In March 2025, I joined the Barba Project crew on an 850-nautical-mile voyage from Arctic northern Norway to Stavanger, sailing through the wild beauty of Norway’s northern coast. Our first mission: to support the documentation and study of male sperm whales in an area previously undocumented. Working closely with the crew, we helped facilitate underwater photographer Aleksander Nordahl in capturing rare images of these deep-diving giants and assisted skipper Andreas B. Heide in filming immersive 360° footage for an international education programme.

Along the way, we visited the remote fishing village of Seter, where we listened to the stories of a family with generations of history at sea. We ventured into the dramatic Trollfjord, usually sealed with thick ice but, in a startling sign of change, found it covered only by a thin, fragile layer. Sailing through the night in shift patterns, under unforgettable displays of the northern lights, we documented the journey with photos, interviews and film to support Barba’s ongoing mission: combining exploration, science, and storytelling to protect the ocean.