The humpback whales megaptere novaengaliae belong to the baleen whale family, though while at first their size may appear intimidating, their diet consists of the small side of marine life, their teeth are actually plates of keratin, forming filters that separate water from food when feeding. One of the largest and longest animal movements in the world. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Humpback whale calf fanima having fun swimming upsidedown. The waters in front of our resort are on the seasonal migration path of the humpback whales and these magnificent mammals can often be seen with their young from june to november. I could see them here from the islands most days during the season, but in. The whales have started to arrive and the 2019 whale season looks very promising. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet. We encourage you to book early for the 2019 whale watchswim season. The 2014 humpback whale season in tonga was for me, in a word, incredible. However, before you book your flights, its important to know that swimming with the whales is not a yearround experience. Spend seven full days snorkeling with humpback whale mothercalf pairs on their calving grounds in the polynesian country of tonga, and explore coral gardens off the coast of vavau.
Come to tonga and swim with these beautiful majestic mammals. June through october whales in the wild have been taking people out to find, watch and swim the the humpback whales for 10 years now. Swim and dive with the planets most mysterious and magical marine giants in crystal clear water. Journey out for the day into the pristine waters of tonga.
The weather is warm, but youll want to bring a wind jacket to keep you comfortable on the boat. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Humpback whale breeding grounds new caledonia, tonga, samoa. Named a national geographic traveler tour of a lifetime in 2009. With plenty of whales and few operators we are spoiled with the experience we can offer. Humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in antarctica to the kingdom of tonga, where they stay from july through september to court, mate and calve in tongas relatively warm, tropical waters. What its like to swim with humpback whales in vavau, tonga i was sitting on the back of the boat in all black wearing a full steamer wetsuit, fins, snorkel and mask. Tonga curtails licensing for whale watching tour operators rnz news. Prices include all food and nonalcoholic drinks, all activities on board and ashore, use of our kayaksup and up to four scuba dives 7day voyage during whale season if conditions allow. Celebrations have soured in tonga after the national government cuts back the number of companies allowed to operate whale watching tours. The whales visit tonga during a specific season between july and october and we run several group departures during this period. The exotic location of the kingdom of tonga will offer snorkelers and divers the most exhilarating encounters of a life time with these most curious and captivating humpback whales. The humpback whales megaptere novaengaliae belong to the baleen whale family, though while at first their size may appear intimidating, their diet consists of the small side of marine life, their teeth are actually plates of keratin, forming filters that. Vavau, in our opinion, is the best place in the world for inwater encounters with humpback whales.
During the whale season, the water temperature is around 25c and a short spring suit or thermal rash vest usually suffice. Whales, whales, whales whale swim vavaumv ashlee g and. Nov 05, 2016 as someone who spends roughly 300 days a year in or on the water, snorkeling with humpback whales in tonga is and always will be the best ocean experience of my life. Majestic whale encounters swim with whales tour and more. Every year they migrate through the warm tongan waters to mate and give birth. Tonga to limit number of tourists swimming with whales each year. Our days on this palmfringed island follow the rhythm of the whales and the weather. Our calf id count is proceeding at a record pace this season. Swimming with whales vavau islands tonga best time to visit. Concerned for the life of the whale, mark devised a tool to cut the lines off the whales tail.
Keywords tourism, whalewatching, economic impacts, tonga, vavau. The vavau islands lay north of the main island of tonga a 55 minute flight away. If whale watching is a bucketlist essential for you, there are whalewatch and whaleswim operators in all of tongas island groups. Explorer is the first ever luxury overnight sailing catamaran registered in the kingdom of tonga, able to explore the entire island group from eua to vavau. These months are the best time for whale watching as well as the unique opportunity to swim with a humpback mother and her calf. They also offer humpback swims in tonga at a reduced rate to the other most successful swim site. Let mv ashlee g and mv kalo take you on the experience of a lifetime, whale watchingswimming in the beautiful waters of the vavau islands, tonga. In our humpback encounter trip in the beautiful tonga, you will have the chance to swim with this beautiful underwater creature. Taufatahi charters is a local ecotourism business offering a chance to swim with humpback whales in the tongatapu waters.
In this video you can see how mark and our whale swim guide, nolo saved the humpback whale. My wife and i will be going to samoa and tonga next summer and we want to maximize our chances of swimming with the whales on tonga. Tonga is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to have the unique experience of swimming with humpback whales. A large population of humpback whales gathers around vavau islands in tonga between july and october. While various dolphin species can also be observed during whale watching tours, commercial whale watching in tonga focuses almost exclusively on one. The tongan beach resort is in the enviable position of being able to offer unique whale watching experiences to our guests. Kiwi magic is a licensed whale swim operator in vavau, kingdom of tonga, one of the only places in the world where you can swim with humpback whales. Im extremely excited to offer this unique and awesome adventure during peak humpback whale season in tonga. Vavau islands, tonga, south pacific offer visitors activities such as sailing and sail charters, diving, deep sea fishing and whale watching. Live aboard charters on a beautiful yacht in tonga. Whale watching and swimming with humpback whales the tongan beach resort is in the enviable position of being able to offer unique whale watching experiences to our guests. Tonga has limited the number of whale watching and swimming licences it issues after a record number of applications. Humpback whale splashing down while playing at the surface. Sea kayaking activities and tours are also available.
Does anyone know best time to swim with the whales. Tonga whale season runs between the months of june and october with august and september being some of the best months. Using data gathered from interviews with operators, along with the data provided by the tongan visitors bureau, there were an estimated 9,804 participants on whale watch tours in the 2006 season across the country, approximately 740 or 8% of which were tours undertaken outside of the main whale watching region of vavau. The waters in front of our resort are on the seasonal migration path of the humpback whales and these magnificent mammals can often be seen with their. Record humpback whale calf numbers in tonga tony wu. This showcases the best things to do on this small island nation. Every july to october, the whales arrive in our warm waters after completing their migration from antarctica to give birth to their calves. Find out when is the whale season in tonga with this guide to the tonga whale season and when to see whales in tonga during which months. The waters of the island nation of tonga play host to hundreds of some of the largest creatures on the planet. Sightings cant be guaranteed and the swell can be pretty high.
Darren jew has been hosting whale swimming tours since 2001 and his experience as a photohost in tonga is unequaled. Whale watching in tonga whales are among the largest mammals on earth, and the warm pacific waters of tonga are one of only three places in the world where you can actually swim with these majestic creatures. The tour includes 3 whale swimming safaris, a local island tour, and time to relax and snorkel on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We did 3 days of whale swims to ensure we got a good experience. We have travelled around the world to mexico, dominican republic, south africa, australia, portugal, french polynesia and the cook islands to try and swim with humpback whales, but consider vavau to be the very best place for the best upclose encounters. Our tours are carried out under strict guidelines with fully qualified and certified personnel to ensure minimal impact on these beautiful mammals. Whale dive tonga blue water explorer posts facebook. As undiscovered as tonga remains to most people, whale swimming is drawing a growing number of visitorsfrom a few hundred annually in the early. Vavau is the best place in tonga for the most inwater encounters with humpback whales as the majority off the tongan humpback population, mate and give birth on this latitude. Due to the encounters being dependent on the whales behaviour, we recommend more than one day on the water. From meeting us at the airport, to the tongan beach resort, to our whale and dolphin interactions. For photographers and videographers we recommend a minimum of 3 days, which is why we offer package rates for multiple trips. Swim with whales in the wild and maybe look a humpback in the eye.
Tonga holiday villa is able to organise your reservation with one of tongas certified diving company at no extra cost when you stay with us. The complete guide to the humpback whales of tonga will help you plan that once in a lifetime trip to see the southern hemisphere humpback whales in this idyllic location every year, as the cooler winter months come to the south pacific. Because tonga is one of the main breeding grounds of the south pacific humpback whales, we see an extensive range of behaviors that are focused around accomplishing one of two goals. Between 6 august and 25 september, i spent a total of 33 days on the water. Swimming with humpback whales in tonga scenic route sam. When booking your whale watching and or swimming tours to use only licensed whale operators here enlisted. Whale information matafonua resort haapai tonga swim with whales. There are a small variety of vegetables grown on the island mostly root vegetables such as taro, tapioca, yams and sweet potatoes. Take the opportunity to swim with whales as well as many other marine species in and around coral reefs. But make sure you book for your flight and accommodation as well as whale watchingswimwithwhales tour well in advance.
We chose to visit in september because it was calf season. Swimming with humpback whales is the biggest tourist drive to tonga. Whales in fiji, trends in humpback whale migration through. Swim with whales in tonga plan your next bucket list. There was an unseasonably cold wind blowing in from what felt like every direction. Celebrations have soured in tonga after the national.
Neiafu is the capital of the vavau island group and is nestled next to the the natural deep water harbour the port of refuge. I recommend at least 2 days and spread the days out, if you can, in case you get bad weather or bad swells. Tonga remains one of the only places in the world you can swim with whales, and i had booked my ticket after waiting excitedly for a year. Vavau has most of the operators, but haapai is probably a safer bet. Watching whales come up to breach in our warm waters is a special kind of sight of see. Fiftysix surveys took place during the 2016 and 2017 whale breeding seasons aboard dedicated research and tour vessels. Documenting the migration patterns of endangered oceania humpback whales is an important component to understanding the recovery, trend and status of this species within our waters. Tongan tour operators lose whale swimming licences after. But i was in tonga, one of the few places in the world where your whale watching experience includes swimming right up alongside the whales. Whale watching tourism in the kingdom of tonga economists. Snorkeling with humpback whales in tonga scuba diver life. It is a very exclusive way to visit tonga and experience swimming with the whales. As you can see from the graph below which i excerpted from my 2010 humpback whale calf count summary file, were on track to surpass the 2009 count of 31 mother calf pairs.
Widely recognised as the the best place in the world to swim with humpback whales, tonga has a consistently high number of sightings and a long season. Choose from our 4 exciting whaleswim adventures destinations. Some famous operators are already fully booked for the next year season. Their soul purpose is to take our guests on a journey to swim with whales in tonga, tahiti or norway for the experience of a lifetime. Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can still swim with the whales.
Whale watching snorkeling kayaking a flight from tongatapu, tongas capital, brings us to an island set in the outer archipelago of tonga that sees few visitors. By comparison, niue has a relatively small number of whale. The whales are in tonga throughout july to the end of october. Keywords tourism, whale watching, economic impacts, tonga, vavau. Whale watch operators in tonga are aware of the delicate balance which must be maintained between viewing and harrassing the whales so they have developed a code of conduct to help insure this population of humpback whales continues to find a safe and peaceful haven in the kingdom of tonga. Effects of whalebased tourism in vavau, kingdom of tonga plos.
As most of the whales are mothers with calves, our operators take great care not to intrude too heavily on these wild animals. The waters in front of our resort are on the seasonal migration path of the humpback whales and these magnificent mammals can. The best time to swim with humpback whales in tonga is any time during whale season otherwise, the whales are simply just not there. It is very likely to swim with the whales through these months.
We got incredibly lucky and managed to swim with whales and dolphins on the first day, the first mother and calf of the season. Tonga should allow to harvest ten whale per year at the same time will not affect whale watch industries which benefit 99% of foreigner only. Orams centre for tourism research, massey university, albany, private bag 102 904, north shore msc, auckland, new zealand the vava u island group in the northern part of the kingdom of tonga in the south pacific has a growing reputation as a whalewatching destination. Watching a 40ton humpback whale dancing and twirling in front of you, or simply. Swim with humpback whales or endless water sports through the islands of haapai. Although they are oceans apart, both the kingdom of tonga in the south pacific and the silver bank off the dominican republic offer intimate encounters with majestic humpback whales. Download scientific diagram humpback whale breeding grounds new.
Being on the ocean 247 has definite advantages for the whale enthusiast some nights you can hear the whale song through your pillow. Dec 14, 2016 as undiscovered as tonga remains to most people, whale swimming is drawing a growing number of visitorsfrom a few hundred annually in the early 1990s to more than 3,000 a year in the past decade. Special interest groups of any passion especially catered for. We will help you reserve your place with whale watching, lunch is also included.
A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. Oct 20, 20 swimming with whales in tonga in 20, crystal clear water, spectacular underwater caves, rich tropical reefs. These whales come to the vavau island group each year from july to october. Whale dive tonga is excited to offer a limited discount for the month of july, 2019. Most dive shops and whale tours will not provide personal equipment, which means youll need to bring your own wetsuit, flippers, mask and snorkel, and weight belt. South pacific island accommodation, activities and travel. Tonga paradise in the pacific majestic whale encounters. We are very conveniently located in nukualofa, tonga tapu the capital of the kingdom of tonga. We found whaleswim adventures online, and werent sure what we were getting into. The whales leave the open ocean to give birth to their calves in the warm and protected tranquil waters of vavau. Welcome to the kingdom of tonga and the best place in the world to swim with humpback whales. How to swim with whales in tonga be my travel muse. Whale dive tonga, tonga whale swims, swim with whales whale.
Nov, 2007 tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with humpback whales. If youre searching for a pacific holiday with a difference, a whale watching adventure in tonga could be just the answer. Watching a 40ton humpback whale dancing and twirling in front of you, or simply floating next to one while it stares at you is incredible. Whale dive tonga, tonga whale swims, swim with whales. Oct 01, 2014 the 2014 humpback whale season in tonga was for me, in a word, incredible. The whale watching tours take place in the open water. Our marine staff has been out on the water in recent days and were pleasantly surprised with the early bird whales. Whale swimming is only available in the haapai island group.
Oct 09, 2011 with that, we spent a wonderful hour or so cavorting with fanima, mother and escort. The water can be cold and at times it rains, so a wetsuit is essential and a. Swimming with whales vavau islands tonga best time to. Incredible season 2011 was my tenth humpback whale season in tonga, my ninth consecutive one. During that time, i saw more activity than i can ever. Dr cara miller and her team are working on establishing a longterm dataset for monitoring trends in humpback whale migration through fijian waters. The tongan tribe the humpback whales of tonga and why they migrate each year from their summer feeding grounds in the antarctic to to their winter breeding grounds around this pacific island nation. In tonga you can expect seasonal fruits during the whale season such as watermelon, pineapple, bananas, papaya and sometimes apples. This doesnt mean we can guarantee swimming, the decision to swim is always left up to the whale, but we believe with our patient approach we are often rewarded with amazing encounters like the one in the video above. Whale in tongan, translation, englishtongan dictionary.
The whale season runs from mid june through to mid october, with the peak season being august and september. Majestic whale encounters is one of the most unique whale swim tour operators in the world. Hes handpicked a fabulous team of skippers and guides to help bring you the best whale encounters possible. Tongas average annual daily temperature is a comfortable 24c. Water temperature is around 24c 75 f to 26c 79f later in the season. As someone who spends roughly 300 days a year in or on the water, snorkeling with humpback whales in tonga is and always will be the best ocean experience of my life.
Tonga swimming with humpback whales in tonga 20 youtube. We are very conveniently located in nukualofa, tongatapu the capital of. Whale discoveries swim with whales in the kingdom of tonga. Blue water explorer ltd is a tongan based company that specialise in guided swims with humpback whales from july through to october each year.