To swim alongside humpback whales within the sheltered waters of Tonga (one of many solely locations on the planet the place you are able to do this) is actually a once-in-a-lifetime expertise! We’re thrilled one in every of our adventurers was prepared to share his awe-inspiring expertise with these wonderful creatures.
In late September of 2018, we packed our snorkel gear and headed off to the Islands of Tonga to affix Wilderness Journey’s Swimming with Humpback Whales journey. After spending one night time in Tongatupu, that capitol of Tonga, we took a “puddle jumper” flight to the Ha’apai Islands. I took this photograph proper earlier than we landed in Ha’apai.
This lovely tropical island was our residence for the following seven days. We stayed at an island resort set on the seaside and loved great entry to the crystal-clear water proper from our bungalows.
On our first time out, we encountered humpbacks throughout the first hour. It was virtually as in the event that they have been excited to see us!
I couldn’t wait to leap in and see these wonderful mammals up shut. I’ve been a scuba diver and underwater photographer for the previous 30 years, however this is able to be my first encounter with humpback whales. I had my digital camera prepared and was completely psyched to get within the water. From our boat, it was virtually as if this whale was saying to us, “come on in, the water is okay!”
With our masks and fins on, we slipped off the aspect of our boat and headed towards the whales.
As I entered the water, the humpbacks got here proper as much as me. It appeared like they have been simply as fascinated about me as I used to be at them!
This whale’s pectoral fin got here so near me, virtually as if he needed to shake fingers.
At this level, I used to be almost “freaking out” and will barely maintain my composure and regular my digital camera to take a photograph. What an incredible expertise!
This humpback stayed with us for no less than one hour and confirmed off all of his acrobatic expertise. As a former aggressive gymnast, I gave him a ten.0 for his routine.
This photograph that I took on the primary day actually exhibits how shut the whales would come towards us and their wonderful measurement compared to a human. The swimmer on this photograph is our marine biologist information, Ben Vieyra.
Our wonderful journey chief, Jon Imhoof, having enjoyable with this humpback whale.
5 of the seven days in Ha’apai, we have been out on the open water in search of Humpbacks. We had really nice encounters each day of this journey.
My purpose as a photographer was to try to seize the sense of amazement that we skilled right here in Tonga. On this photograph, I used to be fortunate to get a shot of my spouse, Anne Vexler swimming nose to nose with this younger whale.
