and southern right whales, and more.
When asked her motivation to experience such remarkable creatures up close, Wendy said:
“I have always been captivated by the sea and its creatures… I learned to scuba dive at 19 and also enjoyed snorkelling. I really wanted to see a whale up close, just to be in the presence of one of these magnificent creatures, look it in the eye, and make some kind of connection, even if fleeting.”
Realising her dream of snorkelling with minke whales on the outer barrier reef with a company aptly named Eye to Eye, Wendy and Michael have since been unstoppable in their quest to respectfully experience whales in their own waters.
In perhaps their most adventurous quest yet, the couple travelled to the Caribbean in February this year, joining other intrepid Aussies, as well as international travellers, to swim with sperm and humpback whales.
In an experience described as exhilarating and transformative, Wendy and Michael spent a week on a liveaboard off Silver Banks in the Dominican Republic during the first of their two–week Caribbean journey, encountering humpback whales measuring between 12 and 18 metres long, as well as calves, on most days.
“There were rough seas and rowdy whales — very boisterous behaviour with tail and pectoral fin slapping and breaching most days — but we did not swim with them all,” Wendy said.
“Instead, we rode alongside the whales and filmed them as they swam underneath the boat. They can be incredibly energetic and powerful.”
During their second week, the couple stayed on land in Dominica but managed to swim with mighty sperm whales most days.
“The whales were detected using hydrophones to hear the clicking noises they make when using echolocation, which determines the direction they are coming from. The parameters are to enter the water quietly with little splash, stay near your guide and wait for the whale to approach,” Wendy said.
Though there is no guarantee a whale will approach, despite best efforts, Wendy said when they do, “…it’s magic”.
“It is a joy and a privilege to swim with them. Sometimes the whale would rather not swim with us, so it turns away or deep dives with one flick of its tail. There is no chasing, harassing or touching of whales. If all the stars align, you will get a ‘chill’ whale who doesn’t mind our company for a while, is curious and happy for us to observe or swim alongside. The captain calls ‘whale up!’, you gear up quickly and slide into the water quietly, follow your guide and wait for the whale to approach.”
By all accounts a veteran whale swimmer and snorkeller, Wendy holds the following to be true:
“They are the largest creatures alive on Earth, have the largest brains and can live up to 80 to 100 years or more. They traverse the oceans, with many species living in family groups and caring for calves. They are tactile, beautiful and gentle giants, are curious, have complex social lives and communicate with one another.
