article_snippet.sent: However, researchers were stunned when researchers had an unexpected encounter almost 2,000 feet under the ocean.
article_snippet.sent: Rather than the deep sea squid and corals they expected to see, a giant sperm whale swam to inspect they sub - causing gasps and shouts of 'holy cow' from the sub's operators.
article_snippet.sent: the sub was examining the depths of the Gulf of Mexico when the sperm whale suddenly appeared .
article_snippet.sent: What the heck is that?' says one of the crew, when all of a sudden a massive object begins to appear on the screen.'Hello baby,' says another. '
article_snippet.sent: At 598 meters (1,962 ft) below the Gulf of Mexico Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, ROV Hercules encountered a magnificent sperm whale,' 'a magnificent sperm whale circled several times and gave our cameras the chance to capture some incredible footage of this beautiful creature. '
article_snippet.sent: Footage shows the curious leviathan swimming in and out of the camera lights, at times spinning and looking directly into the camera.'You can see the camera.'You eye,' one of the crew says. '
article_snippet.sent: It was difficult to tell the actual size of a magnificent sperm whale, the team say, but the ROV is 6 feet wide in the front.
article_snippet.sent: Using this as a guide, and how close a guide was to the vehicle, the vehicle is estimated a magnificent sperm whale was between 35-40 feet in length.
article_snippet.sent: The whale can be seen inspecting the robosub in the video .
article_snippet.sent: The researchers were piloting the Hercules sub when the encounter occured.
highlights_snippet.sent: At 598 meters the sperm whale appeared in Robosub's cameras .