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The beautiful a moment curious baby sperm whale swam up to photographer and son and got close enough to touch the camera

• Photographer Ellen Cuylaerts, 44, was looking for whales to photograph in the Caribbean with her teenage children
• Was swimming with son Max, 14, when baby sperm whale calf approached and started swimming with them
• At one point it came close enough to touch the camera lens which is rare because they are naturally skittish animals

Growing to the size of a bus, sperm whales are one of nature's biggest predators, but despite their imposing bulk they are actually gentle giants as this baby calf proved.

These incredible photographs were taken by 44 year old Belgian Ellen Cuylaerts while swimming in the Caribbean Sea, with her teenage son, Max.

The globetrotting photographer's most recent travels brought her to Dominica in search of sperm whales.

Sperm whales may be one of nature's biggest and most intimidating predators, but this baby calf proved to be a gentle giant when he swam up next to Ellen Cuylaerts and her two teenage children

Pictured in the Caribbean ocean, Ellen said the whale swam close enough to hit the lens of her camera which is unusual because they are naturally skittish animals

Sperm whales often live in groups, called pods, especially with their young because they parent as a group. However this infant appeared to be on his own

'Since sperm whales are very skittish, I only expected to see them in the blink of an eye at the surface of the water - but one of our encounters was unbelievable,' says Ellen, of the Cayman Islands.

'My son Max, 14, and I got into the water to try and spot some sperm whales, and to our surprise one came right at us.

 

'The moment Max and the whale saw each other they connected. The whale started swimming around and looked right at us, which was just so magical and pure.

'It was so special. My mask was filling up with tears of joy!'

Ellen spent ten minutes playing with the sperm whale calf, and the great mammal even came close enough to touch the front of her camera.

After swimming around with Ellen and her son, the giant predator whale swam away in search of food.

Ellen, a photographer from the Cayman Islands, said the whale swam over after forming a bond with her son Max, 14 who was swimming with her

 

Sperm whales have the largest brain of any animal ever known to live on Earth. They are recognised by the large bulge on the front of their head which contains spermaceti, a liquid which hardens into wax while cold and was prized by whalers

Little is known about the hunting habits of the creatures, as they can dive up to 7,000ft deep to feast on squid, holding their breath for up to 90 minutes

Sperm whales are able to dive as deep as 7,380 ft, making them the second deepest diving mammal after Cuvier's beaked whale.

'Just the size of these magnificent animals and the mystery that surrounds them makes a lot of people want to admire them from a boat, not actually entering the water with them.

'Meeting them under water is very impressive, they are much faster than they seem and one small movement with their tales pushes them metres away from you.

'I received a lot of nasty reactions from people when I said I would visit the sperm whales in Dominica with my two teenagers. But, once you can experience a connection like this, I think it changes your life.

'To swim with these animals feels like a privilege. It is mind blowing and really touches you in your heart.'

Ellen says she received criticism for taking her two teenager children with her to photograph whales, but has no regrets thanks to the life-changing encounter