This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

TONGA VS. TAHITI: Where to swim with humpback whales?

x

TONGA VS. TAHITI: Where to swim with humpback whales?

Which destination is better, Tonga or Tahiti, if you want to swim with humpback whales?

Swimming with humpback whales is a life-changing experience. I have done it in Vava'u, Tonga, and French Polynesia, two of the very few places in the world where swimming with humpback whales in their natural habitat is allowed. While both were magical in their own ways, each destination has its pros and cons. Watch the video to find out more!

If swimming with humpback whales is on your bucket list, but you are not sure where to do it, this video will help you understand what to expect in both places! That being said, whichever place you end up going, it's gonna be magical.

More information on how to swim with humpback whales in Tonga:

↠ SUBSCRIBE for solo travel advice around the world ↠

↠ CONNECT WITH ME:

Instagram:
Facebook:
x

Swimming with HUMPBACK WHALES in TONGA ???? Unbelievable Experience

Our humpback whale encounters in Tonga were probably one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. Come with us on our journey to the Kingdom of Tonga and meet lovely EJ from EJs Encounters. She shares with us her knowledge about the whales and what can be done to protect them.

While we’re sliding into the water, our heartbeat starts to speed up. We stare into the blue. But as soon as we get a first glimpse of these majestic creatures, the whole world seems to stop for a moment. It feels so unreal! What a privilege to be in their presence ????????.

12 passengers, two propellers, zero security – that’s by far the smallest plane we’ve ever been traveling in!
It takes us to the tiny island Ha’apai in the Kingdom of Tonga ????????. From above the clouds we already get a first glimpse of what’s awaiting us: empty beaches, fresh coconuts ???? and a crystal clear ocean. Only the humpback whales, which are the main reason for our visit, are still hiding. We need a little time to ease into it – no electricity, no reception, no connection to the rest of the world (that's why we post this in retrospect). Collected rainwater for drinking, freshly harvested papayas for breakfast ????. Our highlights: The campfire at the beach every evening, sunsets over the ocean and the sandy kisses of our hyperactive island dog Puppy ????????.

„And why Tonga?“ – Because these pacific islands are one of the very few places on Earth, where you get the chance to observe whales under water ????????. Every spring humpback whales travel more than 5.000 kilometers from Antarctica to the warm waters around Tonga. That's where they mate, give birth to their calves and raise them, until they are big enough to survive Antarctica's freezing temperatures. A whale calve gains up to 50kg per day, while their mothers don't feed at all here. In the end of summer they travel back South together.

Snorkeling with whales is very strictly regulated here. Encounters should be initiated by the animals. If they don't show any interest in our boat, nobody enters the water.

In the 60s and 70s, humpback whales were hunted to the brink of extinction for their oil and meat. We were told that there were only 32 breeding females left in Tonga. In 1978, the King of Tonga announced it illegal to kill the whales (so did Australia), so 2018 marks their 40st anniversary of not being hunted in this part of the world ????????.

Getting close and personal with 30 tonnes humpbacks, looking into the eyes of these highly intelligent mammals and watching them interact with us was definitely an experience we’ll never ever forget ????????. We really hope that Tonga’s whale tourism is going to stay as strictly regulated as it is, so that it remains a safe place for the whales to spend the summer and raise their young.

Thanks, EJ for the lovely interview and your enthusiasm and work for the ocean.
Thanks to our guides Carrie & Trav from @mammalswithgills for contributing some of your footage.

Stay curious!
Doris & Matthias

*** FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY ***
????
????
????

*** CAMERA & EDIT ***
???? Matthias Jungwirth & Doris Wimmer
????
????

*** MUSIC ***
Rae by Kevin Graham (Artlist)
Unbreakable Bond by Cody Martin (Artlist)
Motion by Tristan Barton (Artlist)
The Light by Ian Post (Artlist)

*** EQUIPMENT ***
???? Sony A7 RIII: (Main Camera)
???? Sony FE 24–105 mm F4 G: (Main Lens)
???? Sony FE 16–35mm F4: (Wide Angle Lens)
???? Sony FE 70–300mm F4.5-5.6 G: (Tele Lens)
???? DJI Mavic Air: (Drone)
???? GoPro Hero 6 Black: (Underwater Camera)
???? GoPro Super Suit Dive Housing: (Underwater Housing)
???? Rollei Compact Traveler 1 Carbon: (Tripod)
???? Zhiyun Crane V2: (Stabilizer)
???? Lacie 4 TB Hard Drive: (for Backups)
???? Rode VideoMicro: (Microphone)

When you are convinced by any of the above-mentioned camera gear, feel free to use one of the links. You get the regular Amazon price and we receive a small percentage from that – this helps to support and continue our work. Thank you!
x

Insanely Close Encounter Freediving with Humpback Whales in Tonga!

One of most insane encounters while freediving with Humpback Whales in the kingdom of Tonga on one of our trips! Volume up!

This video was taken by our very own Dan Parsons. Dan has worked as the head safety diver for National Geographic documentary series ‘Secrets of the Whales’. Providing safety for world renown underwater videographers and photographers, working in various remote locations around the world on expeditions. Dan tells us this was by far the best experience yet!

If this looks like the bucket list trip that you have been searching for then we recommend that you read the information below!

For one week in July 2023, we will stay on the remote island of Eua, Tonga in our own private resort, The Blue Water Retreat. Throughout the week we will spend 5 full days out in the open water, boat diving and playing with Humpback whales on Eua’s well known ‘Humpback Highway’.

The Blue Water Retreat resort on Eua Island is known for being one of the best places on the island to whale watch from land. These waters are famous for “heat runs” with large pods of competitive whales and mothers and calves are often seen very close to shore. The resort has its own private beach and reef for us to explore in our down time and the sunsets are out of this world amazing! Our chef for the week has previously cooked for the King of Tonga and caters for all dietary needs.

Eua Island is a dream location for whale watching. The whale encounters in this location are some of the best in the world! This is because Eua is the closest Island in Tonga to the Tonga trench, which is a deep trench in the ocean full of warm, safe waters where Humpback whales breed and birth their calves. Unlike other areas of Tonga where there are many, many boat operators and where they are having to line up to spend time with the whales, Eua only has 2 boat operators – us and one other company! Each operator stays on a different side of the island, so we feel like we are the only one there!

We will spend five full days on the boats, returning to the resort each evening. While onboard we will see groups of whales racing by in their heat runs, breaching all around us and inquisitively spy hopping and looking at us on the boats. When we are in the water we will swim and play with the whales. The whales can be extremely playful where they will spend an hour or more interacting with us or sometimes we can just watch them cruise along minding their own business. If we feel like it, we can also jump in for some freediving line diving line training sessions or go and explore the underwater Caves in the area.

Group size is strictly limited to 14 guests. Each day we will have two boats with seven guests on each and we can mix and match who is on the boat each day. Our trips are guided by a local Captain, marine biologist and Dan Parsons.

Included in the trip is:
Accommodation at the newly renovated Blue Water Retreat on Eua Island
All meals, snacks and non alcoholic drinks
Boat and local captain for 5 days
Marine Biologist with us all week
Gear hire is available if required
Optional Island tour on our rest day

Flights to Tonga and Eua Island are not included in the price.

Dates available:
06-12 July 2023
13-19 July 2023 - Full

For more information on this once of a lifetime trip contact us for more information!

freedivingcentral@gmail.com


Instagram
@freedivingcentral

Secrets of the Whales
x

Swimming with Whales in French Polynesia

Many YouTube videos have short clips of people swimming with beautiful Humpback Whales in French Polynesia. This video tells you what to expect and how you should plan without any surprises that normally hit you during or after your swimming with whale’s tour is over. It's important to understand, there is no guarantee you’re going to get close in the water with a Humpback Whale. This video will help you understand the dynamics of this tour and hopefully give you a clearer picture before you book a trip.
x

The Ultimate Guide to Whale Swimming in Vava'u, Tonga

Where To Swim With Whales - The Best Place To Go!

???? To Subscribe!!


Learn about where the best Humpback Whale swims in the world take place!
Which in my opinion is Vava'u, Tonga! The whales in Tonga do not disappoint. If you dream of spending time with humpback whales in the water, look no further. Watch the full video to learn more!

Check out to book a tour!

➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾
follow for much more!

• Swim with Humpback Whales:
• Expeditions:
• Buy Ocean Inspired Clothing (ECO):

• Facebook -
• Instagram -
• TikTok-

➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾
???? CHECK OUT MY OTHER VIDEOS: ????






➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾➾

Hope you love watching the video, Please show your love and support by just liking and subscribing to the channel so we can grow a strong and powerful community.

Activate the ???? beside the subscribe button to get the notifications!????
If you have any questions or requests feel free to leave them in the comments below.

SUBSCRIBE PLEASE AND MANY THANKS
╔═╦╗╔╦╗╔═╦═╦╦╦╦╗╔═╗
║╚╣║║║╚╣╚╣╔╣╔╣║╚╣═╣
╠╗║╚╝║║╠╗║╚╣║║║║║═╣
╚═╩══╩═╩═╩═╩╝╚╩═╩═╝


????RELEVANT HASHTAGS:
#swimwhales #swimming #whaleswims #humpback

Swimming with Humpback Whales in Tonga

Tonga is one of only a few countries in the world where you can actually swim with humpback whales. Swimming with the whales is done so with sensible tourism guidelines and experienced guides to ensure minimal impact on the whales and their environment. #tonga #whales #diving

For more podcasts and videos visit

Swimming with Baby Humpback Whales (incredible encounters)

We spent a week living on a catamaran in Tonga SWIMMING WITH HUMPBACK WHALES!! Get an exclusive Surfshark deal! Enter promo code KARAANDNATE for an extra 3 months free at 

Thanks so much to Dave, Tris, and Dior for the amazing week onboard! Check out Whale Discoveries if you want to go on your own Tonga humpback whale adventure :)

✈️ Join 600k+ readers of Daily Drop - our free travel newsletter! ➡️
???? *GIVEAWAY!* We give away a free epic trip every month! ???? And this month, it’s a luxury 8 day cruise in the Galápagos Islands + $3,000 to cover your flights!! ???? All you have to do to enter is sign up for Daily Drop by entering your email :)

Episode 897 | Filmed August 2023 | Tonga

???? Get behind the scenes content on our Instagram! @karaandnate

——————————————————

Who are Kara and Nate?!
Watch our documentary here:

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, we got married 2013 and were super “normal.” I was a teacher and Nate started a small printing business from the spare bedroom of our apartment.

We discovered the world of “travel hacking” while planning our honeymoon & became addicted ;)

So after 2 years of obsessively saving $35k and over 2 million miles and points, we sold our cars and apartment and left home January 10, 2016 for a “one year” trip around the world.

Our goal was to see as many places as possible before we ran out of money and went back home to “normal life.” We started this channel to share our experiences with friends and family, but quickly fell in love with living on the road and found a new passion for capturing our travels through video. So we did everything we could to keep going.

4 years later, we achieved our new goal of visiting 100 countries and all 7 continents. We had no plans to slow down, until 2020 forced us to ;) Which is when we bought a converted van to start exploring our own country for the first time!

After ~2 years of van life, we are back to full time international traveling! And now we are finding the best adventures the world has to offer :)

We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue doing something we love every day. ???????????? Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey!

00:00 Swimming with Humpback whales!
01:51 our routine onboard
12:19 mother and baby humpbacks :)
16:07 best swim of the week
18:50 Catamaran tour
20:58 tsunami wrecked island
22:23 listen to the whales singing!
25:51 bloops

Swimming with WHALES in TONGA

WANNA DO THE SAME (but in French Polynesia)? Join me next September: eepurl.com/dEXn2r

Swimming, snorkeling and freediving with whales and dolphins in Tonga.

Swimming with whales in the wild and open has been a long-time dream of mine. The whales usually start to show up in late July to early August and stay until mid-October. It’s hard to pick a sweet spot within that timeframe as any week has the potential to have tons of whale sightings, or not. Some days will be packed with whale swims while others might only have one or none. Humpback whales are wild animals and since the boats don’t feed or coax them into interactions, there are never any guarantees.

We definitely got lucky, though! Seven of us headed out on a speed boat off of the island of Vava’u, Tonga, and we were one of only 10-15 boats out on the water that day, and each of the six days that we spent swimming with the whales. We hung out with a mother whale with calfs, singing male whales, and witnessed a couple of heat runs, led by a female in heat and involving several male whales all vying for a chance to mate with her. Not only did we swim with several whales, but four dolphins as well! The trip finished with a beautiful swim in a crystal clear cave full of tiny, glittering fish.

I’m forever changed after this experience. CLICK HERE to read more about my experience and how you can book, prepare and get the most out of your trip:

Partial footage credits: Matt Reichel and Karim Iliya of Dance With Whales

↠ SUBSCRIBE for solo travel advice around the world ↠

Swimming with humpback whales in Tonga

So much was against us this day! The weather, the whales, the time of year – it was the last day of the season. But we were lucky enough to get to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Tonga's northern island group, Vava'u.

▬ READ MORE ▬


★★ SUBSCRIBE HERE ★★


▬ FOLLOW US! ▬

✩ Website:
✩ Instagram:
✩ Twitter:
✩ Facebook:

The Truth About Swimming With Whales: French Polynesia 2023

Swimming with humpback whales is a unique and once in a lifetime experience that you can only do in French Polynesia or Tonga. On our trip, we had the privilege of getting in the water with these majestic creatures and want to share the truth about swimming with whales. After watching this video, you'll have more accurate expectations for this experience as well as a better understanding of why it's one of the best things you'll ever do.

Book Your Whale Swim Tour HERE:
Mo'orea Travel Vlog:
Bora Bora Video:

Helpful French Polynesia Links:


Business Inquiries: jayxnina@gmail.com

If you haven't met us yet, we are Jay and Nina! We love all things #adventure and #travel. We spent our first year of marriage living the #vanlife while traveling all over the US. Now we work seasonal jobs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and spend our shoulder seasons traveling together!

We include these time stamps so you can skip around our videos and only watch what you care about!

0:00 Intro
1:00 The Big Picture
1:51 Group vs. Private Tour?
2:38 How To Swim With Whales
3:50 CRAZY WHALE ENCOUNTER!
4:46 2nd Whale Swim
5:35 SHE SWAM RIGHT NEXT TO US
7:11 The TRUTH about Swimming With Whales

????SUBSCRIBE:
???? INSTAGRAM:
????TIKTOK:
????️WEBSITE:
????SHOP our Amazon Storefront:
????MUSIC: Epidemic Sound. Use our link for a 30-day FREE trial.
????CAMERA GEAR USED:

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
x

Swimming with WHALES in French Polynesia

This experience changed my life.

Swimming, freediving and dancing with whales around a secret island in French Polynesia is an experience I will never, ever forget. These gentle giants are elegant, intelligent and loving, and we were so blessed that a group of them chose to spend hours with us. We even got to see them breaching a few times!

The island feels like Eden, where the fishermen only need lines and spear guns, and the fruit trees are beyond prolific. I watched the locals of all ages perform Tahitian dancing at church (shown in the vlog). There must be at least a hundred families there for the event. It’s not for tourists, and there aren’t many at all, but I’m welcome and it feels good. This whole island feels good. It’s like I’ve been searching for it my whole life.

I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll never name this place. If you find it, you’ll know why. If you are trying to plan a similar trip, the best months to swim with whales in French Polynesia are between mid-August to October. I am also leading 2 small groups of women to do the exact same thing next September. The trips are now sold out, but you can join the waiting list here:

↠ SUBSCRIBE for solo travel advice around the world ↠

↠ CONNECT WITH ME:

Instagram:
Facebook:

↠MORE RESOURCES:
Solo female travel resources:
31 Solo Travel Safety Tips from 31 Solo Female Travelers:

Swimming with Humpback Whales in French Polynesia!

In 1979 National Geographic Magazine published an article about Humpback whale songs in their January issue. Included with the article was a recording of the mysterious sounds made by these gentle giants. I was just a kid, but I was hooked, and dreamed that one day I would see these amazing creatures for myself.

40 years later Liz and I fulfilled this dream when we traveled to the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. We spent an entire week swimming with Humpbacks. Each morning we would load into our boat, then head out and search for whales. We’d scan the horizon for the tell-tale spout from their blowholes, a fin slap or a jumping breach. When we found them, we’d join the Humpbacks in the water and marvel at their beauty. It was an amazing experience that we’ll never forget!

We hope you enjoy these highlights from our time spent with the whales.

Video music (licensed thru artlist.io)
Intro - I Get Up performed by John Coggins
Whale Footage - Aquilone performed by Vis-Major


Our Studio Setup
24 x 36 Light Kit
20 x 28 Light Kit
GoPro Tripod Stand
GoPro Hero 7 Black Camera
GoPro microphone adapter
GoPro Vlog Case
Edutige ETM-001
Edutige microphone cable
Backdrop Support System
White Seamless Background

Additional Gear for Outdoor Video
Microphone Wind Muffs
Polarizing Camera Lens Filter
Portable mini camera tripod
Suction cup camera mount

DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links when available. If you click one of the affiliate links and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission.

Swimming with Humpback Whales in Tonga

Vava'u, Tonga is considered to be the best place in the world to swim with humpback whales — that's why we came to visit, and why you should visit too!

Travel with Us:

Swimming with Humpback Whales | Tonga 2019

We spent two years planning an unforgettable adventure that took us on an 18-day road trip through New Zealand and then over to the beautiful island of Vava'u, Tonga, where we did the unthinkable. We booked a private boat for 5 days so we could jump into the water with humpback whales. We were fortunate enough to encounter whales each day we went out, both in and out of the water. There was nothing more exciting than getting the opportunity to swim next to a mama cow and her calf...and we did it twice!!!

Note: From the months of July to November adult whales (cows and bulls) migrate to the calmer waters of the southwest Pacific to allow their baby whales (calves) to grow and get strong enough for the next journey ahead. Where they will then migrate south to feed.

This video here was put together to show the incredible footage of the humpback whales we encountered and to also preview our next epic adventure (coming in 2023). In December 2022 we will be heading to Noway to swim with Orcas in the wild. Yes, we will be plunging into freezing cold water in the arctic circle, under the northern lights, to swim with killer whales. Our goal is to capture some footage from that trip and create a little video for the purpose of inspiring people to go out and see these amazing creatures in the wild, and NOT in captivity! It's all very possible and we hope to show that in our video coming soon.

These underwater clips were shot in 2019 with a GoPro Hero +, that actually malfunctioned on the trip, and we did lose about 30% of our footage. We were thankful to have salvaged what we have.

Filmed and Edited by:
Facebook:
Music: Oliver Michael - Provided by

Shot on GoPro - iPhone - Sony a6300
Edited in DaVinci Resolve

Swim with whales in Tonga:
Whales in the Wild are an incredible company that focuses on ethical and sustainable practices! Highly recommended!!!

Leave a comment if you have any questions on how you can swim with baby humpback whales in Tonga! Thank you

Swimming with humpback whales in Tonga

Swimming with humpback whales in Tongatapu, Tonga with Moana Tours. It was a surreal day and highlight of my life. The story I will annoy my grandchildren with when I'm old. Read the full story on:
x

Dive Adventures Tonga Swimming with Humpback Whales

Swimming with the humpback whales in Tonga is something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. It is an unforgettable experience! Slip into the water right next to these giants of the ocean and feel their songs vibrate through you. From late July through to October these incredible mammals can often be sighted travelling with their young through the Islands of Vavau.

For more information and to book your whale swim adventure, contact Dive Adventures

Experience the majestic dance of humpback whales in Tonga’s crystal-clear waters. ???? #reels

Experience the majestic dance of humpback whales in Tonga’s crystal-clear waters. ????

#Tonga #Whales #instagramreels #reels #instagram #instagood #trending #reelsinstagram #explorepage #explore #viral #love #reelitfeelit #instareels #instadaily #reelsvideo #follow #trendingreels #reelkarofeelkaro #insta #reel #india #viralreels #photography

[TONGA Vavau] Swimming & Watching with Humpback Whales calf - once-in-a-lifetime experience

Vavau island is here:


Best Season for Whale swimming
Middle of August to September


Nuku alofa to Vavau Domestic flight
Fiji Airways



Real Tonga


Accommodation & Tour company
You can find on Trip advisor.


❤︎Please Subscribe to my Channel

See more on...

Swimming with Humpback Whales - Vava'u Tonga

I documented my first time going to Fiji and Tonga and swimming with humpback whales. It was absolutely incredible and unlike anything I've ever experienced!

First uploaded in February 2019.

Humpback Whale Swim in Tonga

Swimming with Humpback Whales in Tonga? ???? ????????

Here's an easy step-by-step guide on how to get there, what to expect, what to bring and what it's like. I've included tips on booking your tour and making the most of your time and money while there.

We were very fortunate to swim with several baby humpback whales and their moms in the calm warm waters of Polynesia. We arrived in Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga and explored the islands of Tongatapu, Tau and Malinoa

Check out our blog for more info on this and other amazing adventures!

Shares

x

Check Also

x

Menu