Tucked between Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Eastern Caribbean, Dominica is often called the Nature Island—a rugged volcanic paradise where emerald mountains plunge into deep blue sea. While it’s a haven for hikers and divers, the island’s true magic lies just offshore, where one of the most elusive and intelligent creatures on Earth lives year-round: the sperm whale.
This is where Camp Dominica comes in—a passionate team of scientists, conservationists, and guides who offer a rare chance to encounter sperm whales in the wild. In collaboration with EYOS Expeditions, they’ve crafted an intimate, low-impact experience that blends cutting-edge research, local knowledge, and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.
We sat down with the Camp Dominica team to talk about what makes Dominica—and its resident sperm whales—so extraordinary.
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Dominica is often overshadowed by its more developed Caribbean neighbors. What do you think makes it such a special place, both on land and underwater?
Dominica stands out in the Caribbean precisely because it hasn’t been overdeveloped—it’s raw, authentic, and deeply connected to nature. Historically, it wasn’t a popular destination because it didn’t fit the traditional model of Caribbean tourism: no big resorts, no white-sand beaches lined with loungers, and no cruise ship-style attractions. But what was once considered a drawback—its rugged beauty and lack of infrastructure—is now its greatest competitive advantage. On land, it offers unspoiled rainforests, volcanic peaks, and wild rivers, making it one of the most adventurous and ecologically rich islands in the region. With 365 rivers, 100s of waterfalls, and lush sprawling rainforest containing birds, flora, and other animals found nowhere else on earth, Dominica is as close to the Amazon rainforest as an island could offer. It’s also home to the Kalinago people and a vibrant, grounded culture that hasn’t been diluted by mass tourism. Underwater, its dramatic volcanic terrain gives rise to pristine reefs, deep drop-offs, and rare geothermal activity, creating a uniquely biodiverse marine environment.
Most remarkably, Dominica is one of the only places in the world where sperm whales reside year-round in abundant and unparalleled numbers, offering rare and humbling encounters with these giants in their natural habitat.
We in Dominica are truly proud to say we have created the first sperm whale sanctuary in the world, a safe haven for these majestic, gentle giants of the deep. Altogether, it’s a place where both the land and sea feel truly alive, and still so largely untouched.
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The sperm whale encounters are incredibly intimate and unlike any other wildlife experience in the world. Can you describe what it’s like to be in the water with these animals—and what kind of behavior guests might witness?
Being in the water with sperm whales is one of the most humbling and intimate wildlife encounters imaginable. These animals are the largest toothed predators on Earth, yet they move with an almost meditative grace. When you’re in their presence, everything else falls away, there’s a stillness, a quiet awe that takes over.
Guests might witness a variety of behaviours, from curious approaches – where the whales slowly glide past, locking eyes with you—to social bonding rituals between family members. You might see them resting vertically in the water column, or communicating through sequences of clicks known as codas. Sometimes, calves will come in close, full of youthful curiosity, while adults hover protectively nearby.
It’s not a high-adrenaline encounter – it’s something far deeper. There’s a sense of mutual respect, of being allowed into their world on their terms. For many, it’s a transformative experience that stays with them forever.
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You’ve worked closely with the same families of whales for years. How has that long-term relationship shaped both your research and the guest experience?
Our dedicated team of carefully created local whale whisperers has all grown up in these waters and has an intimate relationship with both the sea and the sperm whales you find within them. Their knowledge of these animals and our waters is unparalleled.
Dominica is home to seven resident sperm whale pods/families. Each sperm whale is so distinctive, whether this be via size, spots, markings, or scars. Almost all have been given names by the Dominicans and are quickly and easily identified by our crew; you often hear them calling out a name to the ocean like greeting an old friend, only for the rest of us to see a sperm whale coming into view moments later.
Our local team is intimately aware of the behaviours and differences in the different pods and, in turn, the whales within them; this insight is fantastically helpful when approaching and socialising with these animals, as all, just like us, are slightly different.
Their knowledge is not only integral to the interactions themselves but to finding where the whales are throughout the day; I’ve seen them do more with a half-cupped ear to a hydrophone and two glances at a horizon than the British Navy achieved with sonar!
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Conservation and ethical wildlife viewing are clearly core to your mission. How do you ensure that these encounters remain low-impact for the whales, the ocean, and the island community?
In Dominica, we are very proud of the work we did in collaboration with National Geographic in forming the first and only sperm whale sanctuary in the world.
These pristine, crystal clear waters are home to one of our greatest treasures. We are aware of the gift we have been given and have no intention of squandering.
Within the creation of the sanctuary, we have had a changing of the shipping lanes, removing large tankers and other such vessels that are immensely discombobulating and damaging for sperm whales.
All swims must be undertaken under a government permit. There are a finite number of people who can access these permits, and the number of people in the water with the whales per day is tightly regulated in order to maintain the safety and comfort of the whales themselves.
We hope that the best practice currently undertaken in Dominica can stand as an example for other small island states across the world with equally attractive marine life and a responsibility to balance the potential for commerce with the governing arm of conservation.
As a Dominican myself and Adam an honorary, we hope to impact the local community rather significantly but in a positive way, in fact, it is core to our mission to do so.
Our Diving With Giants trips are proudly connected to our charitable partner, Common Earth, an organization dedicated to advancing sustainable and regenerative development across the small island states of the Commonwealth—Dominica among them. This partnership reflects a deeper mission: to ensure that the benefits of our work extend beyond adventure tourism and into lasting local empowerment.
Our aim is to help train and elevate the local community into more professional roles—turning boathands into captains, whale spotters into aspiring marine biologists. With CETI, the international marine biology research project, preparing to leave Dominica, there is an urgent need to preserve and expand local scientific capacity.
That’s why our mission is to found and sponsor The Dominican Sperm Whale Institute—a permanent, locally anchored research centre where Dominicans themselves can study, explore, and professionally engage with the whales in their own waters. Rather than outsourcing that knowledge to foreign institutions, we believe in building it back better, right here at home.
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For travelers joining through EYOS, what can they expect from a day at Camp Dominica—from sunrise to sunset? And what do you hope they leave with, beyond just photos and memories?
Your day begins with a gentle 6:30 am rise from your private villa, followed by a short buggy ride to our main hub villa, where you’ll be welcomed by our breathwork instructor, Dora, for a calming hour-long session designed to bring harmony between body and breath—A specialised and tailored amalgam of breath work, movement and sound baths will help stretch out any achy limbs whilst opening your lungs and minds to prepare you for a day on the ocean.
At 7:30 am, we gather for a vibrant breakfast prepared by our exceptional Costa Rican chef, Glenda, before heading down to the dock.
By 8:30 am, we set out for our morning session of whale swims alongside Dominica’s resident sperm whales.
At 12:30 pm, enjoy a fresh, nourishing onboard lunch, then spend the afternoon cruising the lush Caribbean coastline, with more chances to swim with these majestic creatures.
Dominica is also home to the world free diving championships and has a world-famous array of underwater cave systems, beautiful champagne reefs, and vibrant marine life, all of which you are free to explore and enjoy at any time.
We return to shore around 4:30 and then onto the estate, ease into a sunset yoga session to stretch and ground yourself, followed by a few hours of leisure—ideal for a massage or simply unwinding.
Although the majority of the days will be spent on the water chasing the thrill of the perfect interaction, we have also dedicated a day to exploring Dominica largely untouched land; with black sand beaches, boiling lakes, hot springs, cascading waterfalls and thick rich rainforest sprawling across most of the island’s mountainous typography, this rugged unspoilt eden truly is a place like no other. We will explore much the island has to offer, take lunch in the jungle, bathe in the waterfalls, and explore the mangrove-lined Indian River by sunset before returning to our estate for a winding down and supper.
At 7:30 pm, a three-course dinner awaits, once again crafted by Glenda.
Each evening, you will have the option to be joined by marine biologists, conservationists from Common Earth, or notable members of the Dominican government who are spearheading conservation efforts, offering rich insight into the island’s culture, ecology, and global significance. We hope our guests will share stories and insights that will help you understand the country you’re in and appreciate the experiences of the day.
All of our expeditions contain a core schedule and structure; however, they are, of course, bespoke and can be tailored to the individual desires and interests of the groups.
We have brought together a brilliant team to help ensure you experience the best this rugged, exciting, and beautiful place has to offer, but with all of the comforts of home.
We hope you leave us restored and refreshed, with a sense of peace and wellbeing, but inspired, enriched by a knowledge and understanding of what is possible when we come together to enjoy the best nature has to offer.