Dominica is one of the only places on earth where you can swim with wild sperm whales. Christopher Bartlett has led more than thirty expeditions there, and he joins Adam to explain what an encounter is really like.

We talk about why around seventy sperm whales live year-round off this small volcanic island, how the 2023 reserve and its permit system protect them, and what happens once you slip into the water and let a whale decide how close to come. Chris also covers the best months to go, how fit you need to be (less than you'd think), and the most common mistake travellers make: confusing Dominica with the Dominican Republic.

In this episode:
 • Why Dominica's deep, sheltered west coast attracts resident sperm whales
 • The world's first sperm whale reserve and how encounters are managed
 • What a day on the water looks and sounds like, from hydrophones to codas
 • When to go: November–March vs May–July
 • Who this trip is for, and who it isn't

Read the full guide: atollier.club/soundings/swimming-with-sperm-whales-dominica

Soundings by Atollier is hosted by Adam Broadbent. Travel with depth.

Alphonse Atoll sits in the Seychelles outer islands, about 400 km southwest of Mahé, and it's where "barefoot luxury" still means something. Marine biologist Elle Brighton has lived and worked on Alphonse for more than six years, and she joins Adam to explain why.

We talk about swimming with manta rays while helping identify them for research, hawksbill turtles that nest in daylight, wading the St François lagoon among young lemon sharks, and snorkelling with sailfish in open ocean. Elle also explains why the lodge's pool sits empty most of the day, and when to visit in each of the atoll's two seasons.

In this episode:
 • Where Alphonse is, and why its reefs look the way reefs are supposed to
 • Mantas, turtles, sharks and sailfish, and the conservation work behind each
 • What an owner-run lodge feels like from the inside
 • Marine season (October–April) vs island season (May–September)
 • Who Alphonse is for

Read the full guide: atollier.club/soundings/alphonse-atoll-barefoot-luxury

Soundings by Atollier is hosted by Adam Broadbent. Travel with depth.