Whale Watching a Life Changing Experience
Duration: Half Day
If you take a holiday to the Turks and Caicos Islands between January and early April, one of the most exciting and memorable tours you can enjoy is whale watching. During this time of year, thousands of North Atlantic humpback whales swim past the shores of Salt Cay and Grand Turk on the way to The Silver Banks of the Dominican Republic, 40 miles south from Salt Cay. The whales even visit or stay between these islands as part of their annual migration. The Silver Banks is a winter breeding ground and nursing area for these magnificent creatures, although expectant mothers sometimes give birth on the way at Great Sand Cay. Whale watchers may be lucky enough to spot both the mothers and their calves during their trip. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to get close to these gentle giants and witness their beauty and playful activities first hand.
Located in the Caribbean, about 30 miles southeast of the Bahamas, the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are two groups of islands separated by a 22-mile passage called the Columbus Passage. There are many different islands and cays, but only eight are inhabited. A 25 minute flight will take you from the main tourist island of Providenciales (usually called Provo) to Salt Cay, where you will board a boat to take you out into the Atlantic Ocean in search of humpback whales.
Not only will you get the chance to see these incredible marine mammals, which are sadly listed as endangered, but you will also learn fascinating facts about their characteristics and breaching activities. Humpback whales are sociable, energetic and acrobatic, and their antics won’t fail to entertain you. Watch them in awe as they flap their flippers on the water (flippering); raise their enormous tail out of the water and slap it on the surface (tail-lobbing) and leap high out of the water (breaching). Experts consider these leaps to be an act of courtship, or a challenge or display of strength. The humpback whale grows up to 15 meters long and its most characteristic features are its knobbly head and its exceptionally long fins, which are almost a third of the size of their total body length.
When the seas are calm, you will get the chance to snorkel in the water with the whales. This is one of the most amazing and unforgettable experiences you will probably ever have with one of nature's most majestic creatures. During the mating season divers and snorkelers can enjoy listening to the “songs” of the male whales as they sing what is believed to be mating songs to their other halves. A typical song lasts about 10-20 minutes.