Fancy freediving with humpbacks?

The Dominican Republic is a destination not often considered from a marine life, wildlife and adventure travel perspective; but an open ocean area of the country called the Silverbanks is one of the best places in the world to free dive with humpback whales. From late January to early April each year, the Silverbanks is home to the North Atlantic’s largest known accumulation of Humpback Whales, whose relatively calm tropical waters are ideal for females to give birth. It is the gentle mothers and curious calves which provide the best opportunities for underwater encounters.

Activity of the male humpbacks is a complete contrast. They perform aggressive shows of strength and dominance, competing for the attentions of females ready to breed. For safety, these competitions can only be observed from the surface, but watching the whales as they leap clear of the water - breaching, spyhopping and lobtailing - is a quite magnificent spectacle.

Aqua-Firma offers free diving and whale watching trips to the Silverbanks from small boats which operate out of a liveaboard ‘mother ship’. True to the company’s slogan of Best of Above & Below Water Travel, it also offers a range of adventure travel options in the Dominican Republic. These include sea kayaking, overnight river canoe journeys, white water rafting, mountain biking and a 5 days trek up the highest mountain in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte. For those who would rather chill, Aqua-Firma can also arrange relaxing stays at some of the Dominican Republic’s legendary beaches.

An 8-day / 7-night free diving liveaboard trip to the Silverbanks starts from $2,760 pp sharing
Price guide for a 7 days tailor made adventure add on: £890 pp sharing.

For further information please visit: www.aqua-firma.com/countries/Dominican_Republic/.

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