Whales of the Silver Bank - Nelson Riollano

My exposure to the underwater world began 21 years ago when I learned to scuba dive in Japan while stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. From the moment I took my first breath underwater I knew that I wanted to see and learn more about all the beauty the oceans have to offer. I continued my training and education by becoming a PADI Scuba Instructor with other formal training in marine biology at the University of Maryland (Okinawa, Japan Annex and College Park, Maryland).

In 2006, I began my relationship with Aquatic Adventures as captain of the vessel chartered for doing the whale excursions on the Silver Bank. Soon after I began to learn the techniques of ‘working’ whales from Tom Conlin, whose experience in this field is simply unmatched.

Guiding our guests to the experience of snorkeling with humpback whales is not an easy task when we consider that they are wild animals, large, and though quite gentle, they are very powerful creatures. In addition, the conditions on the Silver Bank can be treacherous due to the coral pinnacles that come near to and sometimes break the surface (there are at least 1100 coral heads). Since the safety of our guests and the whales is paramount in our operation, we have adopted procedures that allow for the safety and comfort of the whales while giving our guests a safe and memorable experience.

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