Day Trips		The Whales | Swimming with the Whales

Anyone for lunch on Nuku Island?

Anyone for a swim?

Follow me

We will not have to travel far to see the whales in the wild. Humpback whales like the protected lagoons of Vava'u, which means that within minutes of starting our trip, the opportunity to see whales in the wild is at hand.

Our trips will begin at 10am and pick up times vary according to where you are staying. We will board Maris King at the Hakula Lodge jetty, which is located at the Port of Refuge Harbour and make our way out of the Harbour in search of whales in the wild.

A light lunch will be provided for you, however feel free to bring on board your own lunch, snacks or drinks. We may even stop off on one of the islands and have our lunch.

We will make our way home around 4-5pm, depending on the conditions and, of course, the whales.

Humpback whales are wild creatures, so each trip that is made in search of whales in the wild is quite different. When the opportunity arises to observe Humpback whales in the water, there are several aspects which are taken into consideration. The most important aspect of observing whales in the water is the behavior of the whale itself. Only if the whale is comfortable with our presence do we enter the water.

It is also important that you are proficient in swimming using a snorkel, mask and flippers. There is snorkeling gear available on board Maris King and the crew can go through how to use the gear prior to setting off in search of whales in the wild.

For you to get the most out of your experience in the water with Humpback whales, the skipper on board Maris King will have to take into account the behavior of the whales, your confidence in using a snorkel and mask and also on the conditions of the water, before you enter the water. All these precautions are taken to allow for you to have both a safe and memorable experience with whales in the wild.

The Tongan Ministry of Fisheries together with the Whale Watch Operators Association of Vava'u, Tonga has compiled a set of Whale Watching Guidelines, which are available for your perusal.

Click here to see the Guidelines.

Other encounters

During our trips in search of whales in the wild, we will not only see Humpback whales but Pilot and Sperm whales, Spinner dolphins, Bottle Nose dolphins and turtles are frequently spotted in Vava'u waters.

There are also an abundance of tropical and reef fish with hundreds of species of fish inhabiting the vast, colorful coral life in Vava'u. Tropical fish such as Parrot and Clownfish, Lionfish and even the blues and reds of Starfish are a museum of colors and beauty in the underwater world.

The bird life in Vava'u is also a treat out on the water. Tropic birds, Booby birds and Frigate birds can be spotted throughout the day. Swiftlet birds are found in caves around Vava'u, building their nests within the safety of the cave and there is always an opportunity that we may see them in and around the caves throughout our search of whales in the wild.