Dominica: Swim with Sperm Whales

7 Days Trip

with Karim Iliya

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1,500+

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The Story
The Highlights
About the Storyteller
Itinerary / Day by Day
Trip Images / Gallery
FAQs

Guided trip

The Story

Travel with wildlife photographer and filmmaker Karim Iliya to Dominica, one of the few places on Earth where sperm whales can be encountered in warm, clear Caribbean water.

This 7-day trip is built around time at sea. Each day, you’ll head out by boat with Karim, local captains and an experienced crew, watching for blows, listening for clicks, and entering the water only when the conditions and the whales allow. When the moment comes, you’ll slip in quietly and meet the largest toothed predators on the planet on their terms.

Encounters here can be intimate and deeply moving. You may see mothers and calves resting near the surface, social groups moving together through the blue, or whales communicating through the clicks and codas that carry through the water. Nothing is staged. Nothing is guaranteed. That’s the point.

Limited to just six guests, the trip is designed to keep the experience calm, respectful and personal. Karim will guide you in the water and behind the lens, helping you understand whale behaviour, underwater photography, and how to capture powerful images without losing the experience itself.

Between days on the ocean, Dominica adds its own wildness: rainforest trails, volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and island culture. But the reason you come is the whales, and the rare chance to share the water with them alongside one of the world’s most thoughtful underwater storytellers.

The Highlights

Swim with wild sperm whales in warm Caribbean waters
5 days on the water
Small group, limited to 6 guests
Explore rainforests, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes
Guided by wildlife photographer and filmmaker Karim Iliya

This is more than a trip.

This is a rare week in the water with wild sperm whales, led by a storyteller who understands both the animal and the image.

Reserve Your Trip

7 days, 6 nights

Swim with Sperm Whales in Dominica

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Price

$7,500 USD

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+1 864 668 7478

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"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"

- Karim Iliya

Meet Your Guide

Why Travel With Karim?

Karim Iliya is a wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and conservationist whose work offers a rare glimpse into the lives of some of Earth’s most compelling species. From swimming with whales to documenting volcanic eruptions from above, his images have appeared in National Geographic, BBC Earth, and other leading publications.

Karim brings more than technical mastery. His work is grounded in patience, instinct, and a deep understanding of the natural world, using storytelling to build connection and awareness for fragile ecosystems.

As your guide, Karim is with you both in the water and behind the lens, sharing not just how to capture an image, but how to truly experience the moment.

What Sets Karim Apart

Blends artistic vision with a deep understanding of the natural world
Story-driven approach that builds connection with fragile ecosystems
Featured in National Geographic, BBC Earth, and leading global publications

15+

Years Experiences

200+

Global Expeditions

500k+

Followers

What You'll Learn

For Karim Iliya, photography is driven by a need to understand and share the natural world at its most raw and unfiltered.

From the depths of the ocean to volcanic landscapes, his work is fueled by curiosity, patience, and respect for the environments he documents.

At its core, it’s about connection. Creating images that bring people closer to places and species they may never encounter, and inspiring a responsibility to protect them.

Day by Day

Your Itinerary

Day

Welcome to Dominica

Arrive at DOM, Douglas Charles Airport, where you’ll be met and transferred to The Champs Hotel in Portsmouth.

Settle in, meet Karim, your Airguides host and the local team, then come together for an evening orientation. You’ll cover how the whale days work, what to expect on the boat, in-water etiquette, safety, photography approach and the rhythm of the week ahead.

The day ends with your first group dinner overlooking the island.

Day

2&3

Whale Odyssey: The Quest for the Gentle Giants

Breakfast at the hotel, then down to the dock for your first full days on the water.

Each day, you’ll head out by boat with Karim, a local captain and experienced crew who know these waters and how to read whale behaviour. You’ll spend around six hours at sea, watching for blows, listening for clicks and entering the water only when conditions and the whales allow.

Lunch is packed and eaten on the boat, so you can stay close to the action. Late afternoons are free to relax at the hotel, swim, review images or explore Portsmouth before dinner with the group.

Day

Whales, Photography and Island Time

Return to the water for another day of searching, waiting and, when the moment is right, quietly slipping in to snorkel with sperm whales.

By now, you’ll start to understand the rhythm of the encounters: the patience, the silence, the signals from the crew and the way every whale behaves differently. Karim will be there to help you refine your approach, whether that means better underwater images or simply learning how to stay present in the moment.

In the late afternoon, there’s time to unwind back at The Champs Hotel or explore more of Dominica’s rainforest, coast and island culture.

Day

5&6

Back on the Water

Two more days at sea give you the best chance of a range of encounters. You may see mothers with calves, social groups moving through the blue, juvenile whales or the deep communication clicks and codas sperm whales are known for.

Every day is different. Some moments may be brief. Others may stay with you for life.

Evenings are relaxed and social, with shared dinners at the hotel and one dinner at a local restaurant, depending on the final schedule.

Day

Farewell Dominica

After breakfast, transfer back to DOM, Douglas Charles Airport, for your onward flight.

You’ll leave with full memory cards, a deeper understanding of sperm whales, and the rare feeling of having shared the water with one of the ocean’s most intelligent animals.

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What's included

6 nights accommodation on the outer islands (shared)
5 days on the water swimming with humpback whales
Half day island exploration
Small group of max 8 guests only
All breakfast, lunch and dinner
Interactive photography and videography masterclasses with Karim Iliya
Professional photos from the trip
Airport transfers
Airguides expedition leader

Optional extra: private room (single supplement - contact us for pricing)

What's not included

Flights
Snorkeling Gear
Other Activities
Alcohol

Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, and weather conditions can vary. Some activities may be affected by factors outside our control.

Who is this trip for?

Anyone who wants to spend time with humpback whales in the wild. You don't need to be a photographer - the focus is on the experience of being in the water with these animals, not on capturing it. Photography and videography workshops are included but completely optional. You just need to be a confident swimmer and comfortable snorkelling in open water.

Do I need to be a photographer?

No. The photography and videography workshops are included but entirely optional. Some guests come specifically for the photography side; others come purely for the experience of being in the water with whales. Both are completely valid. The trip works for anyone who loves wildlife and the ocean.

Are whale encounters guaranteed?

No, and that honesty is part of what makes this trip worth doing. Humpbacks return to French Polynesia every year and is one of the best places on the planet to swim with them - but wildlife is wild. The encounters can't be scripted or guaranteed. What the trip does guarantee is the best possible conditions for a real, natural encounter, led by someone who has spent years building the knowledge and patience to make them happen.

Who will lead this trip?

Every Airguides expedition has two leaders: an Airguides Trip Leader who handles logistics and keeps everything running smoothly, and a Storyteller Guide - in this case Brooke Pyke - who brings expertise, stories and perspective to every dive and experience.

Can I speak to someone about this trip or get help with flights?

Yes. Our team can help with flight options and travel routing. Call, text or WhatsApp us at +61 402 552 918. You'll speak directly with an Airguides team member who knows this trip inside out. We're here to help with any questions, big or small, from planning your adventure to arriving back home.

Most trips are for guests aged 18+, but occasionally we welcome younger travellers if the trip is a good fit. For example, confident swimmers may be able to join in-water trips with prior approval. Just reach out if you're not sure!

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Questions

Reviews

What They Say About Us?

Airguides were exceptional hosts for our Raja Ampat liveaboard dive trip. Seamless, professional and incredibly well organised from start to finish. A special mention to Brooke and Prashanti Pyke for their warmth, expertise and attention to detail. They truly made the experience unforgettable.

Highly recommend Airguides.

Adam McKnight, Raja 2025

A truly unique experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

This experience is not for the faint of heart or someone who is looking for Instagram moments for clout. You are being given a unique opportunity to go to a place that will only be accessible to a handful of mere mortals.

To be in the presence of a unique visionary like Martin Gregus is truly a once in a lifetime.

Anne Prather, Fireweeds 2025

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.

Mb Myers, Tonga 2024

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