Aboard the Tenders

The Wind Dancer's two custom-built 25-foot tenders will carry up to nine guests each, plus a crew of two — providing plenty of space for you and your gear.

A great deal of time is spent aboard the tenders each day while in search of whales; they are a huge contributor to your overall experience while in this special place. For that reason, Conscious Breath Adventures is excited to have at its service, and for your pleasure, two of the finest tenders operating on the Silver Bank.

The two tenders for this service were specifically built for duty on the Silver Bank. They are each 25 foot fiberglass boats, with a wide ten foot beam that offers a stable ride to the guests. Built for open water, each boat has an unsinkable, foam flotation filled hull, and twin four stroke engines. Having twin engines adds a large measure of safety and dependability, and because they are four stroke engines, they are quiet and have low emissions. These are important environmental considerations while operating in the sanctuary and around the humpback whales. Of course, each tender also has a full complement of safety equipment, including VHF radio, first aid kit, oxygen, and signaling flares.

Custom Features

The tenders host an assortment of custom features. Each tender has extensive sun shade, as well as spray protection. There is a dry storage area forward with a shelf for cameras and other gear. Each tender is equipped with a central bench that runs fore and aft, which means all passengers will be seated on benches with backs, not on the rail, in the shade and away from the spray. With the benches configured fore and aft, guests will be seated back to back, facing outward (for whales!) with a clear view. This is excellent for comfort as well as looking for and/or photographing whales. There is also a heavy duty dive ladder to make boarding easier once your encounter is over. And once helped safely out of the water, there is a rinse bucket for your camera and a supply of hearty snacks and cold beverages to satisfy your appetites!

There is one thing that all these custom features can't add to a boat, and that is space. But because each tender will carry a maximum of only nine guests, plus a crew of two, at any given time, on two of the largest tenders on the Silver Bank, there will be plenty of space. Big tenders with fewer guests means more space for your gear, your cameras, your fins. It means fewer people jockeying for position for a view, and more space for photographers looking to frame up that perfect shot. The mixture of size along with the light passenger load is an unbeatable combination.

A Smaller Group Means a Better Experience With the Whales

Of course, less people on deck also means less people in the water with the whales, and that's where it really counts. Smaller groups have a better chance of entering the water quietly, and are much more likely to have a successful encounter.

It is easier for participants to stay together, and to follow the directions of the in-water divemaster guides. It makes it easier for everyone to have that eye to eye encounter they've come for. And for photographers, it means you are less likely to get that perfect fin photo — of your snorkel buddy's fin!

Experienced and Expert Crew

With a crew of two, guests will have great service while away from the M/V Wind Dancer, too. There will be an extra pair of hands to help move you and your gear safely into and out of the water. But of equally high value is the fact that because one of these crewmen will be a Conscious Breath Adventures captain who will be acting as guide, guests will have the benefit of many years of direct humpback whale experience to help lead them to the best encounters possible. These divemasters will use their years of experience both on and in the water with humpback whales to help interpret behaviors, select appropriate whales for approach, and then guide that approach.

It is easy to see that with this combination of personnel and passengers, size, space and equipment, your time spent aboard these tenders while looking for whales will be comfortable and rewarding.