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Swim with blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka. (Natural
World Safaris)
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This year, why not try exploring the ocean with underwater
safari that takes you up close and personal to the sea’s biggest
creatures—whales.
Deep sea diving expertise is not needed for this
one-of-a-kind excursion offered by Natural World Safaris. Sri Lanka is home to
one of the world’s largest concentrations of
pygmy blue whales and swimmers will get up and close personal with
Patrick Dykstra, a blue whale expert and naturalist photographer.
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| Visitors prepare to dive in. (Natural World Safaris) |
No professional diving gear is required, swimmers need only
don a mask, flippers and snorkel to take part in the fun. But Dykstra will only
take participants who are good swimmers and people who will respect the natural
surroundings. Natural World Safaris utilizes low-emission boats that limit
noise in the water.
Guests on this underwater safari are invited help Dykstra
gather information that will help scientists better understand whales,
including migratory patterns and how they interact with other creatures. Only
four people are allowed per excursion to respect the whale’s natural habitat
and there is no set time limit to each trip.
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| Swim alongside a giant blue whale. (Natural World Safaris) |
“We also don’t settle for merely seeing a blue whale, or
even seeing one underwater, we are always seeking that ‘take your breath away’
life changing up close encounter that you will remember for the rest of your
life,” said Dykstra.
Only between 10,000 and 25,000 blue whales exist and they're
classified as an endangered species by the WWF.
The pygmy blue whale native to Sri Lanka can reach up to 82 feet in
length.
Blue whale tours are conducted in February, March and April
which offer the best sea conditions around Sri Lanka during that time of year.
But you should start saving now because each dive costs over $7,000 per person.
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