On the Lookout for
Story by Dr. Shannon Gore Photos by Armando Jenik
Humpbacks
As we move through these winter and spring months, some of us might get lucky enough to witness a whale sighting from the comfort of a soft sand beach or the deck of a cruising boat.
An adult humpback whale and her calf swim together north of Jost Van Dyke.
Many different species of whales are found year-round throughout the Caribbean, but from
When viewing whales or marine mammals, always remember: keep your distance.
December to April, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate from the North Atlantic down to the Caribbean in order to mate and breed. The Caribbean’s distribution of humpback whales extends from Venezuela to the Turks & Caicos Islands. They’re also visible in Hawaii, Baja California and the Mariana Islands. One of the most concentrated breeding areas is in the Silver Banks of the Dominican Republic, but humpback whales are also often seen across the Virgin Islands during the mating and breeding season. In recent years, whale sightings have been reported from Tortola’s north shore beaches, and in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Because of their colossal size (up to 50 feet in length and 40 tons) and acrobatic behaviours of throwing themselves completely out of the water (breaching) or slapping their flukes (tails) and pectoral fins on the surface of the water, these magnificent whales are easily observed throughout the territory, especially along the northern shores of Tortola and Anegada. Not only are a whale’s playful antics spectacular to watch, hearing them underwater, especially while scuba diving, is just as impressive. These eerie yet beautiful songs can be heard underwater up to 10 miles away without the use of hydrophones.
About the humpback www.vipropertyyacht.com
February 2013
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