‘Suspended Grace’ by paulnicklen Paul steadied his breath, 4 seconds in, 8 seconds out. His heart rate slowed as he floated above the endless expanse. He packed his lungs with air, removed his snorkel, and began his descent. About 40 feet below was a mother sperm whale and her calf suspended vertically in the water column. There were ribbons of squid tentacles hanging from her mouth, evidence of a deep dive earlier that morning. This was a moment Paul had always dreamed of capturing. As he reached eye-level with the mother, her massive eye tracked him. She was aware of his presence but remained still, unbothered and trusting. His lungs burned, diaphragm contracting as his body screamed for oxygen, but he held steady. Capturing this moment was the only thing that mattered. He aligned the shot, and everything fell into place. Buzzing with excitement and gratitude for this gift, he started his slow ascent back to the surface. But just then, the calf made a move towards him. Stay tun...