Oversikt
Designated as a Marine Sanctuary, the Silver Bank provides a safe wintering haven for the entire North Atlantic Humpback Whale population who gather here from January through April by the thousands to court, mate, calve, and rear their young. Humpback whales find the area ideal for mating and giving birth.
Dag til dag reiseplan
Day 1: Boarding is at 4 p.m. with a 9:30 pm departure to Silver Bank.
Day 2: Arrival in Silver Bank is around 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Sunday weather permitting. Brunch/late breakfast while crew prepares mooring and assembly of the tenders. The first tender runs begins at 2:00 p.m. (2 tenders running). Afternoon tenders runs to the yacht at approximately 5:00 p.m.
Day 3-5: First tender runs will commence immediately after breakfast. Whale runs are throughout the day. “Sundowner” cocktail parties on the sun deck every afternoon following whale runs. Nightly presentation and video will be after dinner.
Day 6: Two tenders runs will be offered prior to departure from the Silver Bank.
Day 7: The yacht returns to the Ocean World Marina in Puerto Plata late Friday afternoon. Friday night, dinner is not served onboard; however, the crew will recommend a restaurant in the marina.
Day 8: Check out is between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.
Reiserute
The warm oceans of the Dominican Republic’s Metallic Bank give a wintering destination for a large number of North Ocean humpback whales. It’s likewise one of very few locations in the world you can interact with them, listen to their haunting songs resonating through the water, and feel the power and style of probably the most ?intelligent mammals on earth. Simply nο other trip gives you all the time with these amazing animals—it’s ? wildlife encounter without comparison.
Designated as a Marine Sanctuary, the Silver Bank provides a safe wintering haven for the entire North Atlantic Humpback Whale population who gather here from January through April by the thousands to court, mate, calve, and rear their young. Humpback whales find the area ideal for mating and giving birth. The banks offer safety and protection to females and their calves until the young are strong enough to make the trip back to the North Eastern U.S. coast. This sanctuary, also known as the “Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic”
About your expedition
Many of the places where Humpback Whales congregate are too cold or turbid for rewarding encounters. The Silver Bank area is one of the few places in the world where humans can have soft-water encounters with Humpbacks. The Silver Banks’ warm clear water is an ideal location for viewing and photographing the whales.
The Silver Bank, a possession of the Dominican Republic, is located between the island of Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic. The area is considered treacherous by mariners because of its numerous coral pinnacles which rise from depths of 60 and 100 feet to within a few feet of the surface. The Turks & Caicos Aggressor II is one of the few yachts permitted access to the Silver Bank during the Humpbacks mating and breeding season
The Silver Bank is officially part of the “Sanctuary for the marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic”. This Sanctuary is one of the few places in the world where swimming with Humpback Whales is officially sanctioned, permitted and regulated. As a sanctuary, all activities within its bounds are subject to very specific regulations that apply to the activity of swimming with the whales. These regulations protect the whales from harassment and provide the best possible chance of a lasting and meaningful encounter. During your initial briefing the crew will review the sanctuary guidelines and rules. They are also charged by the sanctuary commission to ensure that all guests comply with the rules and regulations of the charter.
The Turks & Caicos Aggressor II moors in an area near the backbone reef of the Silver Bank where an old Greek freighter called the Polyxeni lies aground being rapidly reclaimed by the sea. This extensive reef provides some protection and a comfortable anchorage for the yacht. The tenders (with bimini tops) are launched several times daily and are solely used to bring you closer to the whales. Tender runs last one and a half to three hours depending on the proximity of whale activity and time of day Humpback whales find the area ideal for mating and giving birth. The banks offer safety and protection to females and their calves until the young are strong enough to make the trip back to the North Eastern U.S. coast.
During the trip you will enjoy two distinct types of encounters. One type will occur on the surface as you enjoy the spectacle put-on by rowdy males as they aggressively compete for the attention of the females by 4 breaching, slamming into one another, lob tailing, spy hopping and fin and tail slapping. Needless to say, these activities can only be safely observed from a reasonable distance in the tenders. The other type of encounter will involve entering the water wearing mask, fins and snorkel to observe less aggressive and often curious groups and individuals. Whales considered to be approachable in the water include mother, calf and escort male trios, solitary females and sleeping whales. Sometimes the whales are curious and cooperative and sometimes they disappear in a flash.
The Whale Commission does not allow scuba diving in the Whale Sanctuary. Marine mammals view bubbles (scuba) as a sign of aggression and the Whale Commission wants to avoid any chance that divers and whales meet. It is extremely likely that your experience with the whales will exceed your wildest expectations.
• The more time you spend in the tenders, the greater chance you will have to reach the experience you are seeking.
• You must stay prepared to enter the water and follow all instructions the inflatable operator gives you.
During the week, guests of our Dominican Republic Humpback Whale Watching itinerary will observe the whales at close range which includes above the water and soft in water encounters. You'll see them spin and play, hear their haunting songs resonating through the water and sense the power and grace of some of the most intelligent mammals on earth - it’s a life-changing experience! All whale charters depart from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.The Turks and Caicos Aggressor II™ is one of the few yachts permitted access to the Silver Bank during the Humpback mating and breeding season.
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Vi vil komme tilbake til deg med et tilbud på den forespurte reisen/pakken I løpet av 48 timer. Alle tilbud er uforpliktende og er vanligvis gyldige i 7 dager. Vi gjør oppmerksom på at reserverte tjenester kan bli kansellert innenfor disse 7 dagene og at pris kan endres inntil en endelig bestilling er mottatt.
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