Hello,

I'd like to ask about snorkeling with whales in Tonga.

Has anyone been and can recommend a good local operator?

Is Tonga worth in front of French Polynesia for example?

It's a destination that has always caught my attention, but because of how expensive it is I've never been able to go.

 

Thank you very much.

I've not been, though I know the author of this website and it gives a reasonable rundown of Whale swimming in Tonga and how to get there and what to expect - for example the country is pretty much closed for business on Sundays. I know a few others who have been and they all sing its praises,

Indopacificimages

Humpback Whales of Tonga - The Complete Guide | Indopacif...

The Complete Guide to the Humpback Whales of Tonga has all the information needed to plan that once in a lifetime trip to this special place

Thank you very much Chris I will have a look.

I’m planning a visit to Tonga for next season so have been researching also. I have the advantage of working with a colleague from there who has a relative in the humpback swimming business, and I’ve been to Tongatapu and Vava’u before. In addition to the excellent info in the website that Chris posted I can add a couple of things.

First, everyone wants to go to Vava’u. It is certainly the most scenic part of the country with the best tourism infrastructure and most activities when you’re not swimming. It is also the most crowded during whale season. The rules restrict the numbers of boats and swimmers near the whales, and there are complaints about needing to wait your turn. That can happen anywhere of course, but is more likely in the more popular spots. That also means you need to book well in advance. It’s already tight for 2026.

Second, it’s worth considering ‘Eua as an alternative. It’s less busy, but still good for swimming with whales. But there’s also less to do out of the water.

Finally, tourism infrastructure and accommodation is basic compared to Fiji or French Polynesia. Domestic flights are less than reliable so it’s good to allow for flexibility in the itinerary. Tonga is an authentic South Pacific experience that operates on island time. Personally I love it there but it’s not for 5 star resorts. Adjust expectations accordingly!

Out of curiosity, how many boat trips are needed to have a good experience?

And, not including air transfer to go there, how much can a stay there with the trips to swim with the whales cost?

Davide, that’s always the big question for any destination, right? I’m planning a week to be safe, but I’ve heard three days is also OK. During the season there are lots of whales, and weather should be mild, but you never know when planning a year in advance. For me the extra few days is not an huge addition compared to the total cost and time of the trip.

Regular hotels are around USD 150-200, there are a couple more expensive options, and some cheap homestays. Boat trips are around USD 250 a day. Daily costs on the ground are reasonable. Most operators want to sell a package for multiple days accommodation and swimming which run a bit more expensive but it’s possible to put it together yourself. Costs in Tongatapu and Vava’u are a bit more, in ‘Eua a bit less.

As for getting there, depending on your route, it may be necessary to overnight in Tongatapu before a domestic flight to Vava’u or ‘Eua and those are typically not cheap. It’s better to get a direct flight from Fiji or Auckland.

14 hours ago, Troporobo said:

Davide, that’s always the big question for any destination, right? I’m planning a week to be safe, but I’ve heard three days is also OK. During the season there are lots of whales, and weather should be mild, but you never know when planning a year in advance. For me the extra few days is not an huge addition compared to the total cost and time of the trip.

Regular hotels are around USD 150-200, there are a couple more expensive options, and some cheap homestays. Boat trips are around USD 250 a day. Daily costs on the ground are reasonable. Most operators want to sell a package for multiple days accommodation and swimming which run a bit more expensive but it’s possible to put it together yourself. Costs in Tongatapu and Vava’u are a bit more, in ‘Eua a bit less.

As for getting there, depending on your route, it may be necessary to overnight in Tongatapu before a domestic flight to Vava’u or ‘Eua and those are typically not cheap. It’s better to get a direct flight from Fiji or Auckland.

Thank you very much Troporobo for the good piece of information, it will be very useful.

Could you recommend any of the operators you have look at?

The ones that I have seen are much more expensive than that.

I have not been to Tonga for the whales yet, so I can’t recommend an operator. Here are some useful links. I’ve been sending inquiries to the the operators directly, rather than packaged tour operators, to ask for rates and availability for next year. The first link lists all of the licensed operators.

https://tongapocketguide.com/the-guide-to-whale-swimming-in-tonga/

https://tongapocketguide.com/10-best-whale-swim-tours-in-vavau/

https://tongatourism.travel/swim-with-whales/

9 hours ago, Troporobo said:

I have not been to Tonga for the whales yet, so I can’t recommend an operator. Here are some useful links. I’ve been sending inquiries to the the operators directly, rather than packaged tour operators, to ask for rates and availability for next year. The first link lists all of the licensed operators.

https://tongapocketguide.com/the-guide-to-whale-swimming-in-tonga/

https://tongapocketguide.com/10-best-whale-swim-tours-in-vavau/

https://tongatourism.travel/swim-with-whales/

Thank you very much Troporobo.

I will have a look.

Cheers.

I’d like to offer a quick additional insight. Tonga, like many south Pacific destinations, is a developing country with many local tourism operators still learning the ropes of international marketing. Many will deliver a great experience but have an amateur internet presence, or even none at all. Email and even phone calls may work better than websites. The slick websites are often run by overseas operators, though to be fair, some may be palangis (non-Polynesians) who’ve dedicated their lives and investments to the place. I know it’s difficult to judge from afar, and a risk, but sometimes the more local the presence the more authentic the experience. As always, your mileage may.

We have been twice and loved it, but it has been awhile. A couple general comments. First there are very strict rules, as mentioned above, when you are in the water with the whales. One is you must stay on the surface. Understandable as they don't want everyone diving down for a "better shot". Another is you are not supposed to "chase" the whales especially the calves. This is more subjective. Both reasonable due to all the idiots out there. We had rough weather on one trip and I just ducked down 3ft trying to get out of the choppy waves and the captain of our boat had me sit out a round as a penalty.

First time we went with a fairly well known underwater photographer and the actuall operator was what I would call photographer friendly. The boat was set up for 6 people with large camera systems, big rinse tanks, baskets for cameras, room for those with free diving fins. On choppy days they accepted if you were a few feet under the surface to avoid getting bounced around.

The second operator came highly recommended and said they were very familiar with photogs. They had one small rinse tank for masks, fins and cameras. They insisted you leave your camera in the tank even when the boat was moving. Again we had rough weather and when I tried to store my camera under my seat it became an "issue". On the second day a Conde Nast photographer's housing was cracked, camera flooded, total loss. The carrier grudgingly allowed people to store cameras under their seating but you had to bring your own towel to stabilize it. They were very strict about sticking to the rules, which is a good thing. Even when I had a calve come up to me I received a reprimand for getting too close and when people on the boat came to my defense it just made thing worse.

Just insure the actual carrier is familiar with large camera systems, minus strobes. I was just shooting a Sony RX100 in a Nauticam housing.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by aquabluedreams

Wow, stunning videos and images!

Thanks for the info.

What island were you on?

It has been a while since i was there. But we preferred Haa'pai and snorkelled/stayed here https://www.haapaibeachresort.com/about-us

Matt and Jodi are very experienced and the main thing is that there are no crazy crowds !

We went there way back in 2015/2016.

I would highly recommend this place. Away from crowds and as my friend confirmed tonga had more boats waiting for their turn and they had limited time. Have many more images including babies, but just quickly posting a few.

Diggy

Edited August 25Aug 25 by scubadiggy

Thank you very much scubadiggy.

I will have a look.

Also, stunning image you have!!! Love it.

As an update:

I have contacted several operators and it seems almost all are fully booked for September 2026, that’s wild.

I thought people would book early, but I didn't imagine it would be this early. Wow.

You have to book before even being able to know the flights schedule and price…

I have mainly focus in Eua and Haapai, contacting almost every resort that appears in the website Troporobo has linked.

I hope I'm not mistaken, with so much haste...

Hi there,

I've been operating photo trips to Tonga since 2016, let's see if I can help.

I do recommend Vava'u for multiple reasons. Travel is easy: From the US there are direct overnight flights from LAX, SFO and more arriving in Fiji early am, with a direct flight a few hours later into VAV all via Fiji Airways. Easy flights from Sydney and NZ as well. The NAN-VAV flights are only a few days a week, but they are pretty reliable...more so than the domestic flights, and a much simpler proposition. Also, there are more whales so more consistent interactions. Yes, there are more operators, but as long as you go with a good one you won't feel it unless a bad weather day compresses the boats into a much smaller area. For reference, I just had 10 days on the water this August with two groups and we only shared whales on a couple of occasions. The relationships between the captains in Vava'u (again, assuming you're on a good boat) is a good thing, these shared whales were some of the best swims I've EVER had. Think of it in this way...You will leave in the morning looking for whales. Many days you won't be near any other boats. If you aren't having good luck and/or the weather is bad, you may get a shot at some swims by sharing with other boats who are on whales. It's not as busy there as it was pre-covid, for what it's worth. I would much rather maybe have my swims shortened by a few minutes on a bad day than get no whales at all in a slower location.

For operators, I can wholeheartedly recommend both Tongan Expeditions and Dolphin Pacific. I'm not sure how many days they run with day trippers (versus groups), but try them both. The best captains and guides in the fleet with dead reliable boats. Probably poor phrasing lol. I would shoot for three days at an absolute minimum, four to five is much better. It's expensive to get there and pretty inexpensive to stay and eat there, so take advantage. For reference, I run trips with 5 water days and this season my first group had 2 great days, 2 good days and 1 ok day (everyone had multiple swims, but short). My second group had 1 all-time incredible day, 2 great days, 1 good day and 1 ok day.

On that note, I am biased but I do very much recommend going with a group if you are there for photos. Day trip groups tend to be pretty chaotic and disorganized and impatient in the water. This results in people in your shot, shorter swims with unsettled whales and poor positioning for images. As an example, we had some great swims with a mom and calf this season on the last day of the first group. They started short with mom being very cautious, but as she got more comfortable and we learned what she wanted the swims got longer and the calf got bolder. Fantastic, extended swims with the calf inspecting everyone at close range while mom rested below. Turned them over to another boat I didn't recognize and one of their swimmers was struck by the calf on the first swim. Their day was over hours early and they went back to the harbor.

Communication is also key in Tonga, both with the captain and guide as well as the other guests. Some of the boat crews there speak very little english and don't particularly care about people having good swims, much less getting good images. They don't know you and they probably won't trust you to position yourself with the whales. Going with a group, you spend the first day getting used to the process of entering and exiting, helping each other with gear, where to be in the water, how to swim together without being in shots, how the whales behave, etc. By the end of the trip the groups are well oiled machines, working well together and having wonderful encounters. Not to mention closely bonded. You know how it is, surely. I can only speak for myself of course, but my boat crew is consistent every year and like family. We have mutual trust. They trust that my people will know how to swim with the whales properly. What to do, where not to be, how to act, etc because I communicate that to them before we ever get on the boat and we perfect it as we go. They know what my expectations and hopes are as well. Patience with promising whales to develop long, excellent swims for my people. Strong preference for good viz for images. Proper positioning for the whales in relation to the sun. The guide knows who I want them to focus on getting in the perfect position for the image they want on that swim. Etc, etc. I would assume that other groups are handled in the same way.

If you're determined to do it solo, I highly recommend reaching out to the two companies listed above. I'm not sure who else to recommend honestly, most operators there work primarily with their housing and/or with groups but I do know there are more than a few operators running day trippers.

For housing, if you're with a group it's typically arranged and included. There are bare bones cheapest option trips and higher end all inclusive. Piecing your own trip together and on a budget, the International Hotel right there in town is an easy option. It's not nice and it's loud at night but it has hot water, it's right on the water in town and will be close to the day trip boat launches along that strip. Easy access to the various food options, close to the craft market and little convenience stores, atm and pharmacy. The nice places you may see online tend to be used primarily by groups since it's an extended taxi ride or boat ride just to get to where the boats leave from in the am. The Tongan Beach Resort may be an exception and is where we stay, and they do have two of their own boats they run. They tend to run both with groups, but you might reach out to them and see if they can suggest a window where they're running day trippers and you could jump on. You'll have a better shot if you're talking more last minute, current season. The rooms are fantastic, right on the sand steps from the water. The boats leave right from their dock so there isn't a lot of running around before and after days on the water. The convenience of that little luxury cannot be understated. The food is good, with breakfast before leaving, lunch on the boat and dinner there right on the beach. Be patient when communicating with them, it will likely be slow. It took me literally years to get my groups in there.

I feel like I'm being too biased towards groups here...let's see. If you go on your own, eat at the Kraken and the Mango. Bella Vista is good, but make reservations. Make sure you visit the craft fair in town for carvings and tapas and the like. If you get a trip planned, reach out and I'll connect you with the family I use for taxis locally, they are again like family. Sundays are indeed mostly closed, but you'll be able to have meals in town. You might be able to get a taxi to take you to the Tongan Beach Resort above if you want a beach day. Plugs are type 1, I recommend an adapter/converter but people have good luck with just the adapters. Bring your laptop, you'll have lots of images to offload. Declare everything. They will most likely search your bags anyway. Drones are complicated and it may be confiscated at the airport. If you're not leading a group there, DO NOT put photographer as your occupation on the forms when entering. It is true you can't dive down any more with the whales, but I would recommend bring a belt with maybe 4# of weight to get your body down into a better shooting position.

As for Tonga vs Moorea. I haven't been to Tahiti, but my guests that have done both almost all prefer Tonga. As a general rule, Tonga takes better care of the whales. Regulations have been in place for 30+ years now. I've seen videos with 20 people in the water at the same time from multiple boats on a mom and calf in Tahiti. That is abhorrent and makes me mad for the whales and sad for the swimmers. Moorea will have more going on. Luxurious resorts, stingrays, sharks, just more to do. If you want well rounded plus luxury, go Tahiti. If you're obsessed with whales and only care about swimming with and photographing whales, go Tonga. Just my opinion...there are poor operators in Tonga and surely wonderful ones in Tahiti.

Feel free to ask questions here or via DM, I'm happy to help. Vava'u is a special, special place near and dear to my heart and my time there is always the best part of my life.

Lyle

PS here are some images all from this past season. All shot with the Sony a7rIV with 16-35gm in a Nauticam housing, 230mm dome, Sea and Sea Internal Correction lens (filter).

Great info, thanks a lot!

Thank you very much lylefk,

As Troporobo has said great info!

And stunning images as well!!

Going with a group is kind of hard for us, the only possibility is going solo (with wife). My dream would be a boat of 2 with the whales, being also kind of antisocial that would be great, no talk, only swim. 😅🤣

I have seen that for example in Tongan expeditions, have very few days available for September 2026.

Thanks again, Cheers.

13 hours ago, canislupus said:

Thank you very much lylefk,

As Troporobo has said great info!

And stunning images as well!!

Going with a group is kind of hard for us, the only possibility is going solo (with wife). My dream would be a boat of 2 with the whales, being also kind of antisocial that would be great, no talk, only swim. 😅🤣

I have seen that for example in Tongan expeditions, have very few days available for September 2026.

Thanks again, Cheers.

Thanks, appreciate it! I've got 16 more to edit from the trip, will be happy to have them done haha. 45 or so in total that I like. I also have a couple tb of video to go through from the Insta360 and Action 5 🥲

You could do a private with them, just put 8 passengers into the calendar and there you go lol. The maybe reasonable, sort of economical way to do it would be to find 2 other friends you can tolerate and do a private with them. That way you're swimming every time (max 5 in the water, so the guide plus 4) and it's people you know. They're showing full availability from September 24th on. I'd suggest starting that day and doing as many days as you'd like. Getting into the tail end of the season there, though it's good at least through mid October. Lots of confident calves that time of year for nice close, extended swims and we've seen some huge heat runs that time of year that have gone for multiple days. Or they have August 17-19 if you want more of the rambunctious sub-adult males plus some smaller calves. I'd miss you there by a day. Little bit short on time with only 3 days, but going every swim that'd probably be ok...would make me a bit nervous, personally.

2026 I'm there in August (3-10 and 10-17), but 2027 I'm there all of September if you wanted to try and sort something out with your own group of friends with plenty of notice. 3 total and I could be there in the water to support, 4 and it's just you and the Tongan guide, both swimming every time. Or the standard 6 and alternating swims with me there. Those dates are September 2-9, 13-20 or 22-29.

Happy to help, do let me know if you have any questions on it!

I have just read that the domestic Airline from Tonga, Lulutai has been grounded in the light of serious safety violations. 🤪

That was published the 25th July 2025.

Lulutai neews

3 hours ago, canislupus said:

I have just read that the domestic Airline from Tonga, Lulutai has been grounded in the light of serious safety violations. 🤪

That was published the 25th July 2025.

Lulutai neews

Sounds about right. Another point for Vava'u 🤣