Whales surrounded us, some so close we could hear the soft whoosh as each came to the surface and expelled a spout of air and water that looked like white smoke. So much a part of the sea, they hardly disturbed the surface except for the occasional explosion of a leap. Samana fishermen may invite you out in their fragile craft to mingle with the behemoths. The lack of life vests or other safety equipment present the whale-watcher's greatest danger but some fishermen and their tourists have been known to harass the whales in ignorance of the harm they may be causing the gentle monsters. Thanks to her reputation for fierce protectiveness of the whales, the researchers we encountered out on the whale grounds that day eagerly volunteered their help to our tour.
Whales are amazing creatures.
Before man hunted them so ferociously, there were an estimated 150,000 in the North Atlantic but now there may be as few as 3,000. The nearby Bancos de Plata Parque Nacional is the only preserve in the world devoted to one species. As a result, the Dominican government has the sole responsibility for the protection of the breeding and survival of a major animal. Given the poor nation's limited resources, they are doing an exceptional job. The Silver Banks National Park is off limits during the season, but the close-in area just outside the mouth of Samana Bay is accessible and unrestricted.