18th - 24th June 2025
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Embark on a captivating 7-day journey to the vibrant waters of Dominica, led by acclaimed wildlife photographer and filmmaker Karim Iliya. Limited to just 6 guests, this intimate expedition offers the rare opportunity to swim alongside sperm whales in their natural habitat. Observe these majestic giants as they navigate their underwater world—you may encounter playful calves with their mothers, witness juvenile whales honing their skills, hear the haunting songs of singers, or see males competing for mating rights.
Throughout the trip, you’ll spend your days immersed in the ocean’s wonders, exploring Dominica’s pristine waters by boat, swimming with these incredible creatures, and sharing meals and stories with fellow adventurers. Karim will provide hands-on guidance in underwater photography, helping you capture breathtaking images while fostering a deeper connection to marine life and conservation.
Beyond the whales, experience the lush beauty of Dominica itself, an island known for its rich biodiversity and vibrant culture. This once-in-a-lifetime journey combines adventure, luxury, and expert mentorship, offering memories that will inspire awe and creativity for years to come.
Karim Iliya, an acclaimed wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and conservationist, brings a profound passion for the natural world to every expedition. With a career spanning oceans and volcanic landscapes, Karim’s work offers an intimate window into the lives of Earth’s most extraordinary creatures. His striking underwater images of whales and manta rays, as well as aerial views of volcanic eruptions, have been featured in renowned publications such as National Geographic.
Karim’s approach to photography combines artistic vision with a deep respect for his subjects, emphasizing the delicate balance of ecosystems and the need for conservation. He is committed to inspiring a greater understanding of the natural world through his lens, using storytelling to connect people with wildlife and their habitats.
As a seasoned guide, Karim shares his technical expertise and unique insights, helping travelers capture the essence of their encounters with the natural world. Whether you’re an experienced photographer or a beginner, Karim’s mentorship will elevate your skills and deepen your appreciation for the wonders of our planet. With Karim, every journey is an opportunity to create lasting memories and a renewed commitment to protecting the fragile beauty of the Earth.
Welcome to the Caribbean
Get to know Dominica and your team
Arrive in Dominica. (Airport code: DOM, Douglas Charles Airport.). There will be transport ready to pick you up from the airport and take you to our Hotel. There will be a brief orientation in the evening to prepare for the following days. After you have gotten settled in we will have dinner together and share stories of the ocean.
This is a great opportunity to meet KArim and learn about his passion for photography.
Let's get in the ocean
Typically breakfast will be served in the hotel from before our boat departure at 8:00 AM. We’ll spend about six hours at sea, and have a packed lunch on the boat. We have an experienced local captain and crew to assist in finding the whales.
We’ll enjoy dinners at the hotel, and one night we will be enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.
You will have free time in the late afternoon each day.
Sadly it's time to say goodbye
Leaving the island
After breakfast we'll depart from Dominica. Transportation will be provided from the accommodation to the airport.
“Photography lets me see the Earth in a new way, where I take my time looking at the details that you don’t usually see"
Optional Extras:
There are a few resident pods in the area. The family groups are large so there's a variety of interactions. Sometimes the encounters are brief and the whales are just passing by, other times they are very social, curious about us, and socialize with each other. Usually, we find them within a few hours and spend some hours with them each day.
Typically we swim with sperm whales every day. On a 5-day trip, you can expect to be in the water with sperm whales multiple times each day. The encounters typically last between 1 minute and 20 minutes, as the whales dive into deep waters for feeding, with brief intervals between swims.
Typically we do 3 guests with the trip leader/guide. We find small encounters usually work better. At the captain's discretion, there might be a time when they sends everyone in the water.
There are a couple of other boats in the area but we usually don't encounter them often. Of course, it depends on what's happening, how much activity there is in the area, their schedules, etc. But it's much less crowded than Mexico, Tonga, or French Polynesia. Often our group is alone in the water.
Sometimes the whales come directly towards the boat, the boat will drop us in the water (with the guide) and you don't need to swim at all. The whales pass directly next to you. Other times the whales are moving around more so there is more swimming, or if they are more shy, the boat might drop us and we swim slowly to where they are. If you ever get tired, the boat stays close to us and you can get back on the boat.
Most interactions are individual sperm whales unless it's a mother and a young calf. The calves can't hold their breath for as long, so they come up to the surface and rest for quite a while, often left unattended. Sometimes they are very curious and come extremely close. You do get pairs, and groups of three as well.
What you see in many photos is the adults all together sleeping and socializing which is the most spectacular behavior (it is more heavily represented on the internet than the reality of the behavior because it makes for good photos). We typically see that once or twice every 10 days.
The water is usually quite warm in June and July, at 27.5 Celcius (84.5 Fahrenheit)
Oftentimes you don't even need a wetsuit, however, we always recommend bringing a shortie or a 3 mm. Even in tropical locations, if it's windy, cloudy, rainy and you spend a long time in the water, you can get cold. It's also good to have protection against the sun.
Your adventure will be guided by a seasoned Airguides Trip Leader, who's an experienced travel guide and your primary contact for any needs or questions during the trip. What sets our trips apart? We'll be joined by a 'Storyteller Guide,' a true expert with deep knowledge and a genuine passion for the destination, adding authentic insights and stories to your journey.
Solo travellers can opt for a private room, which incurs a single-supplement fee. Please contact us for specific pricing details. Alternatively, we may offer a roommate pairing option on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. Reach out to us for availability and more information.
Certainly! If you need help finding the best flights or planning your travel routes, we're here to help. Just reach out to us, and our team will be more than happy to provide guidance and support.
We'd love to speak with you about this trip and answer any questions you have! Feel free to call, text or WhatsApp our friendly team at +61 402 552 918. You'll be connected with a real, knowledgeable person from Airguides, ready to assist. We take great pride in our personal service, ensuring we're with you every step of the way, from planning your adventure to your journey back home.
For our ocean adventures, a moderate level of fitness is ideal to fully enjoy water-based activities like swimming, snorkelling, or diving, often lasting several hours. Being comfortable in the ocean is essential. If you have concerns about your fitness level or abilities in the water, please don't hesitate to contact us for advice.
“Thanking the stars I found Airguides and Jono's trip. We were totally taken care of! Paul answered all our questions and took care of the details so all we had to do was get there. Jono Allen is an amazing, talented photographer who created a special group experience. The WHALES were mind blowing. What a gift to be in Tonga staring into the eye of a baby whale! This trip was a lifelong dream come true. I highly recommend it so much we’ve already signed up again for next year!"
"The Airguides trip to Tonga to swim with humpback whales was the experience of a lifetime. I have traveled all over the world, and nothing compares to being in the wild, rustic, deep blue waters of the South Pacific while interacting with whales and their calves. A wonderful and caring team made our adventures stress free. Absolutely amazing, so much so, that I am doing it again this year! Thanks a million Paul, Jono, Al, Alistair, Christian and Polly!"
"Thank you for your help in putting together our trip to the Northern Territory. Everyone agreed that it was the best family holiday we'd ever had and - even better - everyone nominated something different as 'the best thing'."
"The trip with Airguides was magic. Paul was our kind and patient guide, Mark Fitz was our talented and positive photographer/storyteller. It was a perfect mix of activity and relaxation and I’m already planning my next Airguides trip."
"I recently visited Lady Musgrave Island with Airguides. They have a unique and meaningful approach to travel and travelling with and learning from a world-class photographer, who was on the trip, was incredible."
"I cannot say enough amazing things about Airguides and the amazing honeymoon they planned for us. We began our trip planning by being overwhelmed with travel blogs, not knowing what was actually the best plan for us."
“Just had an amazing trip to Heron Island organised by the Airguides team. Perfect balance of activity and relaxation, they made it so easy. Can't wait until I can do another trip!“
“ We recently organised our trip to Heron Island with Bibi and Paul as a last minute getaway. Seamlessly dealt with and an added bonus of having a world-class photographer/ free-diver as our story teller. The trip has only whet our appetite for more positive and relaxing experiences with the Airguides team- Awesome “