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Log Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Entry By: Turk & Caicos Crew
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April 4-11, 2009
This week was our last week with the whales of the Silver Banks for the year, and we could not have asked for a better group of guests. We left Ocean World Marina and had a fantastic crossing out to the Banks. We moored up for the last time this year near the wreck and got the chaseboats prepared. We hit the water Sunday afternoon and started off the week tracking a mother whale and her calf. Momma was not super relaxed, but she was comfortable enough to let us into the water for a few breath cycles with her and her young baby. As we started heading back to the main boat, we came across another group of whales. This time a mother, her calf and a male escort were moving throughout the coral heads, and the male escort made up his mind that we were a challenger. Both the big male and momma surfaced at the same time on either side of the chase boat and took a breath only about 6 feet from us. The escort then made a deep dive, arching his back high into the air giving us a nice shot of the underside of his massive fluke, still only about 6 feet from the side of the boat. It is always a thrill being so close to these magnificent animals.
Monday morning we spent some time with a very playful mother, calf and escort. We first picked them up very close to the main boat and spent the majority of the morning with them. We cruised over the flat calm water with them as they were tail lobbing and pec slapping. When many people come here to see the whales, they often forget about some of the fantastic surface activity we encounter.
Tuesday morning we met some new friends. Momma Betsy and baby Charlie are two whales that allowed us to spend most of the morning in the water with them. Both whales were very curious towards us and we often wondered exactly who was watching whom. With each breath cycle, the whales’ confidence in us grew and they swam closer and closer to us with each pass, resulting in some fantastic photographs. The encounter with Betsy and Charlie was a classic example of the sweet, surreal experience that is snorkeling with humpback whales. It always amazes us that these huge animals are so willing to put up with us.
We changed pace a little Tuesday afternoon, and we spent the entire time with a rowdy group. It was really the mother load of surface encounters! The chase started off with a pod of Spotted Dolphins cruising in front of our chaseboat, and despite our predictions, continued to hang out with us even as we were following the fast moving humpbacks. The dolphins rode our bow wake as we kept up with the whales, and even swam in and amongst the whales. Talk about a high excitement encounter!! The dolphins hung around for 20 minutes or so but eventually left us as we continued to follow the rowdies. The group of whales started with 6 individuals, then down to 4 and finally back up to 6 again. We saw some unbelievable surface activity, including two males breaching into one another, with one landing on top of the other! It goes to show you that just when you think you are starting to learn about the animals’ behavior, they go and do something that totally shocks you!
Wednesday morning we experienced a slight rain delay as we waited to get out until a small rainstorm passed, but as soon as we got out in the small boat, we found a very relaxed mother and calf. They let us get into the water with them several times and shared many breath cycles with us. After a few hours, two males came along and started fighting over our momma whale. As the males were chasing our momma, her baby got all wrapped up in the excitement and started rolling over moms nose as she was trying to maneuver around the massive coral heads in the ‘nursery’ area of the Silver Banks. The foursome eventually swam off to the east of the wreck and out into the deep blue.
Thursday we took in our last day on the banks with a heavy heart. It is truly an amazing thing that we get to share in these whales lives every year in the Silver Banks. We are among a select group of people that get to catch a glimpse of these whales during their yearly trip to mate and give birth off the coast of the Dominican Republic. We are truly blessed and very lucky to get to spend ten weeks a year with these magnificent animals.
We would like to thank Deborah, Bob, Holly, Clarice, Jenny, Chris, Zeineb and Margareet for a fantastic week! Until we meet again, best regards.
Your Crew,
Captain Amanda, Scott, Brandon, Ronnie, Patty and Melissa
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