News
Swim with Sperm Whales in Dominica in 2025 with Indigo Safaris
Dominica Sperm Whale Swimming Trips
18 to 26 May 2025 – 3 spots left
6 days on the water
25 May to 02 June 2025 – 5 spots left
6 days on the water
29 Nov to 07 Dec 2025 – 1 spot left
6 days on the water
06 Dec to 14 Dec 2025 – 4 spots left
6 days on the water
13 Dec to 21 Dec 2025 – 4 spots left
6 days on the water
Accommodation Options
Jungle Bay Resort 2025
- Double/twin occupancy with full breakfast: $5,740 USD per person
- Single occupancy with full breakfast: $6,700 USD
Soufriere Guest House or Rosehill Heights 2025
- Double/twin occupancy self-catering: $4,995 USD per person
- Single occupancy self-catering: $5,300 USD
Why Choose Indigo Safaris for Sperm Whale Trips?
Experience
Indigo Safaris has been operating in Dominica since 2013. The Managing Director and founder has led 23 of these trips, accompanied by a local marine biologist guide with over 20 years of experience. Both guides are published underwater photographers. The captain is a licensed boat captain with 25 years of sperm whale experience, and an experienced first mate is also on board. The trips are designed for six clients per excursion.
Value for Money
Indigo Safaris prides itself on providing trips that are considered the best value for money by past clients.
Giving Back
Each year, Indigo Safaris donates generously to the Soufriere/Scott’s Head Marine Reserve to support the preservation of the island’s best dive sites and educate locals about their marine environment. They also raise funds for local sports initiatives, providing equipment for swimming lessons and cricket, and are currently working on rehabilitating the local basketball court.
Location
Following the opening of the jetty at Soufriere in 2021, Indigo Safaris relocated its base to the south of the island. The village of Soufriere offers a vibrant yet peaceful atmosphere, contrasting the hustle of Roseau. Guests can choose from various local eateries and enjoy self-catering options. The area features a beach with a hot spring, numerous hot springs within walking distance, and is the starting point for the island-long Waitukubuli Trail. It also has an excellent dive center, sea kayaking school, and freediving school, all within a friendly community that feels safe at all hours.
About the Trips
During encounters, only three participants and a guide are permitted in the water at a time, necessitating rotations between two groups. Occasionally, multiple encounters occur simultaneously. Participants should be able to exit a swimming pool without using steps or ladders, as reboarding the boat quickly may be necessary.
Indigo Safaris utilizes the beautiful Jungle Bay Resort, overlooking Soufriere and Scotts Head, as well as budget-friendly self-catering accommodations at Soufriere Guesthouse and Rosehill Apartments, all about 1 km from the seafront and Bubble Beach natural spa. While Rosehill and Soufriere Guest House do not have air conditioning, their location and in-room fans often make it unnecessary. The accommodations include well-equipped kitchens, dining areas, lounges, and outdoor spaces for relaxation. Transfers can be arranged for $7 per person per day for those who prefer it.
Each week includes six days on the ocean with a local expert whale guide and accredited skipper, with departures from 8 AM to around 2 PM.
Permits for the trips are becoming increasingly difficult to secure, making this a rare opportunity to photograph these giants at an unbeatable price. The 8-night trips include fees, permits, breakfasts for Jungle Bay clients, group airport transfers, rotis for lunch, and transportation for one day’s land tour.
The months of November and December are particularly favorable for trips, as the weather is pleasantly warm at around 29°C, with sea temperatures around 28°C and low rainfall. Adult male whales are more frequently sighted during this time, and social interactions among groups are often observed.
May is also an excellent month for whale watching and weather. The absence of males typically means family units come closer to shore. With cruise ship season over, the ocean becomes less crowded, providing optimal conditions for encounters. This period is also characterized by flat and dry weather.
Booking
Due to the requirement of submitting participants’ names for permits, a 50% non-refundable deposit is necessary to secure a spot. The remaining balance is due 90 days before the trip’s start. Payment can be made via bank transfer, and arrangements can be made for payments in Euros or GBP. If the island closes its borders, the trip will be rescheduled.
Daily boarding begins at 8:00 AM, with return times varying based on the day’s events. If good whale activity occurs early, they may return earlier to avoid disturbing the whales. If the whales exhibit avoidance behavior, the team will leave them alone and seek out others.
Each morning, the crew will use underwater listening devices to locate whale families. Once a unit is approached, three participants will enter the water and move slowly toward the whales. Interaction time can last from 30 seconds to 15 minutes, depending on the whales’ behavior. Participants will rotate in the water to ensure everyone has the chance to experience the encounter.
Interactions can take place up to eight miles offshore, and conditions may vary from calm to choppy. Participants should be prepared for extended periods on the boat while waiting for encounters and should also be ready to swim to approach and follow the whales.
Packed lunches can be arranged from either the hotel restaurant or local eateries, with cold water provided on board. Water temperatures will be in the high 20s, and since participants will be moving a lot in the water, wetsuits are not required.
The Program
- Day 1: Arrive at Melville Hall airport, transfer to Soufriere
- Day 2: Sperm whale encounters
- Day 3: Sperm whale encounters
- Day 4: Sperm whale encounters
- Day 5: Sperm whale encounters
- Day 6: Sperm whale encounters
- Day 7: Sperm whale encounters
- Day 8: Island tour
- Day 9: Return to the airport
Pre- and Post-Trip Extensions
Indigo Safaris can arrange extensions for SCUBA diving or hiking, as they are well-acquainted with the island.
About Sperm Whales
Sperm whales form strong lifelong bonds, babysitting for one another and passing down family traditions. They develop a communal dialect and exhibit varied lifestyles similar to human cultures. Off Dominica, sperm whales primarily consist of groups of females and their dependent calves, which live together in matrilineal units. Young males typically leave their families in their early teens to roam the open ocean.
Over 20 different whale families have been identified in Dominica’s waters, with approximately ten regularly observed. Research indicates that these families have inhabited the region since at least 1984. Sperm whales can live beyond 70 years, allowing them to encounter numerous other whales throughout their lives. This longevity suggests that family members can remember one another despite long separations.
For more information or to book, contact Indigo Safaris:
Email: safariexperts@indigosafaris.com
UK: +44 771 334 27 29
USA: +1 718 312 8777
France: +33 668 74 97 05
Skype: christopherbartlett
News
Master Liveaboards Announces Exclusive Pre-DEMA 2024 Show Specials
As everyone begins to gear up for the highly anticipated DEMA Show 2024 in Las Vegas, Master Liveaboards is excited to share their special offers on full charter bookings across their entire fleet. These deals, available from now until the end of the DEMA Show, provide enhanced FOC incentives for trips departing up to the end of 2027.
As the diving industry’s premier annual event, Master Liveaboards are thrilled to extend these offers to their valued partners and customers ahead of the show. Whether you’re planning a special expedition or speculative charters, there’s no better time to secure an unforgettable liveaboard experience at unbeatable rates.
Pre-DEMA Specials
Master Liveaboards Pre-DEMA offers feature:
- Enhanced FOC Deals: Enjoy more complimentary spaces for every full charter booking, allowing you to maximise value.
- Fleet-Wide Availability: These exclusive deals are applicable across the entire ML entire fleet, ensuring that there’s a vessel perfect for your groups, no matter the destination or size.
- Flexible Departures: Lock in your charter now for departures through the end of 2027, giving you ample time to plan the perfect trip.
These pre-show specials are available until the end of the show, and interested groups are encouraged to secure their charters early, as availability is limited. The Master Liveaboards team will also be available in person at the DEMA Show 2024 in Las Vegas to discuss these deals and more in person. Visit Alex, James, Mark, and Mik at Booth 7137 from November 19-22 to explore their offerings and meet the team.
For more information about these Pre-DEMA specials or to book a meeting, click here.
Join Master Liveaboards and set sail on an unforgettable journey beneath the waves. Experience the world’s most stunning marine environments, guided by a team that values quality, safety, and exceptional service.
The adventure awaits – dive in today!
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com
Call: +44 (0)208 0992230
News
Yap to be Showcased at the Upcoming 2024 DEMA Dive Show in Las Vegas
Yap will have a strong presence at the 2024 DEMA show that will take place from November 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. DEMA is the largest trade-only event in the world for companies doing business in the scuba diving and ocean water sports travel industries, attracting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals each year.
The island will be represented at DEMA by Numie Acker and Darlene Giley, managers at Yap’s renowned scuba diving establishment, Manta Ray Bay Resort. Visit them at Booth #3018 to learn about Micronesia’s best kept travel secret and the unique diving and cultural experiences that Yap has to offer. Manta Ray Bay Resort will also be plugging their latest product offering of regular Blackwater dives over the waters of the world’s deepest ocean abyss, the nearby Marianas Trench. You will also be able to get information on and book for next year’s Blackwater Fest and Manta Fest, the Pacific’s premier dive photography events, to be held from August 23 – September 6, 2025.
The team from Manta Ray Bay Resort will also be providing updates and information on two important cultural heritage events taking place on Yap in 2025. The first is Yap Day, which celebrates everything Yapese, and will be held on and around March 1st, 2025. Then from July 21-25 Yap will play host to the 4th Annual Micronesia Expo, designed celebrate the rich culture and heritage of all states that comprise the Federated States of Micronesia – Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.
For appointments and more information on Yap’s participation in DEMA 2024, email yapdivers@mantaray.com.
About Yap
Yap is an island in the Federated States of Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean that is ringed by spectacular coral reefs and famous for its scuba diving with giant manta rays, sharks and mandarin fish. Other key activities on the island include kayaking, hiking, deep-sea fishing and exploring the many World War II historical sites. Yap is also uniquely famous for its stone money (huge disks of stone, which are still used today in major transactions), strong traditional culture and way of life, and welcoming residents. A short flight away from Guam or Palau, this Pacific gem is one of the tourism industry’s best kept secrets. For more information: www.visityap.com
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