Travel Article: Whale Watching in Dominica

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�	Sperm Whale's Tail¹

The appearance of a tremendous tail, accompanied by a loud splash is a fairly common sight in Dominica's sparkling deep blue waters. Year-round travellers visit the island dubbed as the "Whale Watching Capital of the Caribbean� in hopes of seeing the real Moby Dick. Although many kinds of whales inhabit Dominica's waters, the island is best known for its Sperm whale population. Remarkably, the large species' social behaviour can be observed not far from Dominica's rocky shores. Tourists who want to see the world's largest living mammal can venture out on one of the island's exciting whale watching boat tours.
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WHEN TO GO
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Although Sperm whales can be seen year round near Dominica, the best time to visit the area for whale watching is from November to March. The success rate for seeing the enormous species is at its peak during the winter months. Visitors may also spot Pygmy Sperm, Dwarf Sperm, Humpbacks, Pilots, False Killer and Melon-headed whales. Travellers should keep their eyes out for dolphins as well, such as the Spinner and Bottlenose dolphin, which inhabit Dominica's waters.
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THE HABITAT
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Whale watching tour companies do not have to venture far from Dominica's tropical coastlines to catch sight of a Sperm whale's large head surfacing.�Typically, Sperm whales live far away from the shore, because they need deep waters to find their food source. However, Dominica's seascape offers a special exception. The island's mountainous landscape dips thousands of feet into the water below creating extremely deep waters close to the shore and the ideal habitat for Sperm whales. Due to this, the whales are spotted much closer to the shore than usual as they feed, mate and give birth.
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Whale Watching ²	�

More About Sperm Whales
Sperm whales can be easily distinguished by their gigantic heads, which contribute to a third of their total body length. The whales have square snouts and small underslung jaws. Although their mouths are tiny in comparison to their heads, the Sperm whale is the largest toothed whale. They live in diverse waters, from the cold arctic to the warm Caribbean. The species is known in particular for a milky white oily substance in their heads called spermaceti, which whalers once misinterpreted as sperm. It is said that when this white substance hardens it alters the creature's buoyancy to assist with deep dives. The whale's diet consists of fish and medium sized squid. Adult male Sperm whales average around 18.3 m (60 ft) long, while females are significantly smaller at about 11 m (36 ft).
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The Whale Watching Community
Whale watching in the Caribbean continues to be a growing tourism sector, with more visitors attending whale watching tours each year. In 2006, the Caribbean Whale Watch Operators (CARIBwhale, Inc.) was created. The association prides itself on the protection of whales and their habitat through responsible whale watching. They also support non-invasive scientific research of whales. The association hopes to keep the Caribbean a premier whale watching destination for a long time.
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TOURS

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�	Exploring Dominica's Waters³

The majority of whale sightings occur on Dominica's west coast side and many whale watching tour companies operate from Roseau. To locate the whales, boats are usually equipped with directional hydrophones to listen for their rhythmic sounds. Dominica has a selection of whale watching companies that offer other water activities, such as snorkelling and diving. Here are two of the island's most popular whale watching tours:

Anchorage Dive Center
Anchorage Dive Center in Roseau claims to be a pioneer when it comes to whale watching tours. For years the company has been offering visitors the chance to see whales and dolphins in Dominica's waters. An informative briefing on what species visitors will see on the tour is given before departure. The center's whale watching tours are available on Wednesdays and Sundays, leaving at 2 pm and returning at sunset.
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Dive Dominica
Dive Dominica, also in Roseau, offers a high success rate for spotting whales with the directional hydrophones on their boats. Dive Dominica tours range from three and half hours to four hours long and depart at 2 pm on Wednesdays and Sundays.
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WHAT ELSE TO DO
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Dominica's pristine waters are home to more than just whales, they also contain a variety of vibrant aquatic life. Dominica's underwater landscape of pinnacles, caves and reefs features seahorses, flying gurnards and numerous schools of fish. These sea creatures can be discovered on a diving or snorkelling experience. A wide selection of dive shops, such as Nature Island Dive, that offer snorkelling and diving tours.
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Off to the Beach
Dominica's beaches are mostly blackish in colour, but there a few sandy golden beaches, too. The island's shoreline is rocky in comparison to many of the beaches located on other Caribbean islands. However, the beaches offer great views of the island's turquoise waters and colourful sunsets. On the southern side of Dominica, the palm tree studded Champagne Beach is ideal for snorkelling and diving with its calm waves. Another place where visitors can peek into Dominica's underwater world is the clear and gentle water at the black sandy Soufriere Bay Beach.
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Emerald Pool ⁴	�

Exploring the Land
The island of Dominica is a tropical paradise with thick rain forest coating most of the mountainous land. Tourists can take scenic hikes through the rainforest to stunning lakes, streams and waterfalls. Dominica's Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is abundant with natural attractions, such as Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls and Boiling Lake. Situated at the base of a 12-m (40 ft) waterfall, Emerald Pool is a popular place to take a dip. The pool consists of refreshing cool waters in a green fauna setting. Trafalgar Falls is one of Dominica's most famous sites. Two separate waterfalls, fondly called �father� and �mother,� form the towering Trafalgar Falls. Boiling Lake is the world's second largest actively boiling lake, the largest is located in New Zealand. Steam hovers over the lake's bubbling grayish waters, which creates a spectacular snapshot.
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Urban Amenities
Roseau is Dominica's capital and features a selection of attractions, accommodations, restaurants and more opportunities. History buffs will find Roseau's streets full of history. The Dominica Museum in Roseau follows the history of the Dominican people. The cobblestone Old Market, where shoppers now buy T-shirts, handicrafts and other items, has its own historical spin; it was once the site of a slave market. Vendors at the Public Market sell juicy tropical fruits, fresh vegetables and other foods. Travellers can unwind in the Botanical Gardens and view bright flowering tropical shrubs and numerous types of plants. The garden dates back to 1890 and stretches across 40 acres (16.2 ha) of land.
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�	Rocky Dominican Coastline⁵

Portsmouth is the island's second largest community and is an urban centre worth visiting. The community has a quieter pace than Roseau and several wondrous attractions in close proximity. The Cabrits National Park is only 2 km (1.25 mi) north of Portsmouth. The park houses Fort Shirley, an 18th-century British garrison. Some of the fort's ruins have been reconstructed for visitors to get a sense of the fort�s original appearance in the late 1700s. Another attraction near Portsmouth is the mixed saltwater and freshwater Indian River. Massive bloodwood trees and several types of birds can be seen on a boat ride down this majestic waterway.
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Dominica also has several picturesque fishing villages, such as Scotts Head and Calibishie. Fishing boats and colourful fishing shacks decorate the photogenic Scotts Head. Calibishie has one-of-a-kind restaurants with tasty island cuisine.
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WHERE ELSE TO VISIT
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Although there are several whale watching opportunities in Dominica, the natural phenomenon of viewing whales in the wild can be seen throughout the Caribbean. Each year thousands of Humpback whales visit Silver Bank, which is near the Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos, to breed and calve. Pilot whales frequent close to Antigua and Humpback whales are near Anguilla. Whether hoping to see a Sperm whale, Humpback, Pilot whale or other types of whales, the Caribbean�s glimmering waters are a popular spot to begin the search.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

Sperm Whale's Tail; Dominica
Whale Watching; Dominica
Exploring Dominica's Waters; Dominica
Emerald Pool; Dominica
Rocky Dominican Coastline; Dominica

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