Caribbean Silverbanks

The Silver Banks is a submerged bank in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of the Territory of Turks & Caicos. It covers an area of 1,680 square kilometres (649 square miles). Silver Bank is a shallow underwater carbonate platform with a depth of (60 feet (18 metres) deep. In some parts coral heads reach the ocean surface, especially at low tide. Amongst the coral heads is the wrecked freighter Polyxeni, most of which is above the surface, but by now completely rosted. This area is considered a part of the Dominican Republic. The Silver Bank has long been a breeding and calving area for humpback whales.