In the warm waters of the Dominican Republic, the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales converges to mate and calve on the Silver Bank. This time of year is peak breeding season which will provide you with once-in-a-lifetime experiences of both 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 and playful calves follow their mothers to nurse, socialize, and learn. Renowned whale researcher, Ted Cheeseman, will share his extensive knowledge of the behaviors, anatomy, and temperaments of the North Atlantic humpback whales. In addition to Ted’s expertise, this trip benefits from our partnership with the Oceanic Society, a pioneer nonprofit in ecotravel and conservation. 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: August 2023
| Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16 | Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, board the ship, and navigate to the Silver Bank. | On board the Turks and Caicos Explorer II | D |
| Mar 17 | Afternoon of in-water, up-close whale interaction. | On board the Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
| Mar 18-21 | Enter the whales’ world during four full days of soft in-water encounters. Learn about whale behavior, anatomy, conservation, and individual personalities. | On board the Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
| Mar 22 | Morning of in-water whale encounters. Whale watching en route back to Puerto Plata. | On board the Turks and Caicos Explorer II | B, L, D |
| Mar 23 | 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 he obsesses over humpback whales identified around the world through the citizen science project Happywhale. 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. You’ll navigate to the mooring site while you spend the night in your comfortable cabin.
After breakfast, 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 relatively 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 amid 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 of 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. Navigate back to Puerto Plata through the banks, watching for whale and dolphin 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 a 124ft ship that will be your home during the trip, and with two tenders, it provides the best platform for whale watching on the Silver Bank. You’ll anchor on the reef and venture out by tender to share your days with the humpbacks.
Conservation| Type | Description | Cost Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Deck | Double occupancy, twin-sized upper and lower beds, porthole window. Cabins 8, 9, and 10. | $6,365 |
| Main Deck | Double occupancy, two lower twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large windows. Cabins 3 and 4. | $6,565 |
| Main Deck | Double occupancy, one queen-sized bed or two twin-sized beds, desk, chair, large window. Cabins 5, 6, and 7. | $6,565 |
| Upper Deck | Double occupancy, one queen-sized bed, TV, desk, chair, large window. Cabins 1 and 2. | $6,865 |
Costs are per person, depending on cabin type, double 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 a roommate for you, 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 | $1,000 |
| Final Payment | October 8, 2023 | 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. Through August 7, 2023, 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 August 7, 2023 | $300 (see terms above) |
| August 8 to September 7, 2023 | 10% of trip cost |
| September 8 to October 7, 2023 | 40% of trip cost |
| On or after October 8, 2023 | 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 for 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 typically the least windy time of the whale season with infrequent rain.
At a minimum, you must be able to move around the ship and embark/disembark from the tenders comfortably and safely. However, 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 the tender ladder. Although strong swimming ability and the ability to free dive (i.e., diving underwater without scuba tanks) are not required, they will enrich your experience, especially if you can dive to hear the whales sing.
Getting in the water is not required; we’ve shared this trip with travelers who had wonderful experiences whale watching from the tenders. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging or if you don’t have experience snorkeling but would like to join this trip.
Airfare is not included in trip costs. Detailed logistical information is included in the Trip Materials we will send you.
Flights you (or a travel agent) book: Arrive in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) by 2:00pm on March 16. Depart from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) after 12:00am on March 23.
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 square miles (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. The average water depth is approximately 80 to 90ft. Wind can impede whale watching, so weather will dictate your 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 you 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 (with opportunities to participate in the research collaboration). 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.
Optional participation in the on-board research will include sampling transect distance to and from the Silver Bank, plotting distribution and abundance of marine mammals — mostly humpback whales — during crossings, sampling point-based distance from mooring on the Silver Bank each morning, photo identification of individuals, photographing body condition underwater (making a concerted effort to get underwater body condition images to link with fluke and dorsal ID photos). You may participate as much or as little as you wish.
Don’t let a fear of seasickness scare you away! The crossing to and from the Silver Bank is usually calm, but we can encounter rough sea conditions. At the mooring area, the waters are relatively calm. Because we are about 80mi offshore from the Dominican Republic on an ocean frontier, sea conditions are subject to Mother Nature’s many moods. Travelers rarely get seasick while in the tenders. 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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Ted Cheeseman