Travel

Words by Matt Weiss

Images by Pier van der Walt and Matt Weiss

Located 70 miles north of the Dominican Republic lies the Silver Bank.  This 10x20 mile area is  shallow, rarely reaching depths of over 100 feet -- a nondescript body of beautiful Caribbean water. The only distinguishable features are a maze of coral heads that poke out of the water, and the remains of the Polyxeni, a Greek freighter wreck, that now serves as warning to other boats wishing to enter the Bank.  From January to May every year, however, the Silver Bank’s waters come alive with the arrival of the humpback whales.  

Declared a marine mammal sanctuary in 1996,  The Silver Bank is one of the premier areas in the world to encounter humpbacks. The Banks’ calm and protected waters are an ideal area for mating and giving birth.  The females will raise their calves here until they are strong enough to continue their migration up to the North Eastern Coast of the U.S.

This makes The Silver Bank area one of the only places in the world where you can enjoy humpback encounters in calm, clear, warm water.  Aside from the amazing above water shows, where you can witness these gigantic individuals spy hopping, tail slapping, and making amazing full body breaches, you can also don a mask and snorkel and photograph them underwater as well.

Silver Bank Fast Facts

Where: 80 Miles North of Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic

When: January- April

Water Temperature:   78-80F/ 26-27C

Air Temperature: Around 86F/ 30C

Diving Experience Level: There is no diving, only snorkeling. Moderate swimming may be required.

Photography Experience Level:  If the whales are cooperative and the visibility good -- very easy.

Who to Dive (snorkel) With: 

The Silver Bank is only accessible by boat, and only a few boats have permits to enter the sanctuary.  The Turks and Caicos Aggressor II spends January-May in the Bank, offering week long snorkel trips to see the humpback whales. The 150ft luxury yacht has fully air-conditioned staterooms with private bathrooms.  It is well  equipped to handle photographic equipment, with a camera table and dedicated rinse tank.

The Turks and Caicos Aggressor II carries  two chase boats, which are inflatable dinghys with bimini tops, that are used for whale encounters.  You will spend most of the day on the chase boats looking for whales.

 

Humpback Encounters In the Silver Bank

Humpbacks will be your only photo subjects in the Silver Bank, but they are captivating animals that few photographers will ever bore of.  They are one of the largest species of whales, ranging from about 40-50 feet (12-16m) and weigh around 80,000 pounds (36,000 kg).  

Despite their large size, these baleen whales feed on krill and small fish, and only do in the summer while they are in the polar waters.  While in the tropical areas, like the Silver Bank, they fast and live off their fat reserves, focusing on breeding and rearing their calves, before their long migration back to the polar regions.   This makes for several different types of possible encounters:

 

 

Mother and Calf – This is the most common type of encounter in the Silver Bank. Normally you will wait on the boat until a mother and calf take a rest and then  quietly slip into the water so you don’t disturb them.   The calves can be playful and will sometimes interact with the snorkelers, which is an optimal time for photography.

Mother, Calf and Escort – These encounters not only include the mother and calf, but also a male. The male is referred to as the escort, as he is accompanying the pair for the time being.  Escorts can make a photographers life more difficult, as they may perceive you as competition and try to leave with the mother and calf.

Solitary females – The further you get into the season, the less common it is to encounter a single female, but even without any calf or behavior, they are spectacular subjects.

Valentine – A valentine is the term used to describe the courting ritual between two whales. It’s a delicate, mesmerizing performance that can provide stunning photo opportunities.

 

 

 

The humpback show in the Silver Bank isn’t limited to below the surface, and there is plenty to see topside as well. In fact, you would hard to pressed to find a better whale watching experience.

Tail and Pec Slapping -  This occurs when the whale brings its tail or pectoral fin out of the water, and,  as the name implies, slaps it hard against the sruface.  They can repeat this act over and over again, which makes it easier to get photographs of the behavior.

Spy hopping – Spy hopping occurs when the whale pokes its head out of the water, offering a rare opportunity to photograph a humpback’s rostrum from the surface.

Breaching – Breaching occurs when the humpbacks jump out of the water. Watching   a 50 foot animal that weighs nearly 40 tons leap into the air from the ocean is an impressive sight.  A humpback will swim near the surface, build up speed and then quickly jerk upwards and hit the surface like a rocket.  Around 90% of the whale can come out of the water, as it turns its body on a 30 degree angle and lands back down on its side of back. The splash created by a breach is an experience in itself.

Underwater Photography Equipment For The Humpbacks of the Silver Bank

Photographing large animals in open water actually requires less equipment than reef diving, as you need to only bring what you need for the specific subject.

• This is wide angle only shooting, so leave your flat ports and macro lenses at home. A fisheye is the recommended lens of choice, as the animals can reach upwards of 40 ft in length! 
  

• Strobes are not needed or allowed.

• If you have a compact camera, a wide angle conversion lens is highly recommended

• Topside camera is highly recommended. On the wide side, something in the 50-70mm range works well for close encounters., and  for encounters that aren’t close to the inflatable boat, a 400mm lens is still capable of being hand held while offering good range. 
  

 

 

Silver Bank Humpback Whale Underwater Photography Tips

Shooting humpbacks can be difficult, as it requires a great deal of patience and luck. However, if you manage to get the right whale in the right conditions, the results can magical.

• Don’t skip any of the boat trips. The more time on the water, the better your chances of getting the perfect encounter. The Aggressor goes out for two trips on the chase boats, and the only way to get the shots is be out on the water.
  

 

• Keep an eye on the sun. You won’t always get to choose your position for photographing the whales, but if you can help it, shooting with the sun behind you is always ideal, since you are only shooting in natural light.

 

• Use continuous drive. When the calves are playing, you never know when the perfect behavior shot will present itself

• Listen to the guides. They understand the behavior of the whales. If they tell you not to approach, it’s probably because it will spook the animal, which will instantly flee.

 

• Be prepared for topside encounters. The show above water can be just as exciting and produce as many photo opportunities.

 

Planning Your Underwater Photography Trip To The Silver Bank

When To Go: January-April.  The humpbacks are around for only the first few months of the year.

How To Get There: Fly into Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. This international airport has flights to many major cities in the US.

Taxes and Fees:  An arrival and departure tax of $10 is collected. Additionally, there is a whale sanctuary fee of $150 US that must be paid in cash.

Connectivity: There is no connectivity in the Silver Bank, but the Aggressor boat has satellite phone.

Who to Dive With:   The Turks and Caicos Aggressor offers week long trips during the season. Visit www.Aggressor.com for more information.