The Whales are Coming!

Tourists weary from the cold and snow aren’t the only ones arriving in the Turks & Caicos every winter. Each December begins a 3-month long migration of humpback whales through our waters. These magnificent creatures travel thousands of miles to reach their breeding grounds a bit further south of here, and on their way treat tourists and local alike to their breathtaking grace and size.

The bulk of the North Atlantic humpback whale population is thought to breed and calf around the Dominican Republic. However, many humpbacks are sighted around the Turks and Caicos Islands. In the mid 1800’s, there was even small-scale, local whaling reported off Salt Cay.

In an attempt to better understand how humpback whales utilize the waters around the Turks and Caicos, and specifically Salt Cay, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) will be working with local whale watch operators to obtain baseline data of humpback distribution and residency. WDCS scientists will conduct on-site photographic identification of individual humpbacks and record their location, behavior and vocalizations.

The best places to catch the whales are in the vicinity of Grand Turk and Salt Cay, where whale watching tours are readily available. But the whales have been seen all over our waters from West Caicos to Ambergris Cay, so don’t be surprised if you hear a strange shriek or see a spout of water when you’re out diving or fishing around TCI this winter.

Island Insights

An Insider’s View of the Turks & Caicos Islands

The Whales are Coming!