Between January and April, humpback whales pass close to Salt Cay as they migrate through the Columbus Passage. The depth of the channel — over 7,000 feet — and the island's position on the natural migration route mean that sightings are frequent and often very close. Salt Cay Divers operates whale watching trips from the island; on calm days with cooperative whales, in-water snorkelling encounters are possible.
This is one of very few places in the world where swimming with wild humpback whales is permitted and practised. The season is short — roughly mid-January to mid-April — and the number of operators is small. Book well in advance if whale watching is the primary reason for your visit. Even without getting in the water, watching humpbacks surface and breach from the dive boat in the deep blue passage is one of the more extraordinary wildlife experiences in the Caribbean.