Humpback Swims Reviews

"What an amazing adventure! I got SO close to this inquisitive and playful whale calf and we stayed there for over an hour!\r\nWe had 4 great days of whale encounters, and on the less spectacular day, when the seas got rougher, or when we were just fulfilled with our whale swims, our guys took us to a great reef to snorkel or to a deserted island to just chill. There was another group that was younger and they encountered a competition pod, so a group would jump in the water, watch them pass, get back in the boat to be taken ahead of the pod, then another group would jump in. They can accomodate whatever the group wants..we were more into more sedate encounters, including one with a singing male whose song caused reverberations in my chest! \r\nI would absolutely encourage you to get the four passenger trip...there was no waiting for our turn to get in the water, unless there happened to be another boat wanting a turn, but we left very early and were the first ones to find the whales, so that by noon most every day we were ready to come back and explore the island. Ali and Ili were awesome at finding whales and making sure we had the best experience. The boat was comfortable and quick and so much better than my experience in the Silver Banks off the Dominican Republic.\r\nThe people of Tonga were so friendly and I really enjoyed going to Catholic Mass on Sunday and hearing the Tongan choir!\r\nOur accomodations were very comfortable and private, and we even had our own sow and piglets using our carport to rest. Bob picked us up at the airport and made sure we knew our way around Vava'u, reminding us that they drove on the other side of the road....did I mention we had use of a car while we were there?! We had breakfast cooked for us each morning before we left, in addition to daily housekeeping service.\r\nI am so glad I decided to make this trip! My photos weren't great but the memories were awesome!!\r\nI would definitely encourage you to tack on a few days in Fiji on the way back, because our layover at the small Fiji airport was like 9 hours long and there wasn't much to do...I didn't want to have to cart all my luggage with me, hoping to find a place to get a massage, though planning ahead it probably wouldn't have been too difficult. \r\nThe experience was phenomenal and Nadia and everyone on her team was so helpful!"

"What an amazing adventure! I got SO close to this inquisitive and playful whale calf and we stayed there for over an hour!\r\nWe had 4 great days of whale encounters, and on the less spectacular day, when the seas got rougher, or when we were just fulfilled with our whale swims, our guys took us to a great reef to snorkel or to a deserted island to just chill. There was another group that was younger and they encountered a competition pod, so a group would jump in the water, watch them pass, get back in the boat to be taken ahead of the pod, then another group would jump in. They can accomodate whatever the group wants..we were more into more sedate encounters, including one with a singing male whose song caused reverberations in my chest! \r\nI would absolutely encourage you to get the four passenger trip...there was no waiting for our turn to get in the water, unless there happened to be another boat wanting a turn, but we left very early and were the first ones to find the whales, so that by noon most every day we were ready to come back and explore the island. Ali and Ili were awesome at finding whales and making sure we had the best experience. The boat was comfortable and quick and so much better than my experience in the Silver Banks off the Dominican Republic.\r\nThe people of Tonga were so friendly and I really enjoyed going to Catholic Mass on Sunday and hearing the Tongan choir!\r\nOur accomodations were very comfortable and private, and we even had our own sow and piglets using our carport to rest. Bob picked us up at the airport and made sure we knew our way around Vava'u, reminding us that they drove on the other side of the road....did I mention we had use of a car while we were there?! We had breakfast cooked for us each morning before we left, in addition to daily housekeeping service.\r\nI am so glad I decided to make this trip! My photos weren't great but the memories were awesome!!\r\nI would definitely encourage you to tack on a few days in Fiji on the way back, because our layover at the small Fiji airport was like 9 hours long and there wasn't much to do...I didn't want to have to cart all my luggage with me, hoping to find a place to get a massage, though planning ahead it probably wouldn't have been too difficult. \r\nThe experience was phenomenal and Nadia and everyone on her team was so helpful!"

"What an amazing adventure! I got SO close to this inquisitive and playful whale calf and we stayed there for over an hour!\r\nWe had 4 great days of whale encounters, and on the less spectacular day, when the seas got rougher, or when we were just fulfilled with our whale swims, our guys took us to a great reef to snorkel or to a deserted island to just chill. There was another group that was younger and they encountered a competition pod, so a group would jump in the water, watch them pass, get back in the boat to be taken ahead of the pod, then another group would jump in. They can accomodate whatever the group wants..we were more into more sedate encounters, including one with a singing male whose song caused reverberations in my chest! \r\nI would absolutely encourage you to get the four passenger trip...there was no waiting for our turn to get in the water, unless there happened to be another boat wanting a turn, but we left very early and were the first ones to find the whales, so that by noon most every day we were ready to come back and explore the island. Ali and Ili were awesome at finding whales and making sure we had the best experience. The boat was comfortable and quick and so much better than my experience in the Silver Banks off the Dominican Republic.\r\nThe people of Tonga were so friendly and I really enjoyed going to Catholic Mass on Sunday and hearing the Tongan choir!\r\nOur accomodations were very comfortable and private, and we even had our own sow and piglets using our carport to rest. Bob picked us up at the airport and made sure we knew our way around Vava'u, reminding us that they drove on the other side of the road....did I mention we had use of a car while we were there?! We had breakfast cooked for us each morning before we left, in addition to daily housekeeping service.\r\nI am so glad I decided to make this trip! My photos weren't great but the memories were awesome!!\r\nI would definitely encourage you to tack on a few days in Fiji on the way back, because our layover at the small Fiji airport was like 9 hours long and there wasn't much to do...I didn't want to have to cart all my luggage with me, hoping to find a place to get a massage, though planning ahead it probably wouldn't have been too difficult. \r\nThe experience was phenomenal and Nadia and everyone on her team was so helpful!"

"What an amazing adventure! I got SO close to this inquisitive and playful whale calf and we stayed there for over an hour!\r\nWe had 4 great days of whale encounters, and on the less spectacular day, when the seas got rougher, or when we were just fulfilled with our whale swims, our guys took us to a great reef to snorkel or to a deserted island to just chill. There was another group that was younger and they encountered a competition pod, so a group would jump in the water, watch them pass, get back in the boat to be taken ahead of the pod, then another group would jump in. They can accomodate whatever the group wants..we were more into more sedate encounters, including one with a singing male whose song caused reverberations in my chest! \r\nI would absolutely encourage you to get the four passenger trip...there was no waiting for our turn to get in the water, unless there happened to be another boat wanting a turn, but we left very early and were the first ones to find the whales, so that by noon most every day we were ready to come back and explore the island. Ali and Ili were awesome at finding whales and making sure we had the best experience. The boat was comfortable and quick and so much better than my experience in the Silver Banks off the Dominican Republic.\r\nThe people of Tonga were so friendly and I really enjoyed going to Catholic Mass on Sunday and hearing the Tongan choir!\r\nOur accomodations were very comfortable and private, and we even had our own sow and piglets using our carport to rest. Bob picked us up at the airport and made sure we knew our way around Vava'u, reminding us that they drove on the other side of the road....did I mention we had use of a car while we were there?! We had breakfast cooked for us each morning before we left, in addition to daily housekeeping service.\r\nI am so glad I decided to make this trip! My photos weren't great but the memories were awesome!!\r\nI would definitely encourage you to tack on a few days in Fiji on the way back, because our layover at the small Fiji airport was like 9 hours long and there wasn't much to do...I didn't want to have to cart all my luggage with me, hoping to find a place to get a massage, though planning ahead it probably wouldn't have been too difficult. \r\nThe experience was phenomenal and Nadia and everyone on her team was so helpful!"

"I had the most amazing time on this trip. The crew took great care of me and they thought of everything I needed to have a great experience. It surpassed all of my expectations and I highly recommend this team. "

"This is a thoroughly professional, very thoughtful and ethical whale swimming operation. For photographers, as well as for whale enthusiast and conservationists who want to see whales in their native environment, Humpback Swims offers the best of everything that is available.\r\n\r\nI have swum with whales four different times including in the Atlantic off the Dominican Republic. This is my second time with Humpback Swims. I\u2019ve been with another operator in Tonga. Humpback Swims consistently cultivates the best boat captains and the best guides that swim in the water. They have outstanding relations with local service providers and provide a high level of comfort for visitors from around the world.\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s important to note that this is an authentic South Pacific, relatively undeveloped country experience. There are important, real world considerations for safety, equipment, food, and availability of first world comforts. Visitors to this small island in a small, impoverished country will not find the same comfort inconveniences that they find in western Europe or the United States. It is important to reset your expectations accordingly. There simply isn\u2019t bandwith or material availability of resources to deliver the same experience that you might have at a resort in the US or Mexico."

"My recent trip to Tonga for a humpback whale swim was beyond anything I could have imagined. It wasn\u2019t just about watching whales from a distance\u2014it was an immersive, emotional experience that words can not really explain it. You just have to do it for yourself to understand.\r\n\r\nThe crew at SDL Expeditions was outstanding! They provided everything needed for a smooth trip, including expert guidance before and during the tour. Great guidance on how to engage with the whales in the water and approach to maximize for max water time. Safety and whale conservation were top priorities, which made me feel both comfortable and responsible during the encounter.\r\n\r\nThe moment I entered the water, the beauty of the whales was simply overwhelming. Watching a calf frolic beside its mother and witnessing their communication up close gave me an entirely new appreciation for marine life and these whales. The sounds, the movements, and the sheer presence of the whales left me in awe, and at times, I felt like I was part of their world!\r\n\r\nWhat I loved most about this experience was how personal and authentic it felt. The atmosphere was peaceful, respectful, and nothing was rushed. Each interaction with the whales was unique, and the crew's insights into their behaviors made the entire experience even more profound.\r\n\r\nI hope to come back again! Nadia, Julie, Bob... thank you so much!"