In the warm waters of the Dominican Republic, the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales converge to calve and mate on the Silver Bank. This time of year is peak breeding season, which will provide you with once-in-a-lifetime experiences of in-water encounters and whale watching. Witness males vying for the coveted “escort” role and hear them sing their famous songs. Slip into the water to see curious calves as they follow their mothers and drink their rich milk. Absorb Ted and Scott’s extensive knowledge of photographic techniques and of the behaviors, anatomy, and temperaments of the North Atlantic humpback whales. When the weather cooperates, and it normally does at this time of year, you’ll get close-up photos of surface activity like breaching, flipper-slapping, and competitive interactions, and come eye-to-eye with whales during “soft-in-water” encounters. Nothing compares to sharing the water with a whale!
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Swim alongside humpback whales, including docile mother-and-calf pairs whose curiosity brings them eye-to-eye with you for an unforgettable experience.
• Take advantage of opportunities to photograph the intricacies of whale behavior and learn how to interpret these behaviors from our expert leaders.
• Discover the Silver Bank, an important whale breeding and calving site within the Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic, during five total days of in-water whale interaction (half a day longer than other tours).
Itinerary Updated: November 2018
| Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23 | Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Board ship in the late afternoon. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | D |
| Mar 24 | Full day of whale watching while cruising to the mooring site on the Silver Bank. Afternoon of in-water whale interaction. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
| Mar 25–28 | Four full days experiencing soft-in-water encounters and learning about whale behavior, anatomy, conservation, and individual personalities. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
| Mar 29 | Morning in-water whale encounters. Whale watching en route to Puerto Plata. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
| Mar 30 | Disembark after breakfast. Fly home. | B |
Ted CheesemanTed grew up traveling extensively and began studying and photographing wildlife as a child. After completing a Master's degree in Tropical Conservation Biology at Duke University, Ted returned to California to lead and organize expeditions full time with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris. Ted currently leads expeditions to Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Caribbean while pursuing a doctoral degree studying humpback whales. He also recently founded the citizen science project Happywhale.
Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic by mid-afternoon for transfer to the Turks and Caicos Explorer II.
Note: Cheesemans' are members of World Cetacean Alliance and abide by responsible whale watching practices.
Scan the waters for whales en route to the mooring site on the Silver Bank. After your mid-morning arrival, you’ll be briefed about soft-in-water encounters, a profound experience for all, and prepare for a full afternoon on the two tenders.
The numerous female humpback whales that choose the Silver Bank as their nursery for their newborn calves are usually nestled in the northeast corner of the Silver Bank, a shallow area protected by coral heads. Although coral heads encompass the entire Silver Bank, the northeast corner has extensive coral that breaks the surface during low tides, giving protection to newborn calves (and you!).
You may have some “whale waiting” time while looking for cooperative humpback whales, but that time is quickly forgotten when you are amidst surface activity and soft-in-water encounters. Most of the time you will find whale activity nearby. In fact, you will more often ask, “Which whale should we watch?” rather than, “Where are the whales?” The biggest obstacle to success is spending too much time with uncooperative whales, so be prepared to leave one group in search for more cooperative ones; be patient as you may approach many whales before finding an interested group that allows us to join them in their element and on their terms.
You will spend the morning on the tenders then return to the ship for lunch. Sail back to Puerto Plata through the banks, watching for more whale activity from the ship deck while bidding farewell to the world of these docile creatures. You will arrive at the dock in Puerto Plata in the late evening for your last night on board.
Disembark in the morning and transfer to the airport.
In the warm waters of the Dominican Republic, the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales converge.
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The Turks and Caicos Explorer II is the best platform for whale watching on the Silver Bank. It is 124ft long with a 22-ft beam. The vessel will be our hotel for the week on the bank, anchored in a sheltered spot on the reef while we venture out by tender to share our days with the whales.
| Type | Description | Cost Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Deck | Double occupancy, twin upper and lower beds, porthole window, cabins 8, 9, 10. | $5,120 |
| Main Deck | Double occupancy, two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large windows, cabins 3, 4. | $5,320 |
| Main Deck | Double occupancy, queen-sized bed or two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large window, cabins 5, 6, 7. | $5,320 |
| Upper (Boat) Deck | Double occupancy, one queen-sized bed, TV, desk, chair, large window, cabins 1, 2. | $5,620 |
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
We reserve the right to charge for cost increases that occur between when we set tour prices and the date of travel, for example, changes due to the cost of lodging and transportation. If you are a single traveler and you desire, we will find a roommate for you. If we cannot find you a roommate, we will not charge you a single supplement. If space is available, some cabins can be booked for a single occupant by adding 90% over the listed cabin cost. Single rooms are subject to availability.
Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific cabin number. If changes occur, we will do everything in our power to assign a cabin of equal or greater value as the cabin type specified in your reservation. Deck plan, cabin arrangements, and cabin amenities are subject to change by ship operator.
| Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Due now to reserve your space | $500 |
| Second | April 15, 2018 | $2,000 |
| Final | October 15, 2018 | Remaining balance |
Payments will be due based on the schedule above. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space. For reservations made after a due date, all past payments will be due with registration. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule and cancellation policy as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited.
Refunds are given depending on the time left before departure according to the following table. The cancellation fee of $300 per person can be applied toward another tour if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance that could reimburse your trip costs in the event of your cancellation.
| Dates | Forfeited Amount per Person |
|---|---|
| On or before August 14, 2018 | $300 |
| August 15 to September 14, 2018 | 10% of tour cost |
| September 15 to October 14, 2018 | 40% of tour cost |
| On or after October 15, 2018 | 100% of tour cost |
The Silver Bank is typically 75 to 80°F (24 to 27°C) during the day and cool enough in the morning/evenings to wear a sweatshirt or light fleece. The water temperature is usually 76 to 78°F (24 to 26°C). On a typical day, winds blow from the north to southeast about 15 knots (17mph), ranging from 0 knots to 25 knots; the coral formations throughout the Silver Bank provide protection from the wind and sea conditions, and February–March is the least windy time of the whale season and rain is infrequent. The crossing to and from the Silver Bank is usually calm, but we can encounter rough sea conditions. At the mooring area, you may hardly notice the ship moving, depending the sea conditions. Because we are about 80mi offshore from the Dominican Republic on an ocean frontier, sea conditions are subjected to Mother Nature’s many moods.
Minimal fitness is required to join this whale safari, but your fitness and snorkeling ability enrich the experience. Getting in the water is not required; we’ve shared this safari with travelers who had wonderful experiences whale watching from the tenders. At minimum you need to comfortably and safely move around the ship and embark / disembark from the whale watching tenders. To get the most out of this safari you should be comfortable in the water, snorkeling, and getting in and out of the water via a boat ladder. Please contact us if you don’t have experience snorkeling but would like to join this safari. Strong swimming ability and the ability to free dive (i.e., diving underwater without scuba tanks) are not required, but will also enrich your experience, especially if you can dive to hear whales sing.
Airfare is not included in trip costs. Detailed logistical information and the contact information for our recommended flight-ticketing agent are included in the Trip Materials we will send you. Please let us know if you are arriving earlier or staying later as we are happy to assist you with any extra overnights that you might want to arrange.
Flights you (or a travel agent) book: We suggest arriving in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) a day early on March 22, but no later than mid-afternoon on March 23. Depart from Puerto Plata (POP) anytime on March 30.
The Silver Bank is located about 80mi north of the Dominican Republic and 100mi southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and it’s one of the most important breeding and calving grounds for humpback whales in the North Atlantic Ocean. At least 5,000 humpbacks use the Silver Bank from January through early April each year. The Silver Bank Sanctuary, established in 1986, is approximately 200 sq mi (about the area of San Francisco city and county), and now part of the larger Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic.
Water visibility on the Silver Bank varies daily, but averages from 40 to 60ft around the mooring area with occasional particles suspended in the water. The wind, swells, and slight current cause run-off from the coral which determines the amount of visibility. As a whole, the Silver Bank has patchy visibility. The average water depth is approximately 80–90ft. Wind can impede whale watching, so weather will dictate the quality of activity with the whales.
A soft-in-water encounter is passive, non-aggressive floating at the surface, in a mask, fins, and snorkel, allowing the humpback whales to develop an interest in you. The key is to find a cooperative, tolerant, or curious whale to meet in the water calmly and peacefully on its terms, to experience a rare and treasured encounter between you and that individual. With hundreds of voyages under their belt, our guides can interpret the behaviors of the humpbacks and tell us how to react to them above and below the water. Following instructions is key to successful interactions.
Each morning you depart on two well-stocked tenders for full days of whale observations both above and below water. Activity on the Silver Bank runs in cycles, so you’ll have slack periods that vary from day to day. Typically, you return to the ship for lunch but if you experience extraordinary activity, expect to eat lunch on the tenders. If you return to the ship for lunch, you will go back out for the afternoon action, returning to the ship in time for dinner.
Don’t let a fear of seasickness scare you away! Our vessel is moored in calm water for the duration of the week, and rarely does someone get seasick while in the tenders we watch whales from daily. The voyages to and from the Silver Bank are usually the only time motion-sensitive travelers take medication, and our voyage out is during the evening, so most sleep through it. Although you will eventually acquire your “sea legs”, bring seasickness medication. As with all medications, do your own research and consult with your doctor before taking any drugs (even if they are over-the-counter) and especially if you are taking other drugs. Find more information including prevention suggestions on our Coping with Seasickness webpage and contact us if you have any concerns.