Every year, from December 15 to March 30, thousands of whales gather in the beautiful Samana Bay to mate in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Considered one of the best places in the world for whale watching, the Dominican Government has enforced strict whale protection laws and guidelines. Their breeding sanctuary continues to protect these gentle giants and nonprofits, like Whale Samana, have stepped forward to bring visitors into the bay and educate them on these precious creatures.
Whales were hunted for their oil and fat until the International Whaling Committee banned whaling in 1986. Now, not only does Whale Samana ensure the protection of whales but has also established many programs to protect marine life around the Domican Republic including coral reefs, nurseries and stingrays. Approximately 2,000 humpback whales come from the seas of Iceland, Greenland, Canada and North America to the warm Carribean water. Most of the same whales return to the bay every year and these whales can live for up to 80 years with ideal circumstances. Whale Samana is able to track and identify these familiar whales by their tail markings. Each whale has a unique white marker that marine biologists use to track their behavior and movement between the breeding sanctuary in the Domican Republic and their sister sanctuary in North America.
Another draw to the area is Nima, the skeleton of a Humpback Whale who lives inside whale museum within Whale Samana headquarters. The skeleton was found on the beach in the 90’s and the city gave it to Whale Samana to use for educational purposes. The modest museum was built around the monstrous skeleton and is open to school and tour groups that want to learn more about these friendly giants before meeting them in the ocean. Nima’s skeleton had been compressed and still fills an entire room. They invited us to touch the skeleton and allowed visitors to hold one of her spinal disks (it was as big as a dinner plate and surprisingly heavy).
Whale Samana is doing wonderful work in the bay, also known as Blanco de Plata, by educating visitors on the importance of protecting these massive mammals while giving them an up close look at their magnificent mating dances before they return to the northern seas. The Domican Republic is doing a fantastic job of protecting the largest and best humpback breeding sanctuary in the world.