A floating ear in a deep, blue world!
By: Belén G. Ovide
An Epic 10-Day Journey Across the Arctic Seas (10 -21 June 2025)
From the icy edges of Svalbard to the volcanic shores of Húsavík, this year’s Bottlenose Whale Expedition was nothing short of legendary.
For the second year, we teamed up with Ocean Missions and HYPMO Project, setting sail into one of the most remote and least-studied corners of the North Atlantic. Our mission: to find and better understand the mysterious northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus), one of the ocean’s most elusive deep-diving giants.
Purposeful Sailing, Meaningful Science
In April 2024, our bottlenose pilot expedition proved that Tilvera was an ideal platform to develop this type of opportunistic research. The routes we often like to sail are not the most accessible or easiest to access, and are still largely unexplored by cetacean researchers, bringing opportunities for joining forces. This year, we wanted to sail these waters again, but in June instead of April, to study bottlenose presence.
Now, Tilvera is equipped with a powerful towed acoustic recorder. This means that from now on, we have the means to record and listen in on the hidden world beneath the waves — no matter where the wind carried us!
Two Magic Days by the Sea Ice in Svalbard
Before heading offshore, we spent two unforgettable days in Svalbard
The first night, we anchored by the sea ice. It was quiet — no engine, no wind — just drifting with the ice. We dropped in our dipping hydrophone and listened. Seals sang under the surface, and soon, a group of belugas surfaced through the ice in absolute silence. I had never seen belugas before. And then — a huge minke whale feeding along the edge of the ice. Thousands of seabirds seemed to enjoy the scene too, resting on the surface or the infinite ice floes: guillemots, razorbills, gulls all in perfect harmony with the surroundings.
The next day, under a bright sun and still waters, we explored a hidden fjord flanked by snow-covered mountains. We found thousands of nesting eiders ( proud mamas with their babies…), puffins, and guillemots too… And then — as if summoned by the magic of the place — a polar bear appeared. It trailed the coastline, then climbed the mountain and gracefully slid down through the snow.
A floating ear in a deep, blue world!
With our spirits sky-high, we set our course for Jan Mayen. The open ocean brought stronger winds and bigger waves, but it also brought bottlenose whales! Over eight days of sailing, we recorded seven bottlenose encounters, three with excellent photo identification. Around Jan Mayen and the Dreki Ridge (with underwater mountains up to 3.000 m deep) , bottlenose clicks filled the recordings, a clue that this could be an essential habitat for them.
At the same time, our friend and responsible drone pilot, Yeray, reported everything and got incredible video shots with his drone, which will help us to understand more about the natural behavior of these animals.
Giant Nomads Everywhere!
The ocean was alive.
From blue whales and sperm whales, to white-beaked dolphins, humpbacks, fin whales, orcas, and minke whales, we logged nine species of cetaceans during our crossing — a breathtaking reminder of just how rich and wild this part of the Atlantic remains. Tilvera’s towed recorder, gliding silently through the sea, caught it all.
Citizen Science, Elevated
Everyone on board played a role. Participants and crew rotated through watch shifts, filled out sighting logs, tested acoustic gear, and kept morale high.
It wasn’t always easy. Rough weather, fatigue, and endless horizons test you. But the drive to contribute to something meaningful kept us all going. Ultimately, the ocean teaches us and shapes us, making us feel connected to something greater than ourselves, which in turn makes us aware and stronger.
Horizons Ahead
As Tilvera sails within the rich waters of the Northeast Iceland Hope Spot, the crew hugs close to the Puffin Island, home to up to 80.000 “little clowns“. One thing was clear — this expedition was more than research. It was connection. Between people and whales, between science and story, between what we know and what we’re just beginning to discover.
What’s Next?
With every trip, our knowledge grows — and so does our responsibility. Plans are already underway for a third citizen science bottlenose expedition from Iceland to Svalbard in 2026, aimed at tracking bottlenose whales along the shelf edge.
Because in the end, we don’t just sail to explore. We sail to understand, to protect, and to give something back to the oceans that give us everything.
A video will be released soon by our beloved Yeray (@volandovoy.tv), and we can’t wait to show you! It’s about love, the ocean, sailing, and of course, whales!
Massive thanks to everyone who was part of this unforgettable trip!
Follow us for updates at tilveraexpeditions.com, oceanmissions.org, hypmo.org, and @volandovoy.tv