UPDATED FEB 2020. Snorkeling with whales is a once in a lifetime travel experience. Nothing really compares to being alongside something so huge and majestic, especially if you’re a nature and ocean lover like me. I put together these Tonga whale swim tips to help you prepare for your tour and make the most of it. I’ve included the preparation and planning tips, as well as advice for while you are in the water as well. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
Tonga Whale Swim Advice – Prepare Yourself With These Practical Tips
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
The basics
Location: ‘Eua, Tonga
Good for: Solo travelers, couples, friends
Other guides to help you plan your visit:
- Solo female travel in Tonga
- How to swim with whales in Tonga – this has the information for the company I toured with
Which island to visit
The good news is that there are a lot of options when it comes to doing a whale swim in Tonga.
The whales are one of the biggest tourist attractions there and you should be able to find a tour to join no matter which island you visit.
I have linked the company I toured with in the post above, and would advise you to do your research on the operators before booking to find reviews on how ethical they are when it comes to interacting with the whales.
When can you swim with whales in Tonga
July – October is when the whales can be seen in Tonga.
Planning and preparation tips
Hydration starts the day prior
It seems obvious and we take it for granted but it’s so important to make sure you are hydrated any time you are going out on the water.
Take it from someone who has had their calves cramp up while swimming in deep water – it sucks!
Hydrating is no good the day of, you need to start the day before your tour.
Make sure you drink a lot of water, go easy on the alcohol/coffee, and eat good meals to help your body soak up what it needs to – I add salt to my food to help retain some of the water as well.
Travel Tip: It was recommended to avoid drinking tap water in Tonga. Make sure to visit the store for a couple of bottles of water when you get there or use a water bottle with a filter like this one
.
How to avoid seasickness
Small boats and seasickness kind of just go together.
Being adequately hydrated will help combat it for most people, but if you are more sensitive to getting seasick then you will want to do a little more to prepare for it.
Eat a light breakfast the morning of (stick to dry food like toast), take medication if you find it helps, and/or just expect to have a spew at some point.
Have back up days
The downside to interacting with wild animals is that they don’t necessarily always stick to a schedule.
There’s a chance that you won’t see any whales the day you go out, the encounters might be fleeting or the tours might get canceled because of the weather.
To avoid you leaving Tonga without having had a magical whale swim moment, make sure you allow a couple of backup days when you are planning.
What to bring on the boat
- Lightweight towel
- Water bottle
- GoPro
- Floaty selfie stick (this is the one I use)
- Wetsuit and snorkel gear (only if you prefer to use your own)
)The tour I mentioned in my post on how to swim with whales in Tonga provides a wetsuit, snorkel gear, and snacks but if you choose a different operator just check what they supply.
Tips for during the tour
Preparedness meets opportunity
Once you get the green light to get in the water you need to move quickly because the window of time with the whales might be short.
There’s not enough time to put your fins and mask on then get in the water – you need to be ready to move when the guide says ‘go!’
My best advice is to have your fins on while you sit on the boat, as well as your mask (I would just raise mine to my forehead to relieve the tightness on my face).
Also, keep your camera strapped to you so you’re always ready to go.
Don’t splash when you are in the water
You’re going to be pretty excited when you see the whales but one key tip is to swim as calmy as possible.
Moving fast and splashing around will most likely just scare them away faster so try not to splash too much and make fast movements when you’re swimming.
If you keep your fins just under the surface you can minimize your splashing.
Wear a wetsuit
It gets a little chilly out there during the whale season. Wear a wetsuit will keep you warm and also help avoid some of the jelly stings that come with swimming in deep water.
Tonga is a deeply religious country where a conservative dress code is appropriate, so the wetsuit also helps to keep you respectfully covered up.
What camera to use
You’re going to want to have some memories of this so make sure you have an underwater camera.
I am a huge fan of GoPro’s and used mine for this tour. I also used a floaty selfie stick that extended quite long to get closer photos of the whales.
Whatever camera you use, make sure you can strap it to your wrist or body in some way to avoid losing it.
My kit:
Have fun!
Most of all just have fun and enjoy the moments.
It’s a magical, once in a lifetime experience so remember to stop and soak it in while you are swimming with the whales.
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Thank you for those good advices. It’s help a lot ! I’m going there in September too. Take care
Yayy! I hope you have the best time!