Quicksilver Group News
June 1st, 2010Swim with the Minkes on Silversonic
While the humpbacks are on the way to the Great Barrier Reef, their smaller cousins, the Minke Whales are also frequenting our warm tropical waters at this time of year.
And, with one of the few permits available from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to swim with the minkes, guests travelling aboard our luxury dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic may be in for an extra treat! A truly unforgettable encounter!
From our experience, July to September is the peak season to encounter the inquisitive minkes as they frequent the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs where Silversonic visits. They are however common in our waters between the months of March and October.
The voluntary approach to the vessel and swimmers by minke whales creates a unique in-water experience. Abiding by strict codes of practice, a maximum of two surface ropes will be placed in the water with swimmers then positioned 3-4 metres apart for a magical, and safe encounter. The whales actually control the encounter in that they decide how close they interact and swim with us!
The Dwarf Minke Whale Tourism Monitoring Program was a world first fully permitted swimming-with-whales program and is conducted in partnership between the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, researchers and the tourism industry. Silversonic and the Quicksilver Group pro-actively contribute to this program.
Video courtesy of Indepth Video and Photography
