Swimming With Gentle Giants

01/02/2025

2024 was like no other.... sightings of a rare white calf had everyone buzzing!
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Then, our marine biologist and from Whale Discoveries, worked out that there were actually TWO white calves in Tonga! One male & one female. The chances of this were super rare.
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They were able to do this by comparing photos of both mums & bubs. It’s just one example of why photography is such an amazing tool in citizen science.
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Photos by
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19/01/2025

CITIZEN SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
Through the Tongan Fluke Collective (TFC) & Happy Whale, we have now contributed over 500 fluke shots to science 😍
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Thank you to the team effort from our crew, guests, and other operators in Tonga including . We look forward to keeping up the good work in 2025.
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Not heard of ? Check them out & find out how to contribute to their database.
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pablo

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Photo by .portelli
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17/01/2025

“What? Whales breast-feed?!” That was a common reaction to the last reel we posted, showing a baby whale rolling its tongue into a straw-like shape.
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Not only do they suckle Mum’s milk, but a recent study has recorded the sounds of humpback calves begging their Mums for food. The grunting and burping sounds made by the calf were associated with nursing behaviour. These noises are the first recorded begging-like sounds in baleen whales!
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So yes, as mammals, whales have many things in common with us.
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2025 TOUR DATES: LINK IN BIO. Our whale-swim tours focus on unforgettable experiences, education, and citizen science. In Tonga, we operate with strict regulations - only 4 people in the water at one time, and always supervised by a qualified guide. Our staff includes marine biologist, professional photographer as well as our experienced Tongan crew. Send us a DM for more info.

Photo by .portelli

04/01/2025

TOUR DATES 2025: LINK IN BIO. Our whale-swim tours take place in Vava’u, the northern-most island group in Tonga. Home of towering cliffs, unbelievably blue water, and mystical caves. In between whale-swims, we fall more and more in love with the wild beauty here.
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In Tonga, we operate with strict regulations - only 4 people in the water at one time, and always supervised by a qualified guide. Our staff includes marine biologist, professional photographer as well as our experienced Tongan crew.
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Want more info? Send us a message, or check out our website:
https://swimmingwithgentlegiants.com/
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Photos by Scott Portelli
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’u

27/12/2024

As we indulge during our festive season, we hope the Tongan humpbacks have equally full bellies as they gorge on krill in Antarctica.
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We look forward to seeing them again in 6 months time, back in the tropical paradise of Tonga.
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Is a Tongan whale-swimming adventure on your radar for 2025? Head to our website, or send us a DM to find out more.
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Photo of humpbacks feeding by Scott Portelli

16/12/2024

Want to join us in Tonga in 2025? Have a read of what our recent guests are saying….

Message us with any questions, or browse our website here:

https://swimmingwithgentlegiants.com/tour-dates-prices/2025-tonga-tours/

09/12/2024

A heat-run in the shallows 😍
It's certainly a great day when we get to witness behaviour like this!

For 2025 Tonga dates & rates, visit https://swimmingwithgentlegiants.com/tour-dates-prices/

Photo by Scott Portelli

13/11/2024

CITIZEN SCIENCE

We are proud of the enthusiasm our staff & guests have put into citizen science programmes this year!

One of the programmes we ran is Coral Watch. It's simple and anyone can join in. Using a colour-monitoring chart, we are able to provide Coral Watch with data about the health of Tonga’s coral reefs.

What’s great about this, is that we can seamlessly integrate this fun and educational experience into a whale-swim day, if we stop at a coral reef on our lunch break. Our Marine Biologist & guides will show you how it’s done.

Message us for more info about our tours. And for dates & rates for our 2025 Tonga whale swim tours, click here:
https://swimmingwithgentlegiants.com/tour-dates-prices/2025-tonga-tours/

05/10/2024

If you were on our late August tours this season, you may have met Marine Scientist Pablo, who joined our team as part of the "Our World Underwater" scholarship programme.

Click below to read Pablo's blog about his time with us in Tonga supporting our citizen science programmes and documenting the underwater lives of humpbacks 😍

5 minute read My next adventure took me across the Pacific to a small island developing state; The Kingdom of Tonga. Scott Portelli is a world-class photographer, the most recent winner of the Australian Geographic General Nature photographer award in 2024, and luckily for me, a friend of the schola...

07/09/2024

It's been a big week! after the excitement of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the year awards and the launch of the exhibition at South Australian Museum, I have been on a natural high. And to top it off, today's article in the Weekend Australian news paper 'The Heart of the Nation' by Ross Bilton brought this experience to life even more. once again thanks to Australian Geographic, the South Australian Museum.
check out the Weekend Australian - The Australian - for the article.

Photography (Exhibition Launch) by Sam Roberts

04/08/2024

Last remaining spots to swim with the whales in Tonga. Message me for special offers!
Swimming With Gentle Giants

27/07/2024

first few days with the whales have been amazing. clear water, curious whales and nature in all its glory. we still have some last minute spaces in September, message us for details:
Swimming With Gentle Giants

29/06/2024

Been out of the water for a while but looking forward to getting back in the ocean to get up close and personal with these gentle giants in Tonga. want to join us this season? we still have a few spaces left. message me for details
Marelux US

24/06/2024

Tonga 2024 Humpback Whale Season is starting and we still have last minute spaces available.

Swim with whales by day, watch the magnificent sunset then relax under the stars in stunning Vava'u

Message for details

20/06/2024

Its that time of year when we head north to the Great Barrier Reef and experience the majestic Dwarf Minke Whales in the tropical clear Queensland waters. If you missed out this year Join us in the water with these curious and rarely seen whales next season. Swimming With Gentle Giants
Image shot with Marelux R5 housing, 230mm dome
Marelux US

17/06/2024

We have a last minute space just open up on our Orca & Aurora exclusive expedition this November in the Norwegian Fjords. this is the best time of year to get in the water with the Orcas and see the Northern Lights. message me for details!

10/01/2024

Only 2 spaces left on our Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre Aerial Photography & Outback Astrophotography workshop this June. message me if you are keen to join us in this amazing iconic outback location.