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Whales . Yoga . Freediving

Swim with  Humpback Whales in Tonga!

7 nights accommodation

7 nights accommodation in a beautifully styled waterfront villa with private jetty, just 5 mins from Neiafu town centre. Daily yoga on the deck with @yogawithkris

5 days on the water

5 days on the water on our fast and comfortable 10 m Flybridge Cruiser, Its the best boat in Vava`u with  a spacious cabin and toilet, upstairs viewing bridge and plenty of  deck space, perfect for long days on the water. Lunch and refreshments included.

World class freediving

Plenty of opportunities for World class free diving and snorkelling and visiting the spectacular Swallows and Mariners Caves, as well as countless islands and reefs. PADI Freediver course included

COVID 19

Tonga requires all visitors to be fully vaccinated and provide a negative RAT test  taken prior to arrival and another within 24 hours of entry. If Tongas borders do not open for September or close again you will be offered a full refund or roll over to the 2023 season.

THE EXPERIENCE

If you are a confident swimmer and can breathe thru a snorkel you can swim with the whales, you don’t need to be a SCUBA diver or Freediver! 

Tonga is the best place in the world to swim with Humpback whales. Warm blue tropical waters and the surrounding coral reefs and islands make Tonga the perfect nursery for the whales to birth their calves and socialise. The Local government adheres to a strict whale swim policy. Only 4 people are allowed in the water with a whale at any time. The experienced boat operators are careful not to stress the whales and ultimately the whales choose whether they want to swim with us or not. That said we swim with whales every day!
The water in Tonga averages a balmy tropical 26’C , and air temperatures are a comfortable 23 -30′ C July to October. The Trade winds can sometimes feel a bit cool when you`re wet on the boat. Most days its sunshine and bikinis, but its good to have a 3mm wetsuit for days when the winds up and its cloudy.

TONGA WHALESWIM

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, swimming with Humpback whales in Tonga will deliver! Daily yoga to help you relax and unwind, delicious fresh fruit and seafood, and tropical paradise on your doorstep!

FREEDIVING

Free diving is the most natural way to explore the underwater world. uninhibited on a single breath.Its a great way to experience a state of connectedness and relaxation, free of gravity in a meditative state of flow. Free diving is the perfect way to experience close interactions with the whales.

YOGA

Daily yoga sessions will have you feeling your best, balancing strength, flexibilty and peace of mind. Blending Vinyasa, Yin and Yang styles, our yoga sessions will elevate you to heightened states that the whales will be able to relate to.

ACCOMMODATION

7 nights accommodation in a beautifully styled waterfront villa with private jetty, just 5 mins from Neiafu town centre. Our villa has a fully equipped kitchen and outdoor entertaining area with BBQ. Guests can prepare meals at home or dine out in town. Fresh local produce is readily available from the farmers market everyday. Our private jetty is a perfect place  for swimming amongst fish and corals in front of the villa.

Getting to Vava`u Tonga

 

 

  • www.fijiairways.com flys to Vavau via Nadi from various international airports.
  • The Nadi -Vavau flight leaves in the morning so you need to overnight in Nadi, Fiji. Return flights from Vavau often link thru that day.
  • Virgin flys from Sydney to Nuku Alofa, you will overnight there and take a domestic flight to Vavau with www.realtonga.to the next day.
  • Air NZ flys Auckland to Nuku Alofa, again you will need to take a domestic flight to Vavau with www.realtonga.to
  • We prefer flying thru Fiji, its a much easier transfer and more relaxed.
  • A deposit of US$2000 is required to secure your spot, balance of payment is due no later than 90 days before tour commences.
  • If you have any questions about the trip please ask!

I knew that swimming with whales in Tonga would be amazing, but I didn't quite expect it to be as phenomenal as what it was. From the time that we landed in Tonga to the time that we got back on Australian soil, Kristina and Scott made sure that everyone shared the same unforgettable experience. Along with this, they were also extremely organized and made the trip seamless. Our accommodation was amazing, and the boats that we went out on were extremely well run and had fantastic guides. We had some spectacular experiences swimming with the whales and I have memories that will last me a lifetime! I also formed amazing bonds with each and every member of the trip, and was so grateful for their company. I would 100% recommend this trip to anyone that is thinking of taking the plunge - literally - and I can't wait to go with these amazing people again!

Sarah PullenCommonwealth Swimmer

From the moment we arrived at the airport, Scott and Kristina welcomed us and introduced us to the rest of our amazing tour group! Everything was well organized, the accomodation was stunning and the whale swims; even more impressive. Spending the days in Tonga swimming up close with whales, cave diving, reef diving and exploring islands was one of the most incredible holidays I've ever been on. I'm definitely going again! The islands waters are the clearest I've ever swam in. Making it easy to spot whales underwater, giving me the best video footage ever! Every night we had a group dinner, laughed and played cards. It was more than just about swimming with the whales, we made lifelong friends!

Taylor MckeownOlympic Swimmer

I approached Scott Wilson Imagery and Adventures as we have been following their unique, amazing and inspirational images of whales on Instagram. These magnificent creatures are my wife's passion and her overwhelming urge to swim with whales. Scott Wilson imagery helped us to experience our dreams and realise that in actual fact that dreams are achievable! The results were astonishing to say the least. One thing that we liked was that the experience was more than just swimming with these magnificent mammals the trip included a cultural and complete travel experience, with an emphasis on a wholistic approach! This was also evident with having an opportunity to be introduced to yoga and internal wellbeing! I would recommend Scott Wilson Imagery to people who have a desire to swim with whales. We found the experience totally soul fulfilling and rewarding to a point where we are now searching to complete our next dream with Scott Wilson Imagery and Adventures soon.

Mark EasthamRegistered Architect

You guys were absolutely gorgeous. You pushed us to explore and trust ourselves. Your yoga classes were special and after our walk that day I've committed to practicing at least three times a week and I'm loving being more aware of my body. I also want to continue free-diving. I found that quite profound. The food was lovely, the vibe was lovely, the house we had was awesome and made for much more of a community feel. The whole week taught me how to be calm and brave and I'm super thankful for that.

Olivia Pirie-Griffiths

USD$4500 per person.

Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the warm waters of Tonga to mate and give birth. They begin to arrive in June/July and calves are born between July and September. As well as having calves, single male Whales compete for the attention of a female, listen to the trumpet blows and witness the mighty displays of breaching, spy hopping, tail slapping and pectoral fin in the battle to mate for the following season. Put your head underwater and hear, see and feel the song of the male humpback whale as he fills the ocean with notes, clicks, grunts and whistles to attract a female and warn off smaller males.

Humpbacks are Baleen Whales which means they have no teeth but baleen, which is like big toothbrush bristles, which they use to sieve the krill they feed on. However, they don’t eat during the time spent in Tonga as there is no krill to feed on. The females, known as cows, weigh up to 45 tonnes and are 16 meters in length. The calf when born weighs 1-2 tonnes and measures 1.5 meters. They rapidly grow in size from their mother’s milk which is like double cream and very fatty. The mother expresses 100 litres a day from either of her two breasts.
Usually mothers and calves are the best encounters, with the mother lying at about 10 metres, often sleeping with one eye closed for up to 20 minutes with the calf surfacing every 3 to 5 minutes and playing on the surface. The calves are very inquisitive and will approach swimmers so you are able to eyeball each other.Often there is a male escort with the mother and calf. The female has come back into season even though she is lactating and it is possible for her to mate.

Location

TONGA

The Vava’u Island group in the Kingdom of Tonga is a spectacular tropical island paradise in the Pacific Ocean. It has a year-round climate suitable for swimming, snorkeling, diving and sailing. Some islands are ringed by white sand beaches while others have tropical forests, sea-level caves, and dramatic limestone cliffs with breathtaking vistas.

Remote and truly unspoiled, the waters around Vava’u are crystal clear with visibility exceeding 100 feet/30 metres. Most of the islands are uninhabited, a few have villages, a few have very small unique resorts with exceptional food. There is abundant sea life with over 100 species of colorful tropical fish, giant clams, manta rays, sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and July-October the Humpback whales!

Truly a paradise with the only Polynesian Monarchy this is a truly remarkable place to explore.

USD$4500 per person.