Photographer swims with narwhal in Nunavut

Brazilian photojournalist Daniel Botelho has returned home from Nunavut after spending two weeks swimming with what’s often called 'the unicorn of the sea' — narwhal.

He was on assignment for the Disney corporation capturing underwater images of the notoriously camera shy narwhal.

On June 12, his crew of 16 set out from Arctic Bay, Nunavut, on snow machines to reach their base camp.

After a series of failed attempts caused by bad ice conditions, they got the break they were looking for.

Botelho said a large crack formed in front of them. It allowed the divers to finally make the plunge into the icy water.

"It was dark, it was snowing and once we were about 100 meters from the edge, the Inuit said, 'ohhh! Narwhals, narwhals!’"

Botelho suited up and within minutes was swimming among a family of narwhal.

In no time, he found himself almost a kilometre away from his crew.

They shot a rifle into the air to get his attention.

"I suddenly hear the bang and I thought, 'damn! It's a walrus in the water, now I'm done'."

He began to make his way back when he felt something bump his leg.

"What I saw was a female narwhal. Quiet and inquisitive. Almost asking me: where are you going? Why are you not staying here with us? I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Three to four narwhal swimming with me, by my side, I couldn't believe, I couldn't believe what was happening," Botelho said.

When they returned to Arctic Bay, he said he was invited to every house to tell the story of him swimming with the narwhal.