Dear <<First Name>>,
Welcome to Conscious Breath Adventures'
Whale eMail
CRUISE REPORT
Humpback Whales of the Silver Bank
Mar. 19-25, 2016
Vol. 8, Issue 9
Hi Everyone,
This is Cloe -- happy to be your guest-poster reporting on our ninth week of the 2016 season. Lucaya and I joined Gene, Ben, the crew and guests on the Silver Bank and had a great week. We swam with whales, there was meditation, qigong, amazing food, a full moon, several green flashes, friendly people and even dolphins!
A Breezy Start
There was also an abundance of wind this week! We started Sunday breezy enough to undertake our snorkel check-out in the relative shelter of a patch reef, rather than off the stern of the M/V Sun Dancer II. It was actually really nice to see a few fish, like grunts and tangs, as we checked masks and fins and got comfortable in the water. We are a long way from land out here - more than seventy miles- so it's a different snorkel experience than most and well worth taking time to prep before the trip and on this first day...Whale watching and our first in-water action quickly ensued with a little time underwater with a beautiful mom, her calf and escort.
'Tis the Season - For Rowdy Groups...
In addition to the breeze, the week was characterized with some amazing whale watching, unique to the breeding grounds, following groups of males as they compete for the last available females of the season. Later weeks are known for more exciting action by these rowdy groups, as they are known here, with a sense for them that it's now or never!
We saw rowdies almost every day and witnessed, at close hand (again one of the elements unique to the Silver Bank is being so close, with small groups, small boats and always a front row seat), many iconic behaviors. We had breaches, pec slaps, lobtailing and peduncle throws - an amazing hands-on learning accompaniment to Ben's evening presentation on humpback whale behaviors.
Lucaya, who is nine, illustrated beautifully why efforts by scientists to name and get to know individual whales is so important. As we followed a rowdy group one afternoon she quickly started giving them names. There was Rainbow - who blew a rainbow blow, Little Point with his sharp dorsal fin (photo below), Bob (renamed from his initial moniker of 'Dorsal-less', as he was missing most of his dorsal fin) and Whitey with what were probably white orca tooth-rakes on his back. The cool thing was that as soon as we had named them we could quickly, and much more easily, see what was happening. It was obvious that Rainbow was the female and Little Point her primary escort. As soon as she halted he was right there beside her and the whole group slowed and milled around. Females set the pace in these heat runs. Bob, who with his missing dorsal fin seemed like a pretty gnarly old guy, was always one step behind Little Point, never giving him a respite. We explained to Lucaya that proper naming protocol is genderless and based on physical features where possible. It was a lot of fun and almost felt like hanging out with friends, albeit younger and less attached ones!
A Silver Bank Classic
The epitome of a trip to the breeding grounds is an encounter with a sleeping mum and calf. It's the scenario most guides are hoping for and is the one described to guests during our first on-board briefing. This week did not disappoint and a beautiful afternoon was spent in the company of a mother and calf with a classic few hours of Silver Bank magic; peacefully hovering close to a sleeping female humpback whale and her baby, getting that amazing eye contact as they rose to breath every 7 or 8 minutes for the calf, 10-12 for the mum. This one took us all the way to sunset...
Dolphins and Dancers
Pantropical spotted dolphins passed by, twice this week! The first time was a fly-by and a bow ride, just a few minutes of high energy excitement. But the next day we spotted them again as we headed back for lunch and the group seemed less exuberant, even sleepy, so we were all able to jump in for a swim. it didn't last long but was a great cetacean addition to the week.
One of our boats took over tracking a pair of sub-adult whales, who had been carrying out behaviors called dancing for another operator's guests earlier in the morning. We stayed with them for the next few hours, the whales doing what Gene described as 'horsing around!' The dancing behavior continued a little while but alternated with resting periods, just hanging out, with each other and our guests, for several hours.
A Breezy End
While early in the week winds had abated from their consistency on our arrival, they picked up again mid-week and by Thursday we were waiting for it to stop gusting at or close to 25 plus knots so we could get out in the morning. The weather did not stop us but made it hard to see the whales - looking out on the glittering waves on these sunny afternoons it really does look like a Silver Bank, it's almost blinding! The full moon on Wednesday added to the drama and our guests enjoyed star gazing and watching wispy clouds scudding past the moon's glow (click photo for larger image). Each time I visit I am struck by what a special place it is out here. Sometimes it seems like we could be in any corner of the north Atlantic but then you'll see a blow, or if lucky a breach, and you realize that this slightly shallow little patch is the winter home for thousands of whales from throughout the northern seas, in a shallow corner of the Atlantic, far from land. We are lucky to get to visit.
Gene, Ben, the crew of the Sun Dancer II and our final group of guests set out on Sunday for the last week of this 2016 season. We'll see what the Silver Bank has in store for them and hope that you can join or rejoin us out there soon.
Thanks for reading and special gratitude to our guests this week and, of course, all the great crew. Top notch as always and Jerry's cakes - wow!
Best wishes to all!
Cloe
Big Savings in the Bahamas!
We still have a few spaces available on our June 18-25, June 25-July 2 & July 2-9, 2016 cruises, with special offers to individuals and small groups alike. If there is a date that matches your schedule contact us right away and we will be happy to help you plan your summer getaway. We look forward to seeing you there!
Follow Us for even more information and updates from Conscious Breath Adventures
|
