Silver Bank, Dominican Republic
Without a doubt, the Silver Bank provides one of the most extraordinary marine experiences ever! The most massive migration of humpback whales in the Atlantic Ocean, if not the whole world, takes place in the protected sanctuary area 90 km/56 mi north of the Dominican Republic. Up to 7,000 humpbacks pass through this breeding and calving area each winter (from January to April). How impressive would it be to step into the water and observe these magnificent mammals in their natural environment? There is no scuba diving though, only snorkeling.
Tonga
Whales from Antarctica visit the relatively warm, crystal-clear waters of Tonga to give birth. Brightly colored, with dark tops and white bellies, the Antarctic humpback whales arrive at this destination from July through September. Tonga is one of the places where you can still swim with the humpbacks, sharing the ocean with humpback mothers having the moment with their calves. This is definitely the best snorkeling adventure you can dream of.
Australia
This extremely diverse and beautiful country keeps on surprising the world with its unique natural adventures. Australia is the only place where you can experience swimming with minke whales. These dwarf whales (5-7 m/16-23 ft long) are the second-smallest baleen whales, and they pass by the Ribbon Reef each year from May through September, with the peak season in June to July. You are welcome to join these unique creatures on the expedition from Cairns.
Socorro Islands, Mexico
Known for its challenging diving with big pelagics, the Socorro Islands area in Mexico is also the right place to see giant humpback whales. From late January to early April, thousands of humpbacks visit Socorro for breeding and calving. This is a remote, liveaboard-only diving destination, which makes the Socorro Islands one of the top places for watching baleen whales and other big marine creatures.