I'm very happy to report that the first whale watch of the 2021 season was a big success! We didn't have to travel far from home to find a hot spot of activity consisting of at least 30 Humpback Whales, a steady and continuous stream of White-sided Dolphins, and Gray Seals all around! After fasting for the winter, the whales were no doubt very hungry and were expending a lot of energy as they filled up on some of their first meals of the season. It was an incredible seen as some feeding associations consisted of 8-10 individuals or more.
The only down side is that there was a lot of twisting and twirling going on as well as diving at odd angles. This made making identifying the whales a bit more challenging, but we were able to name a few. One of the highlights for me was seeing Venom's 2020 calf! It's nice to know that this youngster survived its first winter without mom's protection.
Whale Watching on the Feeding Grounds
Two hungry Humpbacks bubble feeding. Photographed Sat, 5/19/18
A Sei Whale skim feeding at the surface. Photographed Sat, 5/6/18
Pleats feeding off the bow. Photographed Sat, 7/1/18 (PM trip)
Whale Watching on the Breeding Grounds
The whale watching that I do on the breeding grounds is completely different from whale watching on the feeding grounds. It requires traveling to the Dominican Republic and staying on a live aboard yacht for an entire week as we’re anchored 70+ miles offshore on Silver Bank. The reason that I chose this option is because you not only get to watch the whales as you would on a typical whale watch, but you’re also given the incredible opportunity to snorkel with them!
The guide that I go with is Conscious Breath Adventures and much like 7 Seas Whale Watch, I cannot recommend them highly enough. The office staff is a tremendous help organizing travel to and from the airport as well booking hotel rooms if needed. The crew aboard the live aboard yacht are amazing people as well. You’re treated like family the second your feet hit the deck and their primary goal is to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible throughout your stay. If you’d like more information about this amazing experience, feel free to check Conscious Breath Adventures out.