A mother humpback whale lobtails while her calf breaches
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Pec Slap
A curious adult humpback whale gives guests aboard the tender a close look.
A female humpback pec slaps while her escort blocks an approaching challenger.
A mother humpback pec slaps while her calf lobtails
A female humpback slaps her pec fin while her calf breaches nearby
A humpback whale slaps its pectoral fin for an appreciative audience
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In the northern hemisphere's winter months of January through April, the world's largest congregation of North Atlantic humpback whales occurs in the waters of the Dominican Republic's 300-square-mile Silver Bank. During that time up to 5,000 North Atlantic Humpback Whales gather to calve, court and mate. On the Silver Bank, even experienced whale watchers are often surprised by the sheer number of whales and the variety of behaviors on display.
Having migrated south from rich northern waters provisioned with tons of blubber, the North Atlantic humpback whales do not feed for the duration of their tropical visit. Instead they devote all of their energy to birthing and nursing a new generation of young, or in courting and mating to create the next. The topside observer is treated to a full array of individual and group surface behaviors including a variety of thrilling breaches, pectoral fin slapping, spyhopping, peduncal throws and lobtailing. It is not only possible to witness all these behaviors in a day's excursion, but to have to choose which one to observe more closely!
Humpback Whale Mating is Serious Business
But not all behaviors are playful. Procreation is serious business on the Silver Bank. When the males arrive, their testosterone levels are high and they are eager to find a mate. The presence of a receptive female can lead to competitive rowdy groups as challenging males physically struggle to displace her escort.
These conflicts can be very physical, last for hours, and cover many miles as each bull fights for the favored position at the female's side. Being on the water in a small boat when four to fifteen (or more!) male humpback whales brawl for dominance will redefine your concept of "running with the bulls"!
In The Water
Eye-to-eye with a curious humpback whale calf
A group of swimmers encounters humpback whales in the water
An adult humpback whale is as big as a school bus.
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Lobtailing and Peduncle Throws
Lobtailing Humpback Whale Calf
Guests watch as a humpback whale calf lobtails.
A humpback whale calf lobtail
A mother humpback whale lobtails while her calf breaches
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Encountering Humpbacks in the Water
While the topside displays are spectacular, what brings most visitors to the Silver Bank is the chance to enter the warm waters and experience these humpback whales in their natural environment. Imagine looking into the eye of a playful and curious weeks-old calf while the mother naps fifty feet below. Then imagine the mother surfacing nearby for a breath and, accepting your presence, settling back down to continue her rest. Or imagine not only watching but participating in two mate's graceful courtship dance once the competition is over and the happy couple pairs off.
In this celebration you are audience to 40 ton dancers as they swoop, spin and cavort in an exquisite exhibition of dexterity as they use their long pectoral fins to precisely control their every move.
If you are truly fortunate, you may have a front row seat to one of the greatest performances on earth, a singing male humpback whale. Imagine listening to the most sophisticated animal song on the planet in an auditorium where you are literally immersed in the music. The power of these songs makes them audible for miles. Composed mostly of water, our bodies allow this acoustic energy to flow right through. It is not unusual for visitors to experience different resonance frequencies from the song of the humpback whale, with some feeling the reverberations in their chest cavities, others in the long bones of their arms or legs. Close your eyes and the music doesn't come from without, but from within. Imagine a concert where the song literally moves you to the core!
