Pod of Pilot Whales close, Pacific Ocean, Chile

At sea, off Chanaral de Aceituno, Atacama Region, Chile (March 2019)

This image was taken during the North Chile's Coastal & Desert Wildlife trip organised by Natures Images and led by Mark Sisson and Pablo Cersosimo (Wild South Photography). Our boat Arca de Noe was captained by Patricio Ortiz of Chanaral de Aceituno.

Status is classified as Least Concern. Pilot Whales are a large species of oceanic dolphin. Short-finned and Long-finned Pilot Whales are usually distinguished by the length of their pectoral fins which were not visible during this encounter. Possibly, Long-finned Pilot Whale is slightly favoured on the basis of geographic range maps (see IUCN Red List links below). For more information on this species of dolphin see the following links:
Long-finned pilot whale / Wikipedia
Short-finned pilot whale / Wikipedia
Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas / IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Short-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus / IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Shooting Time 12:31
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/2500
Av(Aperture Value) 5.0
Exposure Compensation +2/3
ISO Speed 640