Whale Trips

Swimming with Humpback Whales at the Silver Banks

The Silver Banks are a shallow area of the ocean (20 to 75 feet deep) surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean that is 7,000 feet deep. The Banks are about 80 miles north of Dominican Republic in the Atlantic Ocean. These humpback whales spend the winter months here to give birth, train their young and breed.

Trip Date:

Rescheduled for 2014. Email now, to get on the list.

The trip Captain is Tom, with twenty years experience, of Aquatic Adventures. www.AquaticAdventures.com
Sign up by emailing Asia.

Details:

Asia Voight and Mary Lelle are offering a unique experience to float and swim with some of the largest mammals on our planet, the amazing Humpback Whales. To see these grand mammals in their natural habitat during mating and calving season is one of the most breathtaking experiences you will ever have.

The Silver Bank, also known as the “Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic” is located 85 miles north of the island. Research indicates that the Silver Bank contains the largest population of humpbacks in the North Atlantic Ocean, if not the world. From December to mid April the waters of the Dominican Republic are alive with migrating North Atlantic Humpback Whales, en route to breeding and calving zones. One of the highlights during our trip will be slipping into the water to experience a soft-in-water encounter with these magnificent mammals.

During the evening we will relax aboard the “M/V Turks and Caicos Explorer II” and enjoy educational slide shows, videos and audio recordings that will assist you in understanding the theories, behaviors and anatomy of the North Atlantic Humpback Whale. We will also have time for Energy Sharing Basics, Animal Communication, Yoga, and Meditations with the Whales.

Rooms:

Master Rooms: 1 & 2 each offers individually controlled air-conditioning systems, a queen-sized bed, desk, chair, private bathroom and shower.

Main Level Rooms: 3 & 4 on the main deck have twin beds, desk with chair, hanging closet, wardrobe, storage, individually controlled air conditioning, private bathroom and shower. Rooms 5, 6 and 7 on the main deck have twins or a queen bed, desk with chair, hanging closet, wardrobe, storage, individually controlled air conditioning, private bathroom and shower.

Lower Level Rooms: 8, 9 and 10 are accessed via a circular staircase from the main salon; each includes twin upper/lower beds, wardrobe, hanging closet, individually controlled air conditioning, private bathroom and shower.

Boat:

The “M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II” is 124 ft. long and 22 ft. wide. It can accommodate up to 20 passengers. This is the nicest boat for whale watching on the Silver Bank.

The back of the main deck is where diving operations take place. The dive deck is equipped with individual gear lockers, camera table, recharging station, freshwater rinse baths for dive equipment and cameras. It also has a wetsuit hanging area, freshwater showers, and a bathroom. Large stairways lead down to the dive platform, where two in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water. Forward of the dive deck is the air-conditioned main salon, where breakfasts and dinners are served. (Lunch is on the Tenders.) The salon contains an entertainment center with TV/DVD and stereo, as well as a boutique display and access to all staterooms and the galley.

The lower deck of the vessel includes the compressor, dive gear storage room, and is accessed from the dive platform through two watertight doors.

The Crew:

Captain Tom has twenty-one years of whale trips in his resume! The crew has been with Captain Tom from between 5 – 8 years. They are composed of certified dive masters and instructors who have undergone rigorous STCW 95 training in shipboard firefighting, sea survival skills, CPR, and first aid.

Chef / food:

The chef will provide you an excellent variety of delicious cuisine in the scenic dining room.  If you have a request regarding diet, please let the Captain know. They will do their best to accommodate your wishes.

Drinks:

Water, iced tea, coffee, assorted sugar free juices, fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages are provided. Happy hour daily on the sundeck offers daily snacks, sunsets and starlit nights.

Tenders: (25 foot boats)

While the “M/V Turks & Caicos Explorer II” stays anchored during the week, we venture out on it’s newest, best equipped and maintained tenders on the Silver Bank. These two twenty-five foot long, ten-foot extra-wide ocean going tenders have twin four stroke Yamaha 115hp environmentally conscious engines. These state of the art engines eliminate exhaust fumes and permit us to go quietly to the whales. A quiet approach is important when successfully establishing soft-in-water encounters. These tenders furnish the best platforms for topside photography available on the Silver Bank. For your safety, a professional whale guide and dive master will always operate the tenders.

Each tender carries only ten guests with plenty of bench space for your comfort, and splash rails / guards to minimize spray, and to protect your dry articles. An abundance of storage space for snorkeling gear, bimini tops to protect you from the sun, heavy-duty boarding ladders, first aid kits, life vests, VHF radios, GPS navigation and plenty of sandwiches, snacks, fruit and water. (These are great boats! I have been on many trips where the tenders had no shade, no ladder, and no space for your gear or your legs. This is deluxe!)

What’s Included:

Three meals a day (except Friday night dinner where we go into town), snacks throughout the day/evening, all coffee, tea, juices, all alcoholic (limited to well spirits, beer and wine) all linens, towels, hot showers, air conditioned staterooms and amenities, DVD library, CD library, and all tender / touring activity. Yoga, Animal Communication / Animal Spirit Guide Classes, Energy Sharing and Meditations.

What’s Not Included:

Airfare to/from your terminal port, tourist cards needed for arrival, (a tourist card must be purchased from your air carrier before your arrival to Puerto Plata or upon arrival in Puerto Plata, this is $10.00), transfers to and from the ship or hotels (for a small fee this can be arranged), excess baggage charges, departure taxes at airport, cruising, port & sanctuary fees, fuel surcharge, Friday night dinner (unless on extended trip), equipment rental, vacation videos, gratuities (10%-20%) for boat crews.

Deposits and Refunds:

Verbal, faxed or written reservations will be held for 7 days. A $1,000.00 non-refundable deposit per person is required within 7 days to confirm a reservation. Payment in full is required 90 days prior to your “Swim with Whales” trip.  (The middle of November.) Substitution of guests is permitted with approval. Trip cancellation insurance is suggested and available through Captain Tom’s website. The $200.00 port, cruising and sanctuary fee and $200.00 fuel surcharge fee is due at the beginning of your trip and paid in cash. All payments are nonrefundable.

Fee:

Our “Swim with Whales” trip is 7 days long. One of the days included is your arrival day. A 7-day expedition gives you 5 days on the Silver Bank with a minimum of 4 1/2 days of tender time.

A 7-day expedition fee: To Be Determined. There will be ranges depending on your choice of stateroom.

Contact Captain Tom

For more details visit Captain Tom’s website: www.AquaticAdventures.com

Register:

Contact Asia.

Please join us on this wonderful adventure with Humpback whales at the Silver Bank!

If these dates do not work with your schedule, or it’s not in your budget, let me know. I will put you on next year’s list.

In Joy, Your hosts,

Asia and Mary

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