Whale Watching in Samana Bay
The World Wildlife fund considers Samana Bay one of the best places to watch whales because of the number of whales and the ease of reaching the watching area. The season begins January 15 and generally runs through March, with mid February the time of greatest concentration of whales.
Humpback whales from the North Atlantic winter in the waters of the Dominican Republic. They feed in the north--Massachusetts Bay to Iceland and Greenland--during the summer months, then migrate to the Dominican Republic to mate and give birth during the winter months. The most popular winter rendezvous for the humpback is Silver Bank, about 70 miles north of Puerto Plata. From there they move between several other areas, including Samana Bay, like humans do singles bars. Whales are always coming and going in Samana Bay, but there are always 200-300 in the bay during the season.
Mature humpbacks measure 40-50 ft/12-15 m and weigh 30-40 tons. Calves measure 10-15 ft/3-4.5 m at birth and weigh 1.5-2 tons. The calves drink 50 gallons of milk from the mother each day, gaining 100 lbs/45 kg daily. (The milk contains 40-60% fat, compared to human milk of 2% fat.)
The whales have been wintering near the Dominican Republic for centuries. Drawings on the walls of the caves in Los Haitises National Parak depict spouting whales seen by the aboriginal inhabitants long before the arrival of Columbus. The log of his travels along the north coast of the DR in 1493 makes clear that he saw them, too.
Whales have been sighted in Samana Bay, and others on the way. So there is every reason to believe that a sufficient number will be in the bay by January 15 in order to begin the whale watching season on that date.
|
Live Internet Video available about whales in Samana (Dominican Waters)
