Tonga Whale Trip
Get ready for the experience of a lifetime!
This trip will be filled with potentially life changing encounters and we feel completely comfortable setting that expectation.
Come with us to the remote island of Eua in Tonga and stay at Blue Water Retreat. The resort is right on the water and you can literally watch whales swim by from your room. But you might not even be bothered to watch them from land because everyday we will dive dive dive with the spectacular humpback whales!
This could be you…
So you might ask, 'is this a snorkel trip?' or are we going to have some kind of underwater swim with whales?'
We are allowed to dive down to a maximum of 5 metres with the whales and trust me, that’s enough to play and dance with these gorgeous creatures. It’s magic! The whales really do play, spin, dance with and interact with us divers.
No experience in freediving is required and it's an activity that anyone can do, really. The majority of the encounters happen on the surface.
And if this doesn’t sound like enough we have a private chef that caters for us for the entire trip so you get to do it all in luxury!
Freediving with humpback whales is quite simply… the best experience a person can have in the ocean.
Join US in an epic week!
The trip starts every Thursday, and finishes on Wednesday.
We meet at Nuku’alofa (Tongatapu) and depart from there to Eua.
We come back to the main island at the end of the trip.
The transfers to Eua and back are on the start (Thursday) and end (Wednesday) days of your dive trip.
You need to be at Nuku’alofa, airport code (TBU) at least one day before the start day of your dive trip.
And you need to fly out from Nuku’alofa, airport code (TBU) at least one day after the end of your dive trip.
There are 14 spots for each week: 2 boats with 7 people each, plus the boat crew.
All trips are guided by a very special guest each week TBA soon!
Adam Stern will be joining weeks from 18th July to August 7th, 2024.
For more detailed info about the week click on the info flyer button.
Book your week!
18 - 24 July, 2024 - SOLD OUT
25 - 31 July, 2024 - SOLD OUT
1 - 7 August, 2024 - 6 Available Spots
8 - 14 August, 2024 - 5 Available Spots
15 - 21 August, 2024 - SOLD OUT
22 - 28 August, 2024 - 7 Available Spots
29 August - 4 September, 2024 - 5 Available Spots
Where?
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Come and spend 1 week freediving with humpback whales on the remote Island of Eua in Tonga.
Many travellers are drawn to Eua for the amazing combination of breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, eco-adventures, and whales.
Unlike other whale dive tours, we will be the only boat operating in Eua, which gives us unparalleled access to humpbacks in the region.
This will be the absolute trip of a lifetime!
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We’ll be staying in the rustic Blue Water Retreat with our own private chef and million dollar views with regular whale sightings from the grounds.
The Resort is located on a sandy ocean front coastline on the western side of Eua Island.
It has a licensed restaurant and 8 fales along with two large glamping tents. Your package is based on a twin share basis and you will be sharing with one other person.
With its unique location, the Resort has an all year round sandy beach at its doorstep.
From your accommodation you can sit and relax with stunning ocean and sunset views plus watching the whales breach and cruise by the front of the resort!
Simply the best!
What?
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We will be guided by local captains and marine biologists who will teach us all the “do's and don'ts” of the whales from their unique perspective to make sure we get an experience that blows our mind.
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The trip starts every Thursday, from the end of July to the end of August.
The transfers to Eua and back are by ferry on the start and end days of your dive trip.
Out of the 7 days, we spend 5 days on the boat diving with humpback whales. Once you get to dive with these amazing creatures for the first time, you'll never get tired of it.
However, if we ever do feel like it and want to explore other things, there’s also the local reefs which often provide great dives and the Cathedral Caves.
The diving in Eua Island is said to be one of the best dive spots not only in Tonga but in the world as well. Drop-offs, sea mountains, caves and canyons.
Money Stuff
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The price includes: 5 days of whale swim tours on a licensed whale swim vessel with licensed skipper and guides (Weather dependent)
All meals on Eua, prepared by our special Tongan chef. (Beverages extra at the Resort’s licensed restaurant)
6 nights of shared/dorm style accommodation
Transfers from Nuku’alofa to Eua return by either flight or ferry
Half-day Eua island tour conducted on Sunday.
Snorkeling gear (only on request). We have some available gear for you, but we recommend each of you to bring your own gear to the trip.
Cost does not include flights to the Kingdom of Tonga and accommodation, meals or any other expenses at Tongatapu (main island), or any Travel / Health insurance expenses.
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The full price for the trip is $5,750.00 AUD.
We have the following payment schedule. To secure your spot, you need to pay an initial deposit.
Deposit: $1,350.00 AUD
January 25: $1,650.00 AUD
May 1: $2,750.00 AUD
Important: Payments are non-refundable unless we can rebook your spot.
There is a $90.00 AUD fee when canceling your spot and asking for a refund. This is to cover the reimbursement transfer fees.
“No photo or video can truly capture how incredible of an experience it was!”
“My wife and I went on this trip knowing that we were going to have an incredible, once in a lifetime experience, and that is exactly what we received! The trip was so well planned out from lodging and transportation to food and drink. We had so much time spent diving with friendly whales while having plenty of time to explore the island and spend family dinners talking over our day’s experiences as well as sharing photos and video with each other. I still can’t believe what an incredible experience this was and would absolutely love to go again! I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone because no photo or video can truly capture how incredible of an experience it was!”
— Eric Haluch
2019 Whale Trip
Our Tonga spots fly… don’t wait too long to book yours!
The price of the trips includes: accommodation on Eua Island, all meals, domestic air fair to Eua Island, 5 full days on the whale boat, a freediving course and most importantly the license we purchase from the Tongan Government for you to be able to dive with the whales!
Pricing
$1350 AUD
Pay Your Deposit
$5750 AUD
Pay In Full
To reserve your spot, we ask for a $1350 AUD deposit. Payments are non-refundable unless we can rebook your spot. There is a $90 AUD fee for canceling your spot and asking for a refund to cover the reimbursement transfer fees. Your transaction is secure. Terms of Service.
What will you get during your trip
5 days of whale swim tours on a licensed whale swim vessel with licensed skipper and guides (Weather dependent).
All meals on Eua, prepared by our special Tongan chef. (Beverages extra at the Resort’s licensed restaurant).
6 nights of shared/dorm style accommodation.
Transfers from Nuku’alofa to Eua return by either flight or ferry (Our preference is flight but may have to resort to ferry depending on availability).
Half-day Eua island tour conducted on Sunday.
Snorkeling gear (only on request so please get in touch with us if you would like us to bring this for you).
A team of two experienced and entertaining hosts, along with a marine biologist and boat crew, will accompany each boat.
Weights/lead (only on request so please get in touch with us if you would like us to bring this for you).
Local logistics knowledge.
Company credit, tagging on socials, etc.
Reasonable access to phone and internet reception at the resort (not for watching movies and downloading large files).
Please note that flights to the Kingdom of Tonga, accommodation and expenses at Tongatapu, and travel insurance expenses are NOT INCLUDED in the value of this trip.
Alberto Carrion - 2023 Whale Trip
“I have the fortune to be in both Deep week and Tonga with Freediving Family and both of them have left me desiring for more of the same. Very nice instructors, wonderful manager, Adam always laughing and teaching us what he knows best. Also the best locations around the world for unforgettable experiences.”
Samuel Mok - 2023 Whale Trip
“Tonga is just an amazing opportunity, it honestly is life changing and I can’t really go back to my normal life now having experienced that.”
Whale, whale, whale, what do we have here…
Take a look of Adam’s past Whale Trip to get a glimpse of all the magic you will experience during this week!
This trip is for you if…
You want to spend 1 week freediving with humpback whales
You are looking forward to an epic adventure
Want to enjoy a breath-taking location in the remote island of Eua
You want to have fun with like-minded people
You are in love with whales
Want to share a week with the Freediving Family
Want to dive in one of the best dive spots in the world
Join the trip of a lifetime!
The price of the trips includes: accommodation on Eua Island, all meals, domestic air fair to Eua Island, 5 full days on the whale boat, a freediving course and most importantly the license we purchase from the Tongan Government for you to be able to dive with the whales!
Pricing
$1350 AUD
Pay Your Deposit
$5750 AUD
Pay In Full
To reserve your spot, we ask for a $1350 AUD deposit. Payments are non-refundable unless we can rebook your spot. There is a $90 AUD fee for canceling your spot and asking for a refund to cover the reimbursement transfer fees. Your transaction is secure. Terms of Service.
FAQs
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Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga. Most international arrivals land at Fua’amotu International Airport (Airport code TBU) on the island of Tongatapu, 21km (13 miles) from the nation’s capital, Nuku’alofa.
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The first thing you will need to organise for your travels to Tonga is your passport and visa. Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after your intended departure date from Tonga – make sure your passport is up to date!
Entry and visa requirements differ depending on your country of citizenship and residency. Please check this website if you have any doubts about your particular case.
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Yes, Tonga requires all non-Tongan passport holders to have comprehensive travel insurance.
Travel doesn’t always go as planned. This is why travel insurance is as important as a passport.
No matter who you are, where you're going and what you're doing, get insurance. Check with your travel insurance provider.
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You need a full set of freediving gear for your Tonga Whale Trip.
A “full set of gear” means:
1.5mm, 2mm, or 3mm wetsuit. Some people get easily cold and might want to bring a 5mm. Remember that there is a lot of swimming involved and you’ll be in constant movement in the water.
The water is about 25-28°C, so anything thicker and you’ll be too hot.
You can choose to bring your board shorts, leggings, and rash vest if you think that you’ll be fine with just that.
Freediving fins
Weight belt
Mask
Snorkel
Gear hire is not available on the island.
If you don’t have a full set of gear we recommend buying it before your trip, or getting in touch with us once you booked your spot to ask gear from us.
