Explore Silver Bank: The region of the Silver Bank was one of the shipping routes that were the lifelines of the Spanish Empire. In September 1641, the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de la Pura y Limpia Concepcion set sail from Havana, Cuba, laden with treasure. A week later, she was nearly destroyed by a hurricane and began a month-long trek to Puerto Rico for repairs. But just short of the goal, the Concepcion struck a shallow reef and began to sink, losing 300 passengers and crew and a fortune in silver that inspired the reef’s name. Enjoy watching the Wildlife: Humpback Whales: Humpback whales are extravagant creatures, ranging from 40-50 feet in length and weighing in at 35-40 tons. They derive their name from the distinctive high humping of their back when they dive and also from the pronounced hump at the leading edge of their dorsal fin. Watch in awe as the whales put on a show, slapping their wing-like pectoral fins on the surface of the sea, lobtailing, breaching, spyhopping and peduncle throws.
