QUEST
OCEAN ADVENTURES
Swim with Whales
Eastern Caribbean
Guadeloupe - Martinique - St. Lucia
Experience the Magic of Whales with Quest Ocean Adventures
After working with expedition cruising for 11 years, covering the globe from Antarctica to the Arctic with a focus on natural history and countless encounters with cetaceans around the world, the idea of offering something different came about.
Join us on an unforgettable journey in Eastern Caribbean, where adventure meets conservation. At Quest Ocean Adventures, we offer whale tours, with the opportunity whenever possible to swim with them, that bring you up close to some of the ocean’s most majestic creatures—all while contributing to vital marine research. We are always adhering to responsible tourism guidelines and ensuring respectful, ethical interactions. You are not required to be a scuba diver, just a sense of adventure and good swimming skills.
Our trips:
Southbound - Guadeloupe to St Lucia
Northbound – St Lucia to Guadeloupe
You will board Quest at 5:00 PM, where you’ll have time to settle in before we begin our introduction and safety briefing. We will then provide you with snorkelling gear and binoculars, which will be yours for the duration of the trip. Afterward, we’ll enjoy dinner, and our marine biologist will give you an overview of what to expect on this incredible journey.
At first light the next day, we set off to sea—our home for the week. The beauty of this type of expedition is our freedom to explore. If we don’t encounter any whales or detect sounds on our hydrophone, we simply sail to the next island.
During the day, we will navigate the calm waters in the lee of the islands, scanning the ocean with binoculars and regularly stopping to lower the hydrophone. Our two hydrophones—one omnidirectional to detect cetaceans in the area and one directional to pinpoint their location—help us track these magnificent creatures.
We anchor at night, setting out to sea again at first light each morning. Weather permitting, we plan to spend one night drifting at sea. During this unforgettable experience, we will lower the hydrophone into the water, switch off all the lights onboard, and let you lie on deck under a sky full of stars, listening to the sounds of the ocean below.
Throughout the expedition, we can stop at any time for a swim—an awe-inspiring experience in the deep blue waters reaching depths of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at an anchorage, giving you the chance to snorkel on vibrant reefs before the sun sets, and explore the villages of the islands. As we welcome a maximum of 6 guests, we are able to customize the experience to accommodate your specific requests, where possible.
This journey is all about immersion in the wild—searching for whales and dolphins in their natural habitat, not in a controlled environment. We go where the ocean takes us, making each expedition a truly unique and unforgettable adventure.
On the last day, day 8, you will have breakfast onboard and then depart at 9.00 AM.
Responsible Tourism
Eastern Caribbean is one of the top destinations in the world to encounter Sperm Whales.
There are 200 resident sperm whales in the area, and from December to April migrating Humpback whales are also in the area. Goeran Persson operates yacht Quest between Guadeloupe and St. Lucia with main focus on swimming with whales
Goeran Persson is a partner of the World Cetacean Alliance working with a global network of tourism and conservation partners to protect whales, dolphins and porpoise in the wild
More Than Just a Tour
In partnership with the Marine Research Foundation, we actively collect scientific data on cetaceans, helping to protect and understand these incredible marine mammals. As a guest, you become part of this important effort, witnessing firsthand the wonders of the sea while supporting conservation.
There is a reason eastern Caribbean is one of the top destinations of sperm whale encounters. There are 200 resident sperm whales in the area. From December to April, migrating humpback whales can also be seen, as well as several other species of whales and dolphins, including pilot whales, Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose. We are offering a unique experience, where you will join us in our expedition of encountering whales in Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Lucia. Sperm whales have been observed from Guadeloupe all the way down to St Vincent, with the majority of observations in the northern part of the region, mainly between Guadeloupe and St Lucia. You will live aboard Quest for seven days, maximizing the time spent at sea. Our marine biologist will guide you, and inform you on these fascinating creatures. On these trips Quest accommodates six passengers in three twin cabins.
What to Expect:
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Binoculars to scan the ocean for cetaceans
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Breathtaking encounters with whales & dolphins (whenever possible, we will swim with them)
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Expert guides & marine biologist onboard
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Hydrophone (one omnidirectional and one directional) to listen to the world below
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A meaningful adventure that supports marine science, and actively taking part of it
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Snorkel gear included
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All meals included (see our menu section)
What not to Expect:
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While we are likely to encounter whales, sightings cannot be guaranteed, as these are wild animals roaming a vast ocean, not a controlled environment like a zoo. Check our trip reports to see past encounters with whales and dolphins in the Eastern Caribbean.
