Marine mammals are fascinating, because they are somewhat rare, and because they also share more in common with humans and land animals than most other marine life. Photographing them is a bit of a challenge, as some are dangerous to approach while others shy away from humans. But, there are still many boat tours and places to watch marine mammals, even sometimes your city’s aquarium has some.

Here, we’ll show you mesmerizing photos of marine mammals that will leave you in awe at the majesty of these creatures.

Long Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinius capensis) by Tim Stenton