THE WILD MINUTE
Sperm Whales
Dominica, Caribbean
- 2 TRIPS! -
january 16 - 22, 2026 & January 21 - 27, 2026
EPISODES 28 - 37
Sperm whales are among the most intelligent and socially complex animals on Earth.
To spend time with them is to be reminded that the ocean is not empty, but deeply alive, filled with communication, memory, and connection.
In this Wild Minute series, we kick off our 2026 expeditions and share moments from our time with sperm whales in Dominica.
We are sharing two scheduled trips back-to-back in this Wild Minute Series… thanks for watching.
Wild Minute – Episode 28 | Dominica, Caribbean
DAY ONE. Group 1’s first day.
Sperm whales are among the most intelligent and socially complex animals on Earth. To spend time with them is to be reminded that the ocean is not empty, but very alive, filled with communication, family, and connection.
Today we found magic… sperm whales and a quick encounter with pilot whales. Sadly no footage of the pilots.
Wild Minute – Episode 29
Day two reminded us that nature sets the terms…
We found the sperm whales, but they were far south and deep into the Atlantic, where the ocean was exposed and very swelly. We managed one quick jump before conditions told us it was time to move on.
The day still had gifts. We were lucky enough to spot a blue marlin, a species I’ve been hoping to photograph for a long time, and we finished the afternoon watching dolphins from the boat, no swimming, just lots of appreciation.
Not every day gives you what you hope for, but every day gives you something.
Tomorrow we go again.
Thirty episodes in… and today was one of the harder ones.
On day three, we did find a sperm whale, so we didn’t get skunked, but the whale wanted nothing to do with us. We managed a single jump before it dropped down, and with the encounter far south of the lee of the island, the wind and swell made conditions challenging.
So we headed north afterward, hoping to find anything else, but the ocean was quiet.
Days like this are part of the reality of working with wild animals. You don’t always get what you came for, but you keep showing up. We have two days left, and still feeling lucky!
Wild Minute. Episode 31.
We found two different pods of sperm whales and were able to spend quality time in the water with both. Conditions eventually forced us to move on, wind, swell, and distance offshore reminded us who’s in charge out here.
On the way back toward port, our whale guide Kevin got a call from a friend who had located pilot whales. We changed course and were rewarded with several jumps and close encounters before calling it a day.
It was a very good day, the kind that reminds you why patience matters.
After the quiet days, we found magic again.
Wild Minute. Episode 32.
Day five… and the final day for our first group.
We had whales again today, which makes it five for five. We saw sperm whales every single day of the trip. Some days were better than others, some were harder, but any day you see a whale is a good day.
Today marks the end of this first chapter and the start of the next. We say goodbye to one group and welcome another, grateful for the moments we shared and ready to see what the ocean has planned next.
Wild Minute. Episode 33.
Day One. Group 2’s First Day.
We kicked off the new week with everything we could have hoped for. We spent the entire day with the J pod. The morning was filled with active feeding, whales moving with purpose and intensity. By the afternoon, the energy shifted, feeding gave way to rest, socializing, and family time. One of the babies even fed from mom, a moment that never gets old.
It was one of those rare days where the magic never stopped, and reminds you just how privileged it is to be allowed to witness these special moments.
An epic first day with our new group, and a beautiful way to begin the week.
Wild Minute. Episode 34.
Day Two. Today we had whales, but they said NO. We found the sperm whales, but they were uneasy and distant, and it didn’t take long to understand why. A massive pod of pilot whales was in the area. When pilot whales are around, sperm whales often change their behavior, becoming cautious and less willing to interact with people.
While the sperm whales kept their distance, the day still had its gifts. We spent a really special afternoon with the pilot whales, and later got water time with rough-toothed dolphins, skittish, curious, and fast, but still a lot of fun to swim with.
It was a great day!
Wild Minute. Episode 35.
Day Three… Today was our first real skunking of the trip.
We didn’t see whales. We didn’t see dolphins. The ocean felt empty. Since arriving here, this was the first day that truly gave us nothing.
There’s a price that we pay when pilot whales are in the area. When they show up, sperm whales often disappear, dolphins disappear, and today we felt that absence fully. An empty ocean is part of the agreement we make when we choose to work with wild animals.
Not every day gives you moments to celebrate. Some days simply remind you that the ocean doesn’t owe us anything.
Can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow, so we can find that magic!
Wild Minute. Episode 36.
Today was fire. The whales returned, and the energy of the ocean was completely different. We spent a lot of time with two incredibly playful sperm whales, one of them a young male who was on another level. Super Curious, and very bold.
There were moments where he tried hard to play with us, trying to rub up against me and Brad, coming in mouth open, trying to gum us.
We had to keep moving just to stay clear as he rolled and pushed the interaction forward.
It was intense. Unpredictable. And absolutely unforgettable.
One of the best days I’ve ever had out here.
Just… wow. wow. wow.
Wild Minute. Episode 37.
This is the final Wild Minute from our time in Dominica with the sperm whales.
And it was pure magic.
Over the course of this trip, we shared so many moments that will stay with us for a long time. We saw sperm whales on 9 out of 10 days, not something we ever take for granted, and each encounter felt like a gift.
Deep gratitude to the beautiful souls of Dominica, to the whales who allowed us into their world, and to the friends who joined us on this journey.
Until the next one.