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, Helen Bryon and Hazel Pittwood. 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
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Day 1:
Travel to the Dominican Republic via Miami
On arrival in Miami, you stay overnight at an airport hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Miami, 1-night
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Day 2:
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
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Day 3:
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.
Accommodation: Turks & Caicos Explorer II or Turks & Caicos Aggressor II, 7-nights
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Days 4-8
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Silver Bank: snorkelling with humpbacks
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.
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Day 9:
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.
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Day 10:
Disembarkation
This morning, we disembark after a light breakfast.
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Day 11:
Arrive back in the UK
EXPEDITION VESSEL
EXPEDITION VESSEL
