Feeding Time!: Last May, authorities on Oahu towed a dead sperm whale carcass 35 miles out to sea. Professional photographer Ken Howard went in search of the rotting corpse:

“We go out and Jimmy finds it immediately, with a bunch of tiger sharks feeding on it. Naturally, after a few surface shots we go in and snorkel with them.

Jimmy tied the boat up on one of the exposed ribs of the sperm whale carcass. The tiger sharks did not seem to pose a threat, as they had been gorging on the carcass for some time.”

I can just imagine Howard in the water, telling himself, “They’re not hungry anymore…They’re not hungry anymore.” Well, apparently he was right, because he lived to tell the tale and got some great shots. Underwater Times has the full story, as well as a great gallery. Here are just a few of the resulting pictures:

“Ummm, rotting whale meat…”

“Hey Barbara. There’s a guy with a snorkel over here. Would he be good to eat…?

“So what if he looks scrawny. I’m going to check him out. Maybe he’ll make a good toothpick…”