Swimming with Humpbacks in Tonga
Tonga’s Vava’u islands offer a rare opportunity to swim with humpback whales in an environment deeply rooted in conservation, cultural respect, and eco-tourism. For anyone seeking a truly transformative experience, whether as a solo traveller or part of a group, this South Pacific gem provides the perfect setting for engaging with both nature and local heritage.
in partnership with
A big thanks to Scott Portelli and his team for making this visit so special. Check out Scott’s website for current prices and dates (plus, other destinations that he offers trips to). While it’s difficult to put into words how incredible this trip was, I have written a full testimonial at the bottom of this blog.
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Testimonial:
Tonga has long been on my radar. Nowhere in the world compares to Vava’u, Tonga, when it comes to swimming with humpback whales. I’m so glad that I saved this magical experience for the right time as Scott Portelli’s team at Swimming with Gentle Giants made it just perfect.
I immediately felt at home with the crew; their years of experience were evident from the get-go. As the week went on, I not only appreciated their expertise on the water but also their numerous presentations during some evenings. From Grant’s whale photography workshop to Angel’s talk on digital editing, and perhaps my favourite - our marine biologist Alice’s talk on cetacean biology (which definitely had me seeing the whales in a new light throughout the week).
From what I’ve seen and now experienced, Swimming with Gentle Giants has designed a trip that is unlike any other. They have created an experience that embraces Vava’u, the whales, and the Tongan way. I loved how I was able to slip into a wonderful routine of diving all day, spending the mornings with great people on the water and relaxing into Tongan life during the afternoons and evenings. Oh, and the accommodation was absolutely fantastic! Nothing beats waking up on the water every morning. I felt so spoilt!
I still can’t believe the whale experiences we had. Mothers and calves, escorts, heat runs, breaches—I honestly felt like we saw it all, and the amazing thing was how different each day was from the last. The really special thing was that this wasn’t just luck or a wild coincidence that we scored so often. It was because the team at Swimming with Gentle Giants have created an operation that solely focusses on meaningful and memorable encounters. This takes time and experience, and they’ve nailed it.
Where other operators might drop you in at the wrong time or on the wrong whale, so you might catch just a glimpse and be done, the team was methodical in their approach, ensuring we had encounters that, I can tell you first-hand, will last a lifetime.
Thank you, Scott, Grant, Alice, Angel, Sophie, and the entire Swimming with Gentle Giants team. I can’t wait to return!
Todd Thimios