Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and embark on the ship
Mar 12
Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic by mid-afternoon and transfer to the Turks and Caicos Explorer II.
In the warm waters of the Dominican Republic, the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales converges 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 follow their mothers and drink their rich milk. Absorb Ted’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 this time of year, you’ll get close-up photos of surface activity like breaching, flipper-slapping, and competitive interactions. Don’t miss coming eye-to-eye with whales during soft-in-water encounters! Nothing compares to sharing the water with a whale!
HIGHLIGHTS
Itinerary Updated: October 2020
Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 12 | Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Board ship in the late afternoon. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | D |
Mar 13 | Full day of whale watching while cruising to the mooring site on the Silver Bank. Afternoon of in-water, up close whale interaction. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
Mar 14–17 | Four full days of soft-in-water encounters and learning about whale behavior, anatomy, conservation, and individual personalities. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
Mar 18 | Morning in-water whale encounters. Whale watching en route to Puerto Plata. | Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
Mar 19 | Disembark after breakfast and fly home. | B |
Ted 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 and obsesses over humpback whales identified around the world through the citizen science project Happywhale.com. Ted is working on a Ph.D. on humpback whales at Southern Cross University, New South Wales, Australia.
Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic by mid-afternoon and transfer to the Turks and Caicos Explorer II.
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.
© Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
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 in Puerto Plata in the late evening for your last night on board.
Disembark in the morning and transfer to the airport for your flights home.
In the warm waters of the Dominican Republic, the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales converge on the Silver Bank.
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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-sized upper and lower beds, porthole window, cabins 8, 9, 10. | $5,520 |
Main Deck | Double occupancy, two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large windows, cabins 3, 4. | $5,720 |
Main Deck | Double occupancy, queen-sized bed or two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large window, cabins 5, 6, 7. | $5,720 |
Upper Deck | Double occupancy, one queen-sized bed, TV, desk, chair, large window, cabins 1, 2. | $6,020 |
Costs are per person depending on cabin type and occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
If you are a single traveler, we will find a roommate for you, but if we cannot find you a roommate, we will not charge you a single supplement. If space is available, some cabins can be booked as a single by adding 90% over the listed cabin cost.
We cannot guarantee a specific cabin number, but if changes occur, we will assign a cabin of equal or greater value.
Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
---|---|---|
Deposit | Due now to reserve your space | $500 |
Second Payment | April 1, 2021 | $2,000 |
Final Payment | October 1, 2021 | Remaining balance |
Payments are due based on the schedule above. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space.
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 trip if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable.
Dates | Forfeited Amount per Person |
---|---|
On or before July 31, 2021 | $300 |
August 1 to August 31, 2021 | 10% of trip cost |
September 1 to September 30, 2021 | 40% of trip cost |
On or after October 1, 2021 | 100% of trip 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 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 trip, but your fitness and snorkeling ability enrich the experience. Getting in the water is not required; we’ve shared this trip 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 trip 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 trip. 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 11, but no later than mid-afternoon on March 12. Depart from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) anytime on March 19.
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 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. Read our suggestions for coping with seasickness and contact us if you have any concerns.
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