Tonga Whales: The Guide to Whale Swimming in Tonga 🐳 [2023]

(c) tongapocketguide.com

When Can You Swim with Humpbacks in Tonga?

The first thing you need to know about swimming with whales in Tonga is when the whale season is. Generally, the whale season is between June and October in Tonga, but the season is actually slightly different between each island group. The seasons for each group are the following:

• The whale season in Tongatapu: mid-June to end of October
• The whale season in ‘Eua: early June to early November
• The whale season in Ha’apai: mid-July to mid-October
• The whale season in Vava’u: mid-July to mid-October

For more information on the whale season and the best time to swim with whales, take a look at When is the Whale Season in Tonga?

(c) Tonga Ministry of Tourism

The Best Places to Swim with Whales in Tonga

Whale swimming is available in four of the island groups in Tonga: Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u. Each island group has a capped number of operators to ensure that the waters are not too “crowded” and whale swimming remains as ethical as possible. You can learn more about the ethics of whale swimming in Is it Safe to Swim with Whales in Tonga?

Whale Swimming in Tongatapu

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the island that most visitors arrive at, making it the cheapest destination to get to. The whale swimming here is excellent with only a handful of operators (and only two for the upcoming whale season) who work together to make sure each boat gets a fair amount of time with the whales while taking whale swimming regulations seriously. The whale tours here range from affordable to mid-range in price compared to elsewhere in Tonga.

Whale Swimming in ‘Eua

A short flight or half-day ferry journey from Tongatapu, ‘Eua is the island with the smallest number of whale operators making for a good whale-to-boat ratio. The island is home to some of the most affordable whale tours compared to the other island groups. As a destination itself, there’s plenty to do in terms of hiking in some of Tonga’s most pristine forests, scuba diving, cycling and more. ‘Eua has the longest whale season, but notably some of the roughest waters.

Whale Swimming in Ha’apai

While a little more expensive to get to than the previous two island groups, Ha’apai is where you’ll find some of your most idyllic islands in Tonga complete with turquoise waters and sandy beaches. Again, there is a small number of operators using a large area of ocean, where operators have a good reputation for having an eco-friendly approach to the whales. The waters here are typically calmer than in other island groups, but the whale season is slightly shorter than the islands in the south.

Whale Swimming in Vava’u

Finally, Vava’u is the most popular destination when it comes to whale swimming in Tonga. It has up to 15 operators, giving you plenty of choices. There have been concerns, however, over some of the operators disregarding whale swimming regulations, which you can learn more about in our whale swimming safety guide. The tours here are amongst some of the most expensive and the whale season is slightly shorter than elsewhere in Tonga. On the bright side, Vava’u often has some of the calmest waters for a more comfortable whale swimming experience.

For a more in-depth review of each destination for whale swimming, take a look at The Best Place to Swim with Whales in Tonga.

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Whale Tours in Tonga

The only way you are legally able to swim with whales in Tonga is to do a tour with a licensed operator who abides by a set of regulations in order to keep both customers and the whales safe.

How Long are Whale Swimming Tours in Tonga?

Whale swimming tours typically last about seven hours, as that is the maximum time tours are allowed to operate for whale swimming, but some operators also offer half-day tours.

What Happens on a Whale Swimming Tour in Tonga?

Because of the nature of whale swimming, i.e. involving wild animals, there is no real set structure to tours. A loose structure of a whale tour in Tonga, however, looks a little something like the following.

Getting Gear and Safety Briefing

Mornings will start with getting geared up with a wetsuit, snorkel, mask and fins before departing on the boat with a skipper and at least one or two whale guides in search of whales to swim with.

During this initial part of your tour, you will be briefed on what you should and shouldn’t do if there is a whale to swim with.

When a Whale is Found

When and if a whale is found, the skipper will determine whether it is appropriate to swim with the whale or not. If so, swimmers will be required to put on their masks and fins quickly and get in the water, four swimmers at one time only. There may be a lot of getting in and out of the water, depending on how fast the whale is moving or if it proves to not be a good whale to swim with and another whale needs to be found.

If the whale does prove to be appropriate to swim with, swimmers will be required to follow their guide during the experience, who is making sure swimmers are an appropriate distance away from the whale (no closer than 5m/16ft). Then, just enjoy the wonderful experience.

Changing Swimmers

It’s typically the case that there are at least eight swimmers on the whale tour, so equal opportunity will be given to both groups of four swimmers. This could be swimming with the same whale, one group at a time, or finding a different whale for the second group depending on the whale’s behaviour. Note that a whale might not even be found to swim with in the morning – nothing is guaranteed with wildlife.

Stopping for Lunch

Lunch is typically included in whale swimming tours, usually alongside stopping by an uninhabited island or stopping at a snorkelling spot for customers who might want to do some snorkelling.

An Afternoon of Whale Swimming or Snorkelling

Depending on how the whale swim went in the morning and what the customers want to do, the whale guides and skipper will take you back out on the boat in search of more whales to swim with, spending more time snorkelling at an island or coral reef before heading back to base. No two whale swimming tours are the same.

The End of the Tour

Then you’ll head back to where you departed for the tour to wrap up an epic day on the water, whether it involved swimming with whales, just seeing the whales from the boat, or simply enjoying the snorkelling.

Our Lists of the Best Whale Swimming Tours in Tonga

So, what are the best whale swimming tours in Tonga? Take a look at some of our top picks when it comes to whale swimming tours in each island group in the lists below:

• The Best Whale Swim Tours on Tongatapu
• The Best Whale Tours in ‘Eua
• 5 Best Whale Swim Tours in Ha’apai
• 10 Best Whale Swim Tours in Vava’u

Or, compare them all in the 10 Best Whale Swim Tours in Tonga.

(c) tongapocketguide.com

How to Get the Best Whale Swimming Experience

Knowing that a good whale interaction is never a guarantee, how you can increase your chances of a successful whale swim in Tonga?

Book More Than One Whale Swimming Trip

First, we recommend booking multiple whale swims while you’re in Tonga. Although this can be pretty pricey, many would agree that it’s worth it to have a decent whale swim while you’re in one of the only places in the world to have this experience. If the first swim is unsuccessful, then at least you may have better luck next time. And if you have a good swim on the first tour, then, trust us, you won’t complain if you get to do it again!

Whale Swimming Rules in Tonga

Another way to improve your chances of a good whale swim is to simply follow the instructions of your whale guide. Not following these rules may see off the whale, ruining the swim for your group.

Check out more advice on this subject in How to Get the Best Whale Swimming Experience in Tonga.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Swimming with Humpback Whales in Tonga

Have a question about whale swimming in Tonga? Chances are we answer it here.

Can You Swim with Whales in Tonga?

If you hadn’t already worked it out, yes, you can swim with whales in Tonga! Tonga is one of the few places in the world where you can legally swim with humpback whales.

How Much is it to Swim with Whales in Tonga?

Whale swimming in Tonga ranges from TOP$325 to $685 per person for a full-day tour. The most expensive place to swim with whales in Tonga is Vava’u while the cheapest is ‘Eua. Multi-day packages are available, reducing the price of the daily rate.

Why Do Whales Swim to Tonga?

Humpback whales swim to Tonga’s warm and calm waters every year to mate, give birth and nurse their young. Pregnant mothers find a safe place to give birth and raise their calf until fit enough to make the 3,000km (1,865-mile) trip back to their feeding grounds in Antarctica.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Swim with Whales in Tonga?

Most whale swimming operators in Tonga don’t have an age limit but do require swimmers to be able to swim unaided for about a couple of hundred metres/yards. Guides will usually check out participants’ swimming capabilities at a snorkelling spot before swimming with the whales. Children who are not strong swimmers are usually welcome to watch whales from the boat.

Is Tonga the Only Place You Can Legally Swim with Whales?

No, Tonga is not the only place where you can legally swim with whales but is one of the very few where you can swim with humpback whales and is a world leader in this experience. You can also swim with humpbacks in Niue, Australia and French Polynesia.