What you need to know: Tonga & French Polynesia

Which trip is the best? What part of the season should I come in?
Every season is different, every day is different, and every encounter is different. We do 5-7 days on the water to get a variety of encounters and see different behavior. Whale behavior differs throughout the season, but there is no set time in which we encounter battles, singers, or moms and calves. We might encounter a heat run, and a baby whale in the same day. There are days with lots of singers, and days with none. There are days that we spend many hours in the water, and days where we spend only a short time.  Nature is dynamic and changing, but with 5-7 days on the water, we will have incredible experiences face to face with humpbacks.

How close do the whales come?
Adults typically know their boundaries and will leave some space between you and them. They are careful and controlled with their body movement, highly precise in the water and very agile. Babies sometimes do not know boundaries. Babies will sometimes come within 1 foot of you (30cm), playfully rolling and looking into your eyes.  It is one of the most amazing experiences you can have in life. Adults will be close enough to photograph, and though they may come within an arm's length away, will usually stay 1-2 car lengths away. 

Is swimming with whales dangerous?
If you are respectful to the whales and follow directions it is quite safe.  Humpback whales are some of the most gentle and considerate animals in the world, despite their size. Whale swimming is done on their terms and under the guidance of our licensed guide and captain. Unlike many animals, humpback whales are very aware and considerate (even in the midst of battle). It is incredibly rare that a person is hurt by a humpback whale.  People have been swimming with whale guides in Tonga for years, and humpbacks are known for a reason as the gentle giants of the world. Whales will move their fins and body to avoid you even if you are directly in their path. One might safely say that more people are killed by falling coconuts each year, than have been hurt by humpback whales in the last 100 years. The most dangerous part of the humpback is the fluke (tail), as it is their means of propulsion, and they cannot see you if you are behind them. We will not approach the fluke. Though swimming with humpbacks is considered safe, they are wild animals. You must follow our instructions while swimming with whales, and the guide, captain or staff will have the final say.

How often will we swim with whales?
They are wild animals. Sometimes they are more playful, other times more reclusive. There is no guarantee on how long interactions will last.
Interactions can be a few seconds to an hour. There are days where interactions will be minimal or may not even see whales, and there are days where we may spend multiple hours in the water. It all depends on the whales and how they feel. This is why we do 5-7 days on the water. If they don’t want to swim with us, we move on.

What type of interactions will we likely encounter?
Whales are very dynamic. There is a huge range of interactions we may have that include: Juveniles playing, mother’s resting with their calves (baby whales), large male singers hovering with their head towards the ocean floor, heat runs (whale battles), playful calves,  and maybe even whales playing dolphins. Each whale has a different personality, and they vary with age. One of my most memorable experiences was when I didn’t bring my camera into the water. With more mobility, I was able to swim farther down, and look into the whales eye. From a distance, he began twirling and turning and I did the same. Without the camera there was a very different connection between us and it felt like I was doing an underwater dance with the whale.  Every interaction is different, and the possibilities are endless. 

Is swimming with whales ethical?
Ethics can be discussed in depth for a lifetime, but generally speaking, there is an ethical way and unethical way to do it.  Many of us have heard terrible stories of boat loads of tourists flopping around in the water with whale sharks and other animals in Asia, which can cause a great  disturbance.  We will NOT be interacting with whales in that way. The licensed whale watching boat we will be using holds  a maximum of 6 guests. We will be split into 2 teams  taking turns, which means only 3 people will be with me (Karim) in the water at a time. We stay together, move quietly and completely on the whales terms. If they don’t want to interact with us, they will very quickly leave, or indicate that we should leave. In Tonga they do a great job of making sure that whales are in charge and that interactions do not cause stress or disturbance. Some whales will be unfazed by us, while others  may be fascinated, curious, and playful. We will be flexible based on the situation. 

Are whales more active at different parts of the day?
Unlike humans,  it doesn’t seem to make a difference  what time of day/night it is. Whales and dolphins need to surface at regular intervals to breathe, so they can only put half their brain to sleep at a time. Unlike humans, whales might sleep at all times of day or night. 

Swimming level and fitness level required?
You must be reasonably fit and able to swim & snorkel. You should be able to swim 200 meters (or a few times back in forth in a pool) to reach whales from the boat, there will be varying conditions from calm glassy waters, to large swells with rough waves. You will need to be able to swim back to the boat to climb on via ladder or pulling yourself up onto the back. You will need to be comfortable snorkeling and wearing fins. Before the trip, we strongly recommend spending as much time in the water as you can to maximize your experience with the whales.  Most people are physically capable for this trip. In addition to providing warmth, wetsuit and lycra shirts provide additional flotation, and is recommended. We will not be wearing life vests. 

Safety

This trip is categorized as very - extremely active. Please be advised that if you have any pre-existing injuries or health conditions this trip is may not be for you and you are required to state such at sign up. We strongly suggest that if you have any such injuries or health impairments that you do not come on this trip. Specifically if you have injuries related to the back or spine, knees, shoulders, heart, lungs and/or other limiting conditions or health impairments. Please note if you are over the age of 55, we do require you to have a physician’s release of health, as well as a list of pre-existing medical conditions. If you are unable to provide a clean bill of health you may be unable to join us.

There are many days that are beautiful, flat and calm with sunshine and other days where the waters can be very rough. We do not recommend sitting on the front of the boat at any time, as this can be the most dangerous part of the boat. You will need to be in good enough physical health to maneuver yourself along a moving boat. Even if you have experience with boats, some days on the water can be very intense. You assume responsibility for yourself while on the boat.

Tonga is a developing nation with very little access to emergency care or high quality medical assistance. You will be required to have DAN insurance, comprehensive travel insurance and personal health insurance.

Do I need any certifications; SCUBA or Freediving?

Nope! Although it is always beneficial to have diving certifications, there is no need for any formal certifications. We will not be using oxygen nor SCUBA diving. It is forbidden to SCUBA dive with the humpback whales. All you need is a snorkel, mask, fins and a wetsuit. We will only be snorkeling and freediving with the whales. If you would like more information for what gear to bring check out our pack list below!

Scuba? 
We will be snorkeling. Scuba diving is forbidden when swimming with the humpbacks. Humpbacks use bubbles in their battles to obscure vision and create bubble screens to hide behind and obscure females, and can be interpreted as aggressive.

How big are the groups?
The boat holds 6 guests + Karim, and crew.  We will split into 2 groups of 3 taking turns in the water with the whales. Karim will be in the water with both teams + our Tongan guide. There will be a maximum of 5 of us in the water at any time. When there is a baby we stay close together as a group so as not to disturb the whales. With adults, we are more free to move around. 

Is any gear provided?
No gear is provided. You must bring your own snorkel, mask, fins, camera, towel, etc. We will have defog on the boat and basic first aid on the boat. We are happy to advise you on snorkel equipment 

How long will be out on the water for?
Usually 7 hours. The boat will go out in the morning and come back late afternoon so as to maximize our time with the whales.

What is the water temperature?
Water temperature is  typically between 23- 27 degrees Celsius (73-81 Fahrenheit)  at this time of year in Tonga. For most people, this will seem like warm tropical water, but make note that water strips heat from your body much faster than air. People who get cold easily may want a full wetsuit. I am quite slim, grew up in warm climates and get cold easily. I wear a 3mm full body wetsuit. People who are more resilient to the cold may at least want to consider wetsuit shirt . We are spending all day on the boat.

How is the water clarity?
It is often incredibly clear in Tonga. I have seen visibility more than 60 meters (200 feet). This is not a guarantee and some parts / days don’t have as good visibility, but overall, visibility is much better than in places like Hawaii. Tongan visibility is among the best in the world.

Weather?
Though it is the end of winter in Tonga (Southern Hemisphere) we are close to the equator  so it is tropical) Lows are typically 72 Fahrenheit (22 Celsius) and highs of 81 Fahrenheit (27 Celsius)  with 12 hours of daylight.  Whether can be clear, cloudy, overcast, light to moderate rain, mildly humid.  Wind typically 3-14 miles per hour, but can gust up to 30 miles per hour.

How's the food?
Quite good. We will have a variety of meals prepared for us. Breakfast before we go, dinner at night, and lunch on the boat.  We’ll be well fed. 

What if I have dietary restrictions?  
We can accommodate your basic dietary restrictions. vegetarian, celiac, etc. More complicated dietary restrictions like Kosher may be more difficult. Send us an email and we’ll see what we can do. 

How’s the accommodation?
It is not extravagant or luxurious, but it is comfortable, clean, and there will be space to clean camera gear / process photos. We will be in a shared living space, some may have our own rooms to sleep in, but there will be some sharing rooms. If you are coming with a friend or partner and you want to share a room, let us know and we can arrange this. 

Wifi?
Yes, but remember we are in tonga. Don’t expect incredible speeds. Enough to send photos, check emails, social media, and standard web use. 

Is there a rest day?
In Tonga, everyone takes Sunday as a day of rest, including the whales. We will not be on the boat on Sunday.  There may be another optional activity like snorkeling or free diving, or you can rest. Most Tongans go to church on Sunday singing beautiful music.

What does the price include?
Note: All prices are in US dollars and includes:

• Food & snacks - 3 meals a day (most dietary restrictions can be accommodated at no extra cost)

• Accommodation for the duration of trip, laundry, housekeeping & wifi

• Airport pickup / drop off

• Transport to / from dock

• Optional photography workshop (evenings)

• Boat, experienced guide, captain, permits, whale swimming

Not included: Airfare, alcohol, extra snacks, shopping, Sunday excursions (rest day)

Is this a photography trip or photo workshop?
No. This trip is geared towards interacting with humpback whales. You may bring your camera however, many people prefer to go without camera to fully immerse themselves. Karim often leaves his camera on the boat as to not have any distractions and has had incredible experiences. Karim is available in the evenings to answer questions and run photography workshop/explanation upon request.

Will I be provided with photographic equipment?
No, we can only provide advice.  If you are doing photography, you must bring your own camera gear.

Things to note:
When and who enters the water will be at the final discretion of Karim, our whale guides and boat captain. You will be required to follow the captains direction at all times both on and off the boat.
 

Recommended pack list (*continued)

• Wetsuit: Full, Top, Spring suit or Shorty. We will spend long amounts of time in the water, even with water temperatures 23-27 degrees Celsius (73-81F) water can strip your body heat.

• Hat

• Bug Spray

• Jacket/Sweater for night and after swimming

• Rain Jacket. (In case of rain during the day)

• Extra snacks for yourself

• Backpack/bag and/or waterproof bag for carrying items on the boat (we will have a dry section on the boat if needed)

• Camera

• Thermos for hot tea. This is the best way to warm up if you tend to get cold on the boat.

• Headlamp or flashlight

• Clothes to wear for dinner in town. (casual)

• International Electric Converter (new zealand/australia)

• Personal first aide kit (limited access for items)

• If you are doing photography: Camera, Underwater housing, memory cards, laptop, chargers, lens, etc.

Ladies, there is limited access to everyday essentials. There is a small market but it can also be pricey. Please bring needed items with you. 

• Shampoo/conditioner, shaving razor, extra hair scrunchies, tampons/pads, midol/ibuprofen, etc.

• Recommended: Diva Cups. These are one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to swim during your time of the month. :)

It is best to pack light while making sure you have the essentials for the sake of increased mobility while traveling. 

What is the local currency?
Tongan dollars, referred to as TOP is about 2:1 to the dollar. 1 US dollar is 2 Tongan dollars. 

Are there ATM’s?
Yes there are ATM’s on Vava’u. You may want some cash on hand in order to buy extra snacks, alcohol, souvenirs, or any extra curricular activities on Sunday.

Payment method?
There are a few methods you can use. Transferwise, Check, Paypal, wire transfer. We will guide you through this when you sign up.

Deposit?

When you sign up there is a minimum $1000 USD non-refundable deposit required to hold your spot on the trip. We will then guide you through payment, or you can set up a payment plan that fits your needs. The total amount is due by the beginning of March, unless prior payment arrangements have been made.

Visas?
Visas are not required for citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Russia, Australia and some other countries up to 30 days. Please check https://tonga.visahq.com/ for your country in order to obtain a visa in advance. 

Vaccines and health?
Please make sure you are up to date on your routine vaccinations. Please check the CDC’s website for further information here:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tonga

Do I need insurance?
You must have comprehensive travel insurance. We recommend www.worldnomads.com. You will also need DAN (divers alter network) and sign a liability waiver prior to coming on the trip. 

Are there any dangerous animals in Tonga?
As in most places there are few animals that can be poisonous or dangerous to humans. Unless provoked, it is rare to be hurt by animals in Tonga. The best approach is not to touch the marine life.  For those unfamiliar with stone fish, when walking through shallow water, you should shuffle your feet though the sand and the stone fish will move out of the way. We will be swimming with the whales via boat, so we will unlikely be walking through shallow water.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? 
Please email swim@dancewithwhales.com

-Karim Iliya