Whale Watching

Dolphins can be observed all year round in the whole wide Caribbean Region. However, they are the most easy to find in steep slope areas around islands.

The humpback whale, the whale-watchig star, migrates in Caribbean islands from Jun to December but it is more abundant in February and Marsh, in particular in the Samana bay sanctuary in Dominican republic.

Besides its size, the sperm whale may be tricky to find, as it spends most of its time in deep oceanic waters, looking for food. However, in Dominic, the species is particularly abundant and regularly sighted, in particular between November and March.

Watching marine mammals in the wild is an incredible experience and an interesting way of development for Caribbean territories. However, whale watching disturbs wild animals and can lead to significant impacts when it is too frequent or intense : in some regions of the world, whale watching has contributed to reproduction decline and displacement of some dolphin populations. So, before whale-watching, ask for the regulation in force in the region you are visiting, and whatever the rules are, keep in mind the following recommendations (click on the following image) :

• Never get close to marine mammals when they are resting (keep still at the surface) or when you are dealing with a mother and calf pair.
• Approach the animals from their side, at low speed (5 knots max), and stop at about a hundred meters from the group.
• Never chase animals that do not want to be approached.
• Do not swim with animals. It may be dangerous bot for you and for them.

For more information refer to the guide of good practices of observation of marine mammals, adopted by the SPAW parties (downloadable below).
We encourage you to whale-watch with a professional committed to a sustainable and marine mammal friendly activity. Note that there are guidelines and/or regulations in several countries in the Widder Caribbean region. Find more informations on the IWC website, "the Whale Watching Handbook" and check with local tourism agencies before booking your whale-watching journey !

In order to support commercial operators of marine mammal observation to develop a sustainable and responsible whale watching activity and to promote a quality tourist offer, the SPAW RAC offers operators a dematerialized educational kit that can be downloaded here