Whale Expedition

Aboard Seven Seas for this expedition will be marine mammal expert Benjamin Kahn.  Ben is very experienced and has spent a lot of time studying whales in this area over the last 25 years.  Ben is the Director of Planet Deep, and his work on blue and sperm whales of the Savu and Banda Seas has been instrumental in the development and in support of several MPAs in these waters. Ben will help us navigate to key habitats to find and track whales with minimal disturbance. 

For several hours on most days, we will be on the look-out for the tall blows of the mysterious Pygmy Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda), with adults measuring up to 25 meters in length.  Blue whales are the latest of all baleen whales, and largest animal that ever lived on Earth.  The Alor region has several deep, yet narrow passages where we can best spot blue whales on their migration path.  Another noteworthy species in these same waters will be largest toothed whale, the mighty sperm whale.  Ben started his career in marine science as a sperm whale ecologist, and the Savu Sea is a regional stronghold for these whales (and over 20+ other species of marine mammals).  Hence, we can experience many insights on these fascinating deep divers.

A typical day on this trip will consist of 2-morning dives/snorkels followed by the afternoon spent at sea attempting to get close encounters with marine mammals. According to Ben October is prime time for the Whales. We can also expect great weather and calm seas during this time of the year. After our afternoon “whale patrols’ (cetacean habitat and whale watching activities), there will opportunities for dusk or night dives on at least 3 occasions.  In addition, we will also add several  cultural experiences in traditional and coastal villages along the way. So, there will be an amazing array of experiences throughout the Expedition. Other cetacean species we expect to encounter are (selected from a total of 24 species for the Savu Sea, and counting).