Swimming with Whales: A Magical Experience in Dominica! Part 2.

Continuing our conversation with Aimee Jan, she will give us more in-depth information on actually swimming with sperm whales in Dominica, what to expect when you are in the water swimming with these giant creatures, and how to book your tour.

The longest recorded dive for a sperm whale was in excess of 2 hours. Photo credit Aimee Jan

Hotel The Champs (HTC): Do people have to be PADI-certified to swim with whales?

Aimee Jan (AJ): No, you don't need to be certified. It is just snorkeling and swimming, you don't even need to dive, but people need to know that it is really deep water, in the middle of the ocean, which can be quite intimidating.

Last year, we had a 73-year-old lady in one of our groups. It was a dream of hers to swim with whales, so she practiced before she came on the tour, and she did really good.

HTC: How does the skipper find the whales?

AJ: Obviously, there is no guarantee that you will see whales every day, but we have been very lucky with Pernelle, our local skipper. He has been doing this for a very long time, and he is just really good. Pernelle uses a hydrophone (an underwater device that measures ocean sounds from all directions) to listen to where the whales are. The whales make sounds like fingers snapping, and the hydrophone can pick it up from 7 miles away.

Sperm whales have the largest brain of any living animal, weighing up to 4.2 kg (9.2 lbs.). Photo credit Aimee Jan

HTC: What are precautions swimmers should be aware of when swimming with these giants? Obviously, you can't get too close.

AJ: The sperm whales are pretty good. There will be times if they get a little frisky, when Pernelle would just say, "Stay away from their tail". But honestly, I have always felt very comfortable with them. The main thing is they can be shy, so I would always brief the group that when we are swimming, try to be very quiet in the water, and if the whales are coming towards us, stay still. Never swim at them, like charge them, and don't swim frantically after them because you have to gain their trust a little bit. And today it really paid off, we adjusted our group to only two people in the water at a time, everyone was really calm, and we had an amazing experience. If the whales turn away, there is nothing you can do about it, you have to let them go.

What people need to remember is that it is still a wild animal in its natural environment, and you need to maintain your space for the interaction to happen naturally; you cannot force it.

Female sperm whales carry their young for 14 to 16 months, giving birth every three to five years. Newborn calves are 13 feet long and weigh about a ton. Photo Credit Aimee Jan

HTC: Do you need permits to swim with the whales?

AJ: Yes, you do need a permit to swim with the whales; it is very strict and very expensive. The permit lasts five days.

HTC: Have you ever had groups not see whales on their tour?

AJ: Knock wood, not yet. It could for sure happen, but we have been very lucky! Our first group only saw whales one day, and that is why they do the permit and tours for five days, so that there are higher chances of seeing whales.

HTC: How can people book a tour to swim with the sperm whales in Dominica?

AJ: I would highly recommend to anyone interested in swimming with sperm whales in Dominica to book through Just The Wild - the tour includes accommodation at Hotel The Champs, breakfast, and permits, to name a few items included in the package. Or you can also reach out directly to Hotel The Champs. For inquiries or reservations, please WhatsApp Lise: + 1 767 616 3001 or Sabrina: + 1 767 613-0929 or send an email: Info@hotelthechamps.com.