“This was definitely one of the most amazing experiences of my life. And I’m telling you this after visiting 108 countries. Everything was perfectly organized. It’s worth every penny. Especially my multiple encounters with a humpback calf were mesmerizing. If you can afford it then DO IT!! You won’t regret it!! Special thanks to dedicated Nadia, sharing her love for whales to everyone!!”
“I dreamed of swimming with whales since I was a kid, so when I applied to "Humpback Swims" I expected a lot : the experience is over my expectations !
And it would be impossible without Nadia Aly’s team. Guides and Captains are experienced and friendly, boats are comfortable and accomodation as well
I saw and swim with whales every day, and you definitely have to choose a 5 or 8 days experience, because each day is different. Sometimes the sea is wavy or the visibility isn’t great, or the whales aren’t in the mood to interact too long and sometimes the whales are playful, the weather is perfect and this day become a great day. Just maximize your chances.
Here a pic I took the 2nd day. You can see more on my instagram page : xavier_clement_photography
Apply and enjoy your swim days!”
“A truly epic adventure. We'd planned this trip for 3-years due to COVID and almost had given up on doing it, but we're glad we did! Such a fun experience. Great captains, great guides and WHALES!”
“We had a trip of a lifetime!
We spent seven days swimming with the whales and each day was a unique encounter - some long, some short. We mostly had mom-calf interactions, and the calf sometimes would be very curious and playful. We saw a singing whale and spent almost an hour listening to the otherworldly music.
The crew was very experienced and did a splendid job spotting the whales and guiding us. Our captain Datey was awesome. He'd always drop us off at the right spot. Our boat crew - Sifa, Pula and David were really good guides and gave their 100% in order to get us the best experience while always being respectful of whales and paying attention to our safety. We even got to explore some very cool caves and reefs, although most of Tonga's reefs are sadly dead. Also, our boats were very spacious, which I really appreciated.
The entire trip was very well organized. Nadia was extremely helpful about everything - getting visas, finding lost luggage, getting around in Tonga and guiding us about the best ways to swim with the whales. She was extremely responsive and this trip wouldn't have been possible without her.
Our stay at Flying Annie Moa was lovely! The caretakers were so helpful and made us feel at home :)
Overall, we absolutely enjoyed being in Tonga and swimming with the whales. What an incredible experience!!! I would definitely come back again.”
“5 STARS & cheers to Humpback Swims & Nadia! Simply extraordinary & amazing!!
Every aspect of our expedition was very well organized & executed perfectly. Nadia’s communication, responsiveness & follow up was outstanding. Nadia made suggestions for all we needed before & all along our travel journey. The boats, crew & all affiliates delivered top notch. The crew worked hard to find the whales, kept us safe & were very respectful of the whales. I have been fascinated & learning about humpbacks for many years, so it was truly a dream come true! The gentle giants were majestic & every encounter was different & magnificent. Some days better than others. The trip was everything I had hoped for & then some! I can’t stop looking at my videos & photos! Lots of playful calfs. We met some lovely people during our trip & it’s great to share the experience with others who were as excited & as mesmerized as we were. I had a glitch with my bag arriving & Nadia came to the rescue with things I needed & gear until my bag arrived. She sent someone to the airport & actually had it delivered to me. This spunky girl gets it done! Flying Annie Moa accommodations were basic but very clean & provided everything we needed. The host ladies are so kind. The Tongans are special people with beautiful souls & we loved getting to know them. Truly the trip of a lifetime!!”
“I’ll try to keep this short… my wife loves humpback whales. I know some people love horses or puppies, but this is a whole next level. I think she was probably a humpback whale in a previous life.
We’ve done a ton of whale watching trips where, from a boat we watch the surface activity and hope and pray for an occasional breach. We have even stuck a GoPro under water and pointed it in the general direction of the whales hoping for footage of their under water activity.
When she discovered Nadia’s swim with the whales trips, there was no stopping her.
We signed up in 2019 for a trip in 2020. And you know the story; in 2020 it was postponed until 2021 and so on until earlier this year when it was postponed until 2023. That is, until Tonga suddenly opened their borders in September and Nadia said there was availability for a few trips this year. We decided to drop everything and go to the other side of the world (we live in the states).
We trusted Nadia and she did not let us down. She helped us with every step along the way from travel arrangements, to lodging, to what gear to bring, to of course the whale swims. Just getting to the small island of Vava’u would have been nearly impossible without her guidance.
Nadia’s boat was crewed by a skipper and a guide. The skipper found the whales and kept us safe in all conditions (there were a couple days with rough seas) and the guide was nothing short of an ocean Sherpa.
And finally, about the whales… everyday was different, but the common theme was OMG we are swimming with whales! Our favorite encounters include moms and calves where the baby was super curious about us and Mom seemed to enjoy us entertaining her baby, and a group of 5 or 6 adults where we think one might have been a pregnant mom close to giving birth.
We were really there to be with the whales so we didn’t have the big professional looking underwater cameras, just GoPros. I’ve added a few of the shots from our GoPros.
There are almost no words for how fantastic this trip was. We met some new friends from all over the world and we are currently planning our trip back for next year.”
“Swimming with humpbacks in Tonga has been on my bucket list for years, but it still managed to exceed every expectation. A big part of that was thanks to Nadia. It's hard to believe there's someone out there who knows these incredible creatures better than she does. Her never-ending enthusiasm, knowledge and day-to-day help made our incredible whale encounters even more special. If there was an option for 6 stars, I'd be clicking it. Can't wait for next year.”
“I’ve been blessed in my life to visit 62 countries and have had some great international experiences and to often remote destinations. Do yourself a favor and book a whale swim with Nadia in Tonga, or elsewhere. She’s a true professional who pays attention to all the details, your experience and the longest I ever went without a reply to a question was 30 minutes. Oh by the way, what an incredible experience I will never forget !
Doug Crowe
Virginia, USA”
“Hands down the best experience I've ever had in the ocean/sea. Six dives of swimming and at least 10 close encounters with the beautiful humpback whale. On two occasions I had a calves swim directly to me and turn within five feet to check me out. Spinning and turning and so full of curiosity these playful giants welcomed me into the warm waters of the pacific ocean for an experience I'll never forget.”
“I really can't explain the trip... it's hard... it's like the most amazing the I have ever done.
You just have to do it yourself. I booked with Nadia in 2018 and because of the Pandemic, finally got to go this year in 2022. Nadia was with me, and I am sure everyone else, every step of the way. The minute I emailed her, it seemed within minutes she would email me back. She is a serious rockstar at what she does, not just at photography, but literally everything else when it comes to business.
I stayed at Flying Annie and had such a wonderful time. The staff there are just amazing. The rooms were super comfortable, and it is very obvious that Flying Annie is the best place to stay in/near town.
Vava'u is very undeveloped and it's clear that Humpback Swims/ Nadia has the best of everything.
The boat was very comfortable and to my surprise had a great head! I had Nadia show me all the boats she uses, and it's clear they are the best in Vava'u. When we were out and saw the other boats, I was kind of surprised, they were nothing like the boat we were on. I would certainly not be happy if I was on any of the other boats that I saw out on the water.
The whales were amazing, I don't know what it's like to go out with other people, but our crew were amazing. They worked hard every day, and got us the best of the best. I have attached one of my best clips to this review. This mom was amazing. She came up to us with her calf, and when we could not keep up, she came back to us. The experience on this day was over 1 hour. It was amazing.
Every day was different and every whale was different. I felt like each day it just got better and better!!!
Nadia puts on great trips, and is always there every day. Even if she doesn't go out on the boat. She meets you in the morning and when you get back. She joins for dinner most nights, and honestly, I can't think of anyone else in the world who cares so much about your trip and expeicne. She is very unique and her energy is contagious!
I am so happy to have my dreams come true! I am still in shock! I hope to come back in 2024!”
“This is one of the most incredible wildlife experiences possible. The encounters were both respectful and intimate with the tour guides and operators showing clear respect for the whales, their calves, and knowledge of their behaviors. If you're not a strong snorkeller, I'd advise some practice before the trip both for comfort and cardio keeping up with the whales if you have some on the move - not required, but just allows you to get the most out of your experiences!
The staff at Flying Annie (B&B) were wonderful, made lovely fresh breakfast each morning, and kept the spaces very clean and tidy. The rooms were basic, with AC, and delivered exactly what you need for a trip of this nature. Only advice for travellers is to carry earplugs if you are bothered by the sound of barking dogs or roosters (they seem to be earlier than normal risers...) - I personally just thought it was a nice trade for the sound of trucks and people yelling in the streets.
When it comes to photos and videos, Nadia is an INCREDIBLE resource. She showed me some tips and tricks to take my images to the next level. She also went above and beyond to make dinner reservations on some of the nights in town as well.
All in all, 100000000 stars. Fantastic trip. Would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“WOW, Just WOW! It doesn't seem real...But it IS! The whale encounters are an experience of a lifetime. With only 4 in the water at a time and some encounters with moms, calves and escorts lasting over an hour...Simply Incredible! We even had a singer!! It's always exciting to hear the whale's song but to be close enough to physically feel it resonate through your body... UNFORGETABLE! As for Nadia... total rockstar! Her attention to detail and knowledge of Tongan logistics are invaluable. She's operated for years on Vava'u securing access to the best resorts, boats, captains and guides. She is very quick to respond to any questions/concerns you might have pre-trip and is always available throughout your stay. Factor in her infectious energy along with the warmth and kindness of the Tongan people, and you can't go wrong. Do not hesitate to book this trip!”
“The best in Vavau!
I just got back from a wonderful 8 swim day trip in Tonga. This is my third time to Tonga and my best so far. The reason being that I booked with this company. It is very clear to me now that booking with the right company does matter in Vavau. Nadia by far has the best boats in the area, the staff seem to be the best. I don’t day this lightly, as in 2019 and 2018, I went with other companies, and it’s clear that having well trained staff with the whales can make or break your trip. I actually met Nadia as she saved me from a terrible experience in 2019, allowing me a great day of whale swimming. I was so happy, I booked 2021 right away! Of course the tours got pushed, but communication was great and rescheduling was easy!
I had amazing encounters this year, and have already signed up for next year! Thank you!”
“A highly recommended activity thanks to Nadia's impeccable organizational skills and her keen eye for whales. Her commitment and hard work made it a success - lots of whale sightings and lots of actual encounters. The boat was very comfortable, it even had a head. Take-out Lunch was prepared by one of the best restaurants in town. Overall, we had a blast.”
“I swam with whales in Tonga with Humpback Swims, it was amazing! The experience was seamless and well planned from booking to the swim itself. I especially loved that there are only 6 people on the boats.”
“What a phenomenal few weeks we had with HUmpback whales in the south pacific. The animals encounters were awesome, not only that though, the operator Nadia and Humpback swims made everything run smoothly. From the comfortable boat, to the problem solving and help from Nadia herself to make out trip run smoothly. There are other operators doing similar things, but the guys with Humpback Swims were professional, informative and great fun to be around. Thanks guys!!”
“This was one of the most memorable trips we've ever been on! It's absolutely magical to get to swim with humpbacks! Nadia and all the staff were so helpful before and during the trip! They answered all our questions and concerns and were very accommodating throughout the trip. Every day on the boat was so much fun, comfortable and I learned loads from the guides and staff - I can't recommend Humpback swims enough!”
“I made the mistake of visiting Vava’u 5 years ago and not making any bookings. Nadia and her team saved me. Just showing up doesn’t work on this small island and the boats that had space available were a 1 star in comparison to what this company has. Everything makes a difference and it’s worth going with a company who knows what they are doing. I can’t say enough good things about this company. Look no further.”
