Hello Again, Dear Reader,
And another warm greeting from the Silver Bank, where the whales are wonderful. Let me tell you a little bit about the fifth week of our 2026 humpback whale season, Feb 21-28 (click images for a larger view).
This week we had a happy-go lucky collection of whaleswimmers aboard including several returning guests including one German couple returning for the first time since 2018. How can that be that long ago? I remember their positivity and happiness as if it was yesterday. Welcome and welcome back to one and all.
Also among the lot was an esteemed guest, Dr Aviad Scheinin, a renowned cetacean and shark researcher, conservationist and educator who is head of University of Haifa’s Marine Apex Predator Lab at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station in Israel. Most interestingly, on this trip Dr. Scheinin is aboard working in support of another important project: helping develop Orca AI, a system that hopefully will, among other things, help prevent ship strikes on cetaceans, one of the leading causes of premature and unnatural death of large whales.
The idea behind the system is to use an array of sophisticated cameras to gather video in visual and infrared bandwidths in real time and then use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the images to “see” ships,
whales and other hazards to navigation and then alert the bridge so appropriate actions can be taken to avoid a collision. As part of that development process, this season the M/V Sea Hunter has been affixed with this camera system mounted high on her mast. All season long, as we transit between our mooring on the Silver Bank and the Ocean World Marina, and even when just sitting on our mooring, the camera is looking out for whales. The images gathered here will be logged as positive sightings that will be used to help to train the AI software to better recognize a whale and make a stronger system in the future. Orca AI’s programming is going to school here on the Silver Bank!
And if you (or your AI) want to learn about whales, you’ve come to the right place because there are lots to see. We saw a fine variety of whales and behaviors this week, including topside and surface social action, as well as some very nice in-water interactions. (Note: check out the Orca tooth rake marks on this fluke)
Every day, week and season is different 
and one thing I’ve noticed is this year is that there seems to be a lot of rowdy group and social behaviors going on. Each week we’ve seen at least one competitive group, where two or more males are competing to win the coveted position as escort by a female whale’s side. This action is already a high-energy exercise but the lady whale can really ratchet up the excitement level by being flirtatious and provocative, spurring the big guys on as if to ask who is really up to the task and good 
enough to be her guy? She does this by splashing around with pec-slaps, lobtailing, trumpeting, and more, and the guys never fail to react. It makes for a very exciting show!
We also had some quality time in the water with a couple different mother and calf pairs but the reals stars this week were a pair that we have seen on a few earlier weeks, too. The mother is easily recognized by the distinct shape and markings on her dorsal fin, and the calf with its striking white belly and chin, with more than average coverage across its underside. It’s a beautiful baby.
We saw and swam with these two a couple
times this week, in addition to prior weeks, too. One great thing about seeing whales multiple times is that you get to know them a little, learn their personalities and patterns of behavior. This mom is pretty chill and one her best traits is that, when we are in the water with her, when she rises to breathe she often turns, ever-so-slowly, toward and right into the swimmers. She comes to check us out! And, of course the lovely little one is right there with her.
If you think it is exciting when a calf approaches, imagine when the whale coming at you is as big as a school bus! Needless to say, everyone got lots of good looks at both of them and we love these whales! So much fun and I hope mom hangs around a few weeks longer, it will always be good to see her and her little one.
It was quite a week, and it went way too fast. But you can get a quick sense of it in this (very) short video.
And in other Conscious Breath Adventures whale news, a story in the press. Last season, in 2025, CBA, in collaboration with the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism, for one week hosted a writer from a German publication so he could experience the adventure for himself. The article made the rounds in a number of venues, in German, but a translated version appeared on our radar during the week. You can read that version of a Cruise Report by clicking here.
All in all it was another fine week on the Silver Bank and our season is proceeding apace. Amazing whales, sun, good company and fun: what more could you ask for..? It’s an adventure every time…
Thanks for reading and see you next week!
Capt. Gene