The ultimate whale encounter – swim with humpback whales on the Silver Bank, in the Dominican Republic’s Sanctuary for Marine Mammals.
Each year between January and April, the largest gathering of North Atlantic humpback whales on the planet occurs at the Silver Bank, in the Caribbean Sea north of the Dominican Republic. Over this period as many as 3,000 whales gather to court, mate and give birth. Live your dream by spending a week on a comfortable yacht in the company of these amazing creatures, and be thrilled by spectacular displays of breaching, pectoral fin slapping, lobtailing and spy hopping.
The highlight of this unforgettable trip is swimming in warm tropical waters to encounter humpbacks, sometimes eye-to-eye, in their natural environment, on their terms. Accompanied by experienced guides, you’ll see mothers and playful calves, swim in bone-rattling whale song, witness courtship dances and more. And through this utterly remarkable experience, you’ll develop a profound understanding of humpback whales and sense the power and grace of these intelligent mammals.
These special charters are accompanied by Wildlife Worldwide team members and cetacean enthusiasts. This intimate group setting, exclusive to Wildlife Worldwide clients, allows us to tailor each excursion to maximise wildlife encounters and provides an opportunity to travel with like-minded travellers.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Travel to the Dominican Republic via Miami
On arrival in Miami, you stay overnight at an airport hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Miami, 1-night
Day2: Travel to Puerto Plata
We transfer to our accommodation and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel in Puerto Plata, 1-night
Day3: Puerto Plata, en route to Silver Bank
Today we board our vessel at the Ocean World Marina in Puerto Plata. We have time to settle in before an introductory safety briefing. Dinner is served, then at around midnight we set sail, bound for the Silver Bank.
All meals are included while on board, except for the final dinner, when we're back in harbour and you can eat at the restaurant of your choice.
Early morning, we arrive at the Silver Bank, where the vessel anchors at a designated site. The rest of the morning is dedicated to detailed briefings on snorkelling in general, and humpback whales, while the crew prepare the tenders for whale watching. After a midday lunch, we set off in the two tenders for an afternoon of whale watching.
A typical day on the Silver Bank is as follows: after breakfast, we get our gear ready and board the tenders for the morning excursion, ready to see and swim with humpback whales. The objective is to spend as much time in the water with the whales as they are comfortable with. Depending on what happens in the water, we return to the mother ship at around midday. After lunch and a short break, we head back out onto the water for the afternoon.
Back aboard, the late afternoon cocktail hour is a time-honoured tradition, when over drinks and canapés we can exchange tales of the day’s sightings as the sun goes down. Dinner is served in the main salon at a fixed time – we dine as a group, served by the attentive crew. On most evenings after dinner, there is an informative short presentation relating to whales, and/or a discussion. We can then enjoy stargazing from the top deck or retire to the comfort of our cabins to relax before more whale adventures the next day.
Day9: Silver Bank to Puerto Plata
After a final morning whale watching outing, the tenders are secured ready for departure. Lunch is served on board during the crossing from the Silver Bank. The vessel typically reaches port early afternoon on Friday, and on arrival at the Ocean World Marina, you are free to relax on board or head off to dine in one of the local restaurants in Puerto Plata.
Day10: Disembarkation
This morning, we disembark after a light breakfast.
Day11: Arrive back in the UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 11 daysfrom £7,895 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 8 daysfrom £6,295 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
Trip type:
Voyage
Group Size:
14–16
Group Departures:
Make a booking request or enquire:
, Led by Mark Carwardine & Rachel AshtonEnquireBook
Chris studied Geographical Sciences in Plymouth, however his first encounter with the wider world was in 1983, when he headed off to Zambia.
Under the tutelage of the late Norman Carr, the pioneer of walking safaris, he worked as a wildlife guide and managed a wilderness camp. On his return to the UK, he had a spell at a major tour operator before setting up Wildlife Worldwide in 1992.
Since then he has travelled the world in search of first-class wildlife experiences. He devised the Festival of Wildlife concept, which has spawned the Festival of Bears. An ardent conservationist, Chris has co-led each of these since their inception. He dedicates several weeks each year to communicating his irrepressible passion for nature to those who travel with him.
A member of the Wildlife Worldwide team, Helen is a qualified South African safari guide who following a trip to Baja California, discovered a passion for cetaceans.
Extending her marine mammal knowledge accordingly, she has also turned her attention to improving her ornithological knowledge throughout the different destinations she leads to, including South America and Europe. With her boundless energy, enthusiasm and eye for perfection, Helen will ensure you get the most from your time on her trips whilst sharing her passion for wildlife.
Mark Carwardine is a zoologist, an outspoken conservationist, an award-winning and bestselling author, a TV and radio presenter, a widely published photographer, a wildlife tour operator and leader, a lecturer, and a BBC Wildlife magazine columnist.
He co-presented the BBC-TV series Last Chance to See, with the comedian and actor Stephen Fry, and the BBC-TV series Museum of Life. He also presented the weekly half-hour radio programme Nature on BBC Radio 4 for many years.
He has written more than 60 books, including the Field Guide to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, The Shark Watcher’s Handbook and The Guinness Book of Animal Records. His latest is How to Photograph Garden Birds.
He was Chairman of the Judging Panel of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for seven years (2005-2011) and was selected as one of the world’s 40 most influential nature photographers in Outdoor Photography magazine.
Rachel has worked closely with, and been a Project Manager for conservationist, zoologist, wildlife photographer, author and broadcaster Mark Carwardine since 2004.
She has organised and handled bookings on Mark’s trips over the years, as well as assisting him on many of his wildlife adventures, such as whale watching in Baja California (more than 50 trips), ship charters to Baffin Island, Antarctica and South Georgia, and snorkelling with manatees in Florida and sperm whales in Dominica.
A keen diver, she is, like Mark, passionate about marine wildlife. She started out in advertising and marketing in Australia, before a happy career switch to BBC Wildlife magazine in Bristol, where she ultimately became Features Editor. She also wrote the captions for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for 15 years (1999-2015).
The Silver Bank lies approximately 110 kilometres north of the coast of the Dominican Republic, and almost the same distance southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands, in the Antilles. In October 1986 the Dominican Republic recognized its vital importance by establishing the Silver Bank Sanctuary.
Find Out More about {acc:title}
This attractive liveaboard relocates to the Dominican Republic each year between January and April for the humpback whale season on the Silver Bank. This area is part of the Marine Mammal Sanctuary north of the Dominican Republic, roughly the same distance from the Turks & Caicos Islands further north.
Find Out More about Turks & Caicos Aggressor II
The Turks & Caicos Explorer II is a purpose-built 38-metre liveaboard based in the Dominican Republic for four months of the year when it travels to Silver Bank, the breeding ground of humpback whales. Accommodating 20 guests and equipped with two tenders, she offers a superb base for incredible whale encounters.
Find Out More about Turks & Caicos Explorer II
EXPEDITION VESSEL
EXPEDITION VESSEL
