A 10-meter sperm whale was spotted off the coast of the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece, with the rare encounter captured on video by a private boater.

The footage was recorded by boat owner Stavros Filippidis, who noticed the massive marine mammal swimming near his vessel before carefully approaching to film the animal from a closer distance. The video shows the whale surfacing calmly in open waters, providing a striking glimpse of one of the largest animals on Earth.

Sperm whales are the largest toothed predators in the world, capable of diving to depths of more than 2,000 meters in search of squid and other prey. Although they are present in Greek waters, sightings are relatively uncommon and typically occur in deeper offshore areas.

Marine researchers have documented an increasing number of reports involving whales and other large cetaceans in Greek seas over the past year, particularly in the Aegean and Ionian seas. Encounters with sperm whales, fin whales and Cuvier’s beaked whales have highlighted the rich marine biodiversity of the eastern Mediterranean while also drawing attention to the threats these protected species face from collisions with vessels, underwater noise and marine pollution.

The latest sighting off Halkidiki adds to a growing body of observations demonstrating that Greek waters remain an important habitat for several whale species, even in areas where encounters with the public are relatively rare. Marine experts encourage boaters to maintain a safe distance from whales and avoid disturbing the animals, allowing them to continue their natural behavior undisturbed.