Swimming with humpback whales

I recently spent an entire season photographing humpback whales in French Polynesia. While I left with some of the most incredible underwater moments of my life, my time there was filled with highs and lows. I found that most people joining us for an opportunity to see the whales had completely unrealistic expectations or weren’t prepared for the experience at all. So, let’s talk about exactly what to expect and how to have the best chances for special moments diving with humpback whales.

Journey to Tonga for unforgettable encounters with humpback whales, along with sea kayaking adventures, snorkeling, and exploring Tonga's Ha'apai Islands.

Dynamic duo capture the best of Kona

On our last evening we got to swim for more than an hour with this super calm mom and baby humpback just before sunset. I’ve come every year to swim with the whales and it’s still hard to leave in moments like this :) The whales dictate the interaction - as in never charging in towards them directly. I know it’s sort of hard because in photos it’s so hard to tell just how far away we are. I love adventure travel all over the world. Follow along my journey on Instagram to see where I go next!

Ever dreamt of swimming with whales? Wander Out Expeditions organizes group travel trips and ocean safari expeditions. If you have been wanting to experience days out on the ocean, and swimming with marine life, join us to experience a trip of a lifetime.