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Swim With Humpback Whales - A Real Experience
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Imagine an up-close and personal encounter with humpback whales in their home and on their terms! This is your chance to witness the calving process right in front of your eyes!
Your cruise will include hands-on swimming safaris during the day and informative presentations at night on a small cruising vessel, perfected for Whale Encounters.
>> Press Play to see Video! >>
This video shows what you can expect to have on the Humpback Whale Swim Cruise. It is called a "Soft-In-Water Encounter". This video shows a very mellow humpback whale encounter, with calm seas, relaxed whales, and swimmers following the prescribed Soft-In-Water techniques to enjoy a memorable and awe-inspiring experience with humpback whales. The encounter took place near the wreck of the Polyxeni, which is visible in the background.
More Swimming With Whales Videos
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Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic
The Silver Bank, part of the Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic, lies approximately 70 miles (110km) north of Puerta Plana on the coast of the Dominican Republic. Surrounded by deep ocean waters, the submerged limestone plateau, know as a bank, has an average depth of 100 feet (30 meters), and 60 feet (18 meters) in the shallower areas.
Your port of embarkation for the journey to the Silver Bank is on the north coast of Dominican Republic, in the town of Cofresi, located a few miles west of the gateway city of Puerto Plata and its international airport. Here is located the Ocean World facility, a tourist destination featuring an adventure park, casino, and the only full service marina on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
"...the shallow coral reefs of Silver Bank are the largest breeding and calving grounds for Humpback whales in the world."
~ WDCS (Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society)
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About the ship - The M/V Wind Dancer
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Your home away from home on this adventure will be the M/V Wind Dancer, a "Rustic Luxury" experience. The M/V Wind Dancer is 120 feet, with a beam of 28 feet and a draft of 9 feet, displacing 260 tons. Originally built for offshore service, this heavy steel vessel is solidly built and kind in her sea keeping manners. As with all vessels of this category, the M/ V Wind Dancer is fully compliant with all requirements of the international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Treaty with respect to safety equipment, personnel, and training.
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An excellent feature of the M/V Wind Dancer is its upper deck area, the Lido deck. This expansive space provides sunning areas with chaise lounges, or shaded areas with tables and chairs. The Lido deck is an ideal alfresco place for guests to relax, offering a comfortable elevated vantage point for whale watching when not aboard the tenders. The Lido deck will be the setting of our nightly sundowner celebrations and stargazing opportunities, and is also equipped with a secondary bar.
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^ 360 Degree View - Use Mouse to Rotate Image! ^
>> Deck Plans - Click Image for Larger View! >>
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The M/V Wind Dancer is outfitted with a complete line of modern marine electronics including a Global Positioning System receiver (GPS), VHF (short range) and SSB (long range) radios, Radar, echo depth sounder, weather fax, auto pilot, and EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).
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For guest accommodations, the M/V Wind Dancer sleeps a maximum of 18 guests in nine cabins. There are 8 Deluxe Staterooms, each with private bathroom facilities. Each Deluxe Stateroom has a double bed (lower) and a twin bed (upper). This allows the staterooms to sleep couples or two individuals with ease.
Fully air conditioned, each cabin also has additional amenities, such as a wardrobe, mirrored cabinet, full length mirror, bathrobes, hairdryer, toiletries, and fresh towel service daily. In addition, there is a single Master Stateroom on the main deck, which is larger, has a queen sized bed, private bathroom facilities, and all of the above amenities, plus a TV/VCR. Electricity throughout is 110 volts AC, provided from US style outlets.
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^ 360 Degree View - Use Mouse to Rotate Image! ^
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Typical Itinerary
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| Saturday |
| 5pm |
Guests board vessel at Ocean World Marina, Cofresi, Dominican Republic; cabin
assignments |
| 6pm - 7pm |
Vessel Safety and Operations orientation; required paperwork. |
| 7pm - ? |
Dinner; group introductions |
| Sunday |
| 12:30am |
Vessel departs Ocean World Marina |
| 9am (approx.) |
Vessel arrives on the Silver Bank |
| 10am (approx.) |
Vessel arrives at Silver Bank anchorage, moors |
| 10am - 11:30am |
Vessel cleanup; tender preparations; snorkeling orientation |
| 11:30am - 1pm |
Lunch & Humpback Whale Orientation |
| 1pm - 5pm |
Whale excursion in tenders |
| 6:30pm - 7:30pm |
Sundowner celebration |
| 7:30pm - 8:30pm |
Dinner |
| 8:30pm - ? |
Evening activity (discussion, lecture, slideshow, etc.) |
| Monday - Thursday |
| 7:30am |
Breakfast |
| 8:30am - 11:30am |
Whale excursion in tenders |
| Noon |
Lunch |
| 1:30pm - 5:30pm |
Whale excursion in tenders |
| 6:30pm - 7:30pm |
Sundowner celebration |
| 7:30pm - 8:30pm |
Dinner |
| 8:30pm - ? |
Evening activity (discussion, lecture, slideshow, etc.) |
| Friday |
| 7:30am |
Breakfast |
| 8am |
Vessel drops mooring, departs Silver Bank anchorage |
| 4pm (approx.) |
Vessel arrives Ocean World Marina |
| 4pm - 5pm |
Vessel & passengers clear Dominican Republic customs & immigration |
| 5pm - 11pm |
Free time to explore ashore, shop, dinner |
| Saturday |
| 7:30am |
Continental Breakfast |
| 8:30am |
Guests disembark vessel |
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2009 Schedule & Availability
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| Charter Availability & Dates for 2009 |
| Dates |
Board |
Disembark |
# of Nights |
Arrival/
Departure |
Availability |
| February 7 - February 14 |
5 PM, Feb. 7 |
8:30 AM, Feb. 14 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Open |
| February 14 - February 21 |
5 PM, Feb. 14 |
8:30 AM, Feb. 21 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Sold Out |
| February 21 - February 28 |
5 PM, Feb. 21 |
8:30 AM, Feb. 28 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Open |
| February 28 - March 7 |
5 PM, Feb. 28 |
8:30 AM, Mar. 7 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Sold Out |
| March 7 - March 14 |
5 PM, Mar. 7 |
8:30 AM, Mar. 14 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Sold Out |
| March 14 - March 21 |
5 PM, Mar. 14 |
8:30 AM, Mar. 21 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Sold Out |
| March 21 - March 28 |
5 PM, Mar. 21 |
8:30 AM, Mar. 28 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Sold Out |
| March 28 - April 4 |
5 PM, Mar. 28 |
8:30 AM, Apr. 7 |
7 |
Sat. PM to Sat. AM |
Open |
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