The Dominican Republic has long been known as a fantastic Caribbean tourist destination with plenty of activities to keep tourists busy and plenty of beaches to lounge on for those who don’t want to be busy. However, there is one side to the Dominican Republic that only a select few get to see and that is the underside – of the waves.
Diving in the Dominican Republic is an amazing experience and one not to be missed. There is so much to see in this submarine environment. Samana Bay is one of the best places in the world to see the gracious and awe-inspiring humpback whale and it is also a place where there is so much to see and do. Divers have the opportunity to enjoy spectacular cave diving, with the mighty cliffs that rise out of the water in the bay. There is an abundance of marine life, including snappers, sergeant majors, parrot fish, trumpet fish, scorpion fish, fan coral, Elkhorn coral, hard and soft corals, lobsters, crabs, colorful fish, mantas, dolphins, and whale sharks. However, the most impressive sight is the humpback whale. These creatures come to this area of the world to mate and give birth to their young and divers have the unique experience of encountering these creatures in the water and hearing their sounds as they speak with one another.
But just when you think it couldn’t get any better, you find out there is another site in the Dominican Republic that is an even better place to watch and swim with these magnificent creatures. Lying 110 km (70 miles) off the north coast of the Dominican Republic is Silver Banks. It received its name from the Spanish gold and silver that was lost from ships in the 17th century and the limestone banks that form the base of the coral reef. The most spectacular aspect of this area is the appearance of the incredible humpback whales that mate and bear their young, relying on the protection of the coral reef and of the boundaries that keep them safe. Silver Banks was declared a whale sanctuary by the Dominican Republic in 1986 and this has created a haven for these majestic marine mammals. In fact, it is the largest breeding ground in the world for Humpback whales and an estimated 3000-5000 pass through the area each year from the months of December to April.
This protected marine area has also created a haven for divers and snorkelers who want to get up close and personal with the whales in their natural habitat and it is one of the few places that people can actually swim with the whales. Reached only by boat or liveaboard, the government of the Dominican Republic has ensured that there is a tight control on the visitors to Silver Banks. Very few boats are licensed to go to the area and they must obey strict mooring guidelines in order to keep the whales safe.
There are also protocols for snorkelers and divers to observe when swimming with the whales. First, distance is kept until the whales accept the presence of the boat and then everyone slides into the water. All participants are urged not to approach the whales directly or splash in their presence, but to just float quietly and wait. The whales are curious and when they feel comfortable they will come up for a close encounter of their own.
So what do divers see in the waters of Silver Banks? They see calves swimming in their mother’s slipstream, whales leaping from the water (known as breaches), and slapping the water with their tails and pectoral fins and they hear the magnificent whale song beneath the surface. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to swim with a mammal the size of a bus and to have these shy and timid creatures approach you without fear.
Why do the whales come here to breed? The reef is shallow and breaches the surface in places, which offers the mothers and calves protection from ocean swells. Of course, this is an area in which they are also safe from whaling. The whales have fed extensively in the north and when they reach tropical waters they do not need to feed and tend to focus all their energies on producing and rearing their young.
The experience of being within arm’s reach of a mammal of such a size and gentleness is something that truly cannot be described in a way that can do it justice, although many have tried. The Humpback whale will even, once it is comfortable with you, mimic you as you do tricks in the water. Care must be taken however, because the whales will also mimic the slapping of hands (in their case fins) on the water and if you are too close to the whale, you may just be slapped by one of those enormous fins. This has happened to more than one diver.
Besides just swimming, photos are taken. Photos of whales in and out of the water, photos of sows and their calves, photos of males swimming far below, and photos of the amazing tricks they do. Divers can also have someone take their photo with one of these amazing creatures. Every diver must be sure to bring their underwater camera along for the trip. It may be the only way to convince friends and family back home that you really swam with these enormous creatures.
All in all the adventure of swimming with the whales is one that is almost unbelievable. Divers often wonder if this is a dream or reality and all too soon the adventure is over. Fortunately, the whales come back to the area each and every year, which means that divers can also come back year after year to see the same show. If you truly love diving and you truly love whales, then this is an experience you will want to repeat.