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Humpbacks of the Silver Bank
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| Humpback Whale with Snorkeler |
Cost: $3650 for standard cabins, $3950 for superior cabins, per person/double occupancy. Single supplement: $1595. Review cost details.
Airfare: Round trip from Miami to Puerto Plata is approximately $550, including taxes.
Leaders: Ted Cheeseman and Tom Conlin.
Size: 23 participants, plus leaders.
Conditions: A non-smoking tour for people interested in close-up views of Humpback Whales and their extraordinary behavior both above the ocean surface and below through "soft-in-water encounters."
Itinerary updated August 2007
March 14, Saturday: Boarding the M/V Nekton Rorqual
You will have the opportunity to board the M/V Nekton Rorqual after 4:00 p.m. on the day of departure. This does not mean if you arrive earlier that we cannot accommodate your baggage and equipment. You may drop it off at the M/V Nekton Rorqual while the crew is preparing the ship, enabling you to tour the area until boarding time. If you arrive at the pier by 7:00 p.m. you can enjoy dinner onboard. We will depart in the late evening and will arrive at our mooring on the Silver Bank mid-morning Sunday.
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| Humpback Whale Breaching |
March 15, Sunday: Whalewatching.
We are likely to be among whales visible from the Rorqual from early Sunday morning. After arrival to our anchorage by mid-morning, we will be briefed on the nature of soft-in-water encounters, a profoundly new experience for all except repeat travelers! There will be time for a full afternoon's outing by tender this first day.
March 16 - 20, Monday - Friday: Five days living with the whales.
We will be nestled up in the northeast corner of the Silver Bank, a shallow area protected by coral heads and host to the numerous female Humpback Whales that have chosen the Silver Bank as their nursery for their newborn calves. The entire Silver Bank is thick with coral heads, but the northeast corner has extensive coral that breaks the surface during low tides, giving protection to newborn calves (and us!). The only point of reference is a rusty shipwreck, perched on top of the barrier reef.
Each day at 8:30 a.m. the tenders depart the mooring area fully stocked and prepared for whale observations which we will do both in and out of the water.
Activity on the Silver Bank runs in cycles. Everyday there is a slack period and these periods will vary from day to day. Typically the tenders return to the Rorqual everyday around 12:30 p.m. for lunch. After lunch around 2:00 p.m. we will all board the tenders again and go back out for the afternoon. If we experience extraordinary activity at this time of the day we may eat our lunch on the tenders as we carry plenty of sandwiches and other food onboard. We don't want to miss any opportunity to intermingle with the gentle Humpback giants. We plan to return to the Rorqual each evening around 6:00 p.m.
Although there is some "down time " while we look for cooperative Humpback Whales, the time spent "whale waiting " is quickly forgotten when we are in the midst of surface activity and soft-in-water encounter. The majority of the time there are more than enough whales in the area that we explore. In fact, it is not, "where are the whales? " rather, we will be asking ourselves, "to which whale do we go? " The biggest obstacle for the type of encounters that we're looking for is spending too much time with uncooperative whales. We may approach a dozen whales before finding a group of whales that are interested in allowing us the opportunity to join them in their element and on their terms.
On Friday after three-quarters of a day out on the tenders, we will depart to our terminal port in Puerto Plata, to arrive in the late evening.
March 21, Saturday: Departing the Rorqual.
. On Saturday morning after a continental breakfast onboard, we will leave our cabins by 9:00 a.m. If your flight departs late in the day, you can pass the day with a short trip via taxi and tram up the hill behind Puerto Plata for a scenic view if clear. Otherwise you may stay on the top deck with your baggage and a transfer to the airport will be provided.
The Silver Bank: This incredible area is located about 80 miles (129 kilometers approximately) north of the Dominican Republic, equidistant from the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is one of the most important breeding and calving grounds for Humpbacks in the North Atlantic Ocean, and 5,000 or more Humpbacks are estimated to use the Silver Bank Reserve Area from January through early April. The Silver Bank Sanctuary for Humpback Whales, declared in 1986, is an area of approximately 200 square miles.
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| Humpback Whale Mother and Calf |
Visibility: Visibility on the Silver Bank varies from day to day, but averages from 40 to 60 feet around the mooring area with occasional particles suspended in the water. The wind, swells, and slight current that move the sea across the coral heads that surrounds the mooring area cause a run off from the coral which determines the amount of visibility in the area. As a whole, the Silver Bank is patchy in terms of visibility: 50 foot visibility may turn into 100 feet over a distance of only 400 feet. The depth of the water is approximately 90 feet. On this trip the quality of activity with the whales is dependent on the weather. Rain is infrequent, but wind can impede whale watching.
What is a soft-in-water encounter? A soft-in-water encounter is not scuba diving, nor is it aggressive swimming or free diving. It is passive, non-aggressive floating at the surface, in mask, fins and snorkel, allowing the Humpback Whales to develop an interest in humans. It requires finding a cooperative, tolerant or curious whale, and meeting that whale in the water calmly and peacefully on its terms, to permit a rare and treasured encounter between human and cetacean.
This does not mean that everyone must stay glued next to each other, blocking each other’s view and ruining each other’s experience. The first few minutes of each encounter are extremely important. Humpback Whales are acoustic, so noise is a relevant issue when preparing to enter the water, as well as when physically entering the water, and when in the water. If one person swims towards the whale as it approaches the group, more than likely it will turn its pectoral fin and propel itself out of everyone’s view. However, if you follow your guide’s instructions and adhere to the soft-in-water encounter techniques, you will have a high probability of turning fly-bys into five-minute or several hour encounters. When this happens, the context changes and your guide will instruct you on what you are and are not able to do. Each whale is different and cannot be treated the same as the one before it. For example, when a whale is infatuated with our presence in the water they may become very acrobatic, spinning around and returning to our position with no need to swim after them. This allows us the opportunity to position ourselves well for photography or video recording.
Tom Conlin has worked with whales at the Silver Bank on over a hundred voyages in fifteen years. As a naturalist, Tom has learned how to interpret the behaviors of the Humpbacks and how we should react to them both above and below the water.
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| Humpback Whale Approaches the Tender |
The Tenders: Two 26-foot fiberglass Privateer Tenders are the keys to our whale encounters, transporting us during our days of whale watching driven by Tom Conlin and one other guide. These extra-wide, ocean going tenders are equipped with twin engine, environmentally conscious, four stroke engines. These state of the art engines eliminate exhaust fumes and permit us to triumphantly complete quiet approach techniques that are extremely important when successfully establishing soft-in-water encounters. Having twin engines for safety doubles our distance capabilities. This obvious advantage increases our probability in providing you with more encounters in areas that are more productive in the type of whale activity we’re looking for throughout the season. These tenders furnish the best platforms for topside photography available on the Silver Bank. For your safety, a professional whale guide will always operate the tenders.
Each tender carries twelve guests with plenty of bench space for your comfort, splash guards to protect your dry articles, an abundance of storage space for snorkeling gear, top side and underwater camera equipment, bimini tops to protect you from the sun, heavy duty boarding ladders, first aid kits, life vests, VHF radios, GPS navigation and plenty of sandwiches, snacks, fruit, water, beverages and juices to hydrate and energize you throughout the day.
Ship Specifications: View the deck plan and photos of the Nekton Rorqual.
Length: 80 ft
Beam: 40 ft
Draft: 6.6 ft to 12 ft
Displacement: 240 tons
Construction: Steel and Aluminum
Engines: Twin Cummins QSK19/1520 total hp
Speed: 9-12 knots
Range: 3,000 miles
Generators: 2 Cummins 165KW
Available voltage: 12V DC 110/208V AC 60Hz 3 phase
Fuel tankage: 6,000 US gallons
Water tankage: 3,200 US gallons
Tenders: Two 30 ft twin-outboard heavy duty fiberglass boats (4-stroke Yamaha 115 horsepower engines)
Electronics: 2 Garmin Global Positioning Systems
Furuno 48 mile radar
2 recording fathometers
VHF radios, a high resolution large screen TV, VCR, CD stereo, slide projector and digital projector
ICOM SSB radiotelephone
Safety: Full safety equipment as per USCG and SOLAS requirements, emergency first aid kit
Meals and service: The chef and staff will provide you with excellent cuisine in the scenic dining room and daily steward service in your cabins. Meals include a variety of delicious meals and services: hot breakfasts served with fresh fruits, cereal, and juices, lunch including soup, salad and several options, and buffet dinners with the main course personally served by the chef. Good drinking water, iced and hot tea, coffee and juices are plentiful.
If you have a general request regarding diet, please let us know so that we may advise the ship directly. They do an excellent job accommodating your wishes.
Leaders: Ted Cheeseman (Ecologist, Expedition Leader, Lecturer, Zodiac Driver and Photographer) grew-up whalewatching and traveling the world with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris. Ted finished his graduate degree in conservation biology at Duke University in 2000 and has been organizing and leading wildlife safaris full time ever since. His great passion is making expeditions possible for travelers to spend the maximum time possible with wildlife, believing that by coming to know wildlife and wilderness intimately, travelers will come to respect the value of wild places in their pristine state.
Tom Conlin is a veteran on the Silver Bank, Tom is a tour operator, naturalist, licensed 3000 Ton U.S.C.G. Master Diver, Master Diver Trainer, professional photography and a leading expert in the field of whales and soft water encounters. With decades on the water Tom has a thorough knowledge of ships and the ocean. Tom’s entire focus is on learning about the whale behavior and supplying you with the type of experiences you’re expecting. Tom has had the opportunity to contribute his work to some of the leading organizations and researchers in the Cetacean community as well as film crews, leading magazines, television, newspapers and professional photographers from around the world. Prior to the 1996 season, the Comision Rectora appointed Tom as their representative on the Silver Bank allowing him to use his experience and knowledge to oversee all aspects of taking people into the Silver Bank (regulations, education & training, notifications, recommendations).
"A soft-in-water encounter is not scuba diving, nor is it aggressive swimming or free diving. It is passive, non-aggressive floating at the surface, in mask, fins and snorkel, allowing the whale to develop an interest in humans. It is finding a cooperative, tolerant and/or curious whale and meeting that whale in the water, calmly and peacefully, permitting a rare and treasured encounter between human and cetacean" - Thomas L. Conlin.
Reservations: Please contact us to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, fill out our reservation form, and mail it to us with your deposit:
Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
Toll Free: (800) 527-5330
Local: (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358
Email: info@cheesemans.com
Costs, Payments and Cancellations: Upon receiving your deposit, we will send trip materials, including a travel guide with trip essentials, reading list, species lists, and maps. Deposits are refundable before the final payment date, except for $150. The $150 may go toward another tour if a reservation is made within six months of the departure date of this trip. There are no refunds given after the final payment. Trip Cancellation Insurance applications are available. Trip options, if any, and singles are extra. Costs are per person and double occupancy.
| Cost | |
| Trip cost (depending on cabin type) | $3650 - $3950 |
| Single supplement | $1595 |
| Payment Schedule | |
| Deposit - to reserve your space | $500 |
| April 1, 2008 - second payment | $800 |
| December 1, 2008 - final payment | remaining balance |
Included: Six days of whalewatching, the national park fee of $200 for the "Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic", $150 port fee and $150 fuel surcharge levied by the ship operator, all meals beginning with dinner on March 14 through breakfast on March 21, and the transfers to the boat and return to airport.
Not Included: Visitor permit, excess baggage charges, departure taxes at airport, extra hotel nights or transfers, equipment rental, video rentals, sundries, trip insurance, bottled beverages including water (ship tapwater is purified and good for drinking), hotel fees and gratuities for boat crews, excluding Tom Conlin and Ted Cheeseman ($300 is recommended if you are pleased with your experience). A vacation video of your experiences will be available for purchase at the end of your trip for approximately $65.
Registration forms and releases: You will be asked to sign a registration form with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris and additional release forms with Aquatic Adventures. This paperwork will be completed before your trip.
Travel Insurance: Unless you specifically decline travel insurance, Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris requires, at a minimum, insurance to cover emergency medical care and evacuation for the duration of the tour. We have had good experience with Access America. Visit their website for complete details and we will also send you their brochure with your trip materials. You can purchase a policy via their website, phone or by mail. Whatever insurance you purchase, be sure to review the terms of all available policies carefully in order to buy the policy that you need.
Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online request form or send us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!
Conditions: Non-smoking policy. Travel to remote places is exciting, but understanding and accepting the risks, both medical and logistical, are important. Minor medical problems can be treated, but due to the fact that we will be out in the middle of the ocean, there can be no expectation for immediate medical evacuation by air or ship, even in cases of trauma. If this fact concerns you too much, do not choose this trip for your vacation. Anyone with health problems needing close medical supervision should not consider going on this trip. Bring enough medication for the duration of the trip for any chronic medical needs, including medication or patches for seasickness. When you send your tour deposit and signed reservation form, you certify to us that you do not knowingly have any physical or other conditions that would create a risk for yourself or for other trip participants.
Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk
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