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Freediving Holidays

20 years of Freediving experience | Life changing underwater wildlife encounters | Tonga, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, Mexico | Non-Freedivers welcome!
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29/10/2024

We named her Fluke. Her distinctive giant tail unmistakable from afar, suspended on the surface of the sea. Fluke’s majestic tail stirs the water like a magnet, forming waterfalls over its tips. Her mysterious presence, poetically hinted by the tip of her tail, peeking above the surface of the water, like the tip of a gigantic iceberg. You know that what you see from the surface is merely the “tip” of one of the largest animal species that ever existed on the planet, arguably as complex and highly evolved as us humans.

Her enormous heart shaped tail formed a curved illusion around me, just as looking at the horizon and noticing the curvature of the earth. I counted the barnacles outlining her tail with all of its peaks and valleys. I felt as if I was being pulled into another dimension, amazed by her stillness and gentleness.

At the same time, Fluke communicated with her calf, producing a meditative symphony created by the flow of air inside her body. It felt as if I am inside sound sphere, a multi-sensory, otherworldly experience that hummed and vibrated throughout my body.

Join us- Human-whale encounters/ Research/ Conservation
📷

17/09/2024

SIAL’E TOFUA’A HINEHINA ~ White humpback whale

The gestation period in humpback whales is eleven to twelve months. After birth, the calf is still attached to its mother by an umbilical cord. Some evidence suggests that birth may be accompanied by the presence of another whale which acts as a kind of midwife. When they are born, calves rely fully on their mothers for protection and food. Like all mammals, humpback mothers nurse their calves, producing as much as 500 litters of high protein and fat milk in a day. Calves feed on milk for six months before they start eating krill and other small fish. A mother and her calf stay close to each other and express affection through touch as well as vocalisations. As humpbacks have a strong tactile sense, they have particular parts of their bodies which seem very sensitive to touch. The especially sensitive parts include the lips, tubercles, and pectoral fin. Calves are often observed rubbing against their mothers’ pectoral fins and noses.
Humpback mothers often shield their calves under their pectoral fins, which can stretch up to five meters in length.
After several observations of the young whale eyes we can now confirm that the calf is a female and it is indeed an Albino whale. Soon, the young albino calf will embark on her first long journey (7,000 km) south to Antarctica where she will stay with her mom for up to two years and will hopefully return to Tonga in a few years once she is ready to mate and give birth.

Source: Thesis Human- Whale Interactions in Ha’apai, Tonga: Does the Intersubjective Exchange Create A Unique Reciprocal Experience for the Participants? By 🎥 Art design by

17/09/2024

06/09/2024

SIAL’E TOFUA’A  HINEHINA ~ White flower~ White humpback

After several observations of the young whale eyes we can now confirm that the calf is a female and it is indeed an Albino whale. Soon she will embark on her first long journey (7,000 km) south to Antarctica where she will stay with her mom for up to two years and will hopefully return to Tonga in a few years once she is ready to mate and give birth.

White animals are rare in the wild, and white humpback whale sightings are even more  rare. Only our were recorded.
Without protective coloration, unless they’re  in an arctic environment, they are more vulnerable to attack and the harsh sun.
Leucism and albinism are often difficult to tell apart in animals since the conditions share some of the same characteristics. While albinism refers to the complete lack of melanin—the natural pigment that gives skin, feathers, hair, and eyes their color—leucism involves a partial loss of pigmentation.
Animals with albinism are white or pale in color over their entire bodies but also have eyes that are pale, pink, or red in color, while animals with leucism often have partially white or patchy features with darker eyes. These inherited genetic traits are all recessive and must be inherited from both parents (who don’t necessarily have to have albinism themselves). Animals have been observed excluding members of their group with albinism to avoid predation of the entire population
Animals that are white in color are often mistaken for having albinism when they actually have leucism. Often, the simplest way to tell animals with leucism apart from albinism is to look at the eyes. Animals with leucism will have dark-colored eyes rather than red or pink.
Albinism is an extremely rare condition in wildlife that occurs at birth. Researchers estimate the rate of albinism in animals to be anywhere from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 1 million, though it’s believed to be more common in bird, reptile, and amphibian species.

In many cultures an appearance of a white animal is an indication of a new era of peace  and restored balance.

🎥
Art design

06/09/2024

25/08/2024

TOFUA’A  HINEHINA( White humpback whale)

We have been experiencing a miraculous encounter with a white humpback whale calf. So overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude.

White animals are rare in the wild, and white humpback whale sightings are even more  rare. Only our were recorded.
Without protective coloration, unless they’re  in an arctic environment, they are more vulnerable to attack and the harsh sun.
Leucism and albinism are often difficult to tell apart in animals since the conditions share some of the same characteristics. While albinism refers to the complete lack of melanin—the natural pigment that gives skin, feathers, hair, and eyes their color—leucism involves a partial loss of pigmentation.
Animals with albinism are white or pale in color over their entire bodies but also have eyes that are pale, pink, or red in color, while animals with leucism often have partially white or patchy features with darker eyes. These inherited genetic traits are all recessive and must be inherited from both parents (who don’t necessarily have to have albinism themselves). Animals have been observed excluding members of their group with albinism to avoid predation of the entire population
Animals that are white in color are often mistaken for having albinism when they actually have leucism. Often, the simplest way to tell animals with leucism apart from albinism is to look at the eyes. Animals with leucism will have dark-colored eyes rather than red or pink.
Albinism is an extremely rare condition in wildlife that occurs at birth. Researchers estimate the rate of albinism in animals to be anywhere from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 1 million, though it’s believed to be more common in bird, reptile, and amphibian species

White animals across traditions ~
In multiple cultures, anomalous white animals have been designated as sacred and the basis of legends and myth. In many cultures an appearance of a white animal is an indication of a new era of peace  and restored balance.

In this photo, A young white Humpback Whale in Ha’apai, Tonga. 📷 .margom 🙏🏻🐋🤍 info source: treehugger, gaia,

12/08/2024

The amazing cyclic journey of one drop of water. A drop might start its journey as water, then evaporate, changing its form. It’s still water, but it’s not the same as before. However, the same knowledge, the same information, is still there. The same applies even when it’s frozen.
Water matures until it’s time to incarnate again,, just as the water drop rises as steam, falls back as a raindrop out of a cloud, trickles away into the earth, and after a very long time, 100 to 1,000 years, appears again on the surface of the earth as an artesian spring. In a similar way there’s a metaphor of the humpback whale song in that.

The songs of humpback whales employ rhyme, humans have been using rhyme at least since Homer and probably long before. It’s a way of remembering. A male humpback will usually complete the song, then repeat it numerous times, singing for hours on end.

We know now that the male humpback whale’s strange and haunting singing is a changeable cultural aspect of that species. Each year, all adult male humpbacks within each ocean sing the same song. But in each ocean the song is different from the song being sung in other oceans. There’s a Pacific song, an Atlantic song, and so on. And each year the song of each ocean changes. The new songs spread wavelike, a slow-moving fad crossing blue infinities whale-to-whale, all the whales adopting the same changed elements of the song. When songs of Hawaiian humpbacks and Mexico’s Socorro Island humpbacks changed simultaneously despite a separation spanning 4,800 kilometers of ocean, researchers Ellen Garland and colleagues called this pattern “unparalleled in any other nonhuman animals . . . cultural change at a vast scale.

The song culture of humpback whales changed our inter-species culture. And why? Simply this: we briefly directed our attention to something beautiful on Earth. For a moment—we listened.
📷 credit: center for human & nature. Masaru Emoto. Carl Safina.

02/08/2024

We are connected to whales not just through the encounters but through the elements, water, bodies, and our senses. They live in the water; they are water, we are water, every single particle inside us has always existed.
The water in my body was in your body at some point. If we think about the elements, we have always been and always will be connected to whales.

30/07/2024

The Human – whale encounters is a multi-sensory experience, a reciprocal exchange between us and the whales. We believe that human- whale exchange can help cultivating a sense of care, transform human understanding & restore our connection with the whales and the ocean. Ever since our first whale encounter in 2010 we have been on a continues journey of heart expansion and our mission is to share these whale moments with others and help increase awareness and understandings of the extraordinaire of whales and at the same time, their fragility

We are a family run business and have been operating since 2010 under the strict regulations set by the Kingdom of Tonga and hold a licenced permit. We believe that the human – whale exchange can help in resorting and healing our relationship with whales and the oceans. We are committed to continue prioritizing the wellbeing of the whales and only initiate encounters that are safe and reciprocal for all participants.
Read more about our story on our website. Link in bio

27/07/2024

S***M WHALES HAVE AN “EVE”

New research reveals that every s***m whale in the world can be traced to a single female

All of the s***m whales in the world descended from just one female who lived tens of thousands of years ago. That surprising result comes from an examination of the mitochondrial DNA of more than 1,600 s***m whales from all over the world. Fittingly, researchers have named her Eve.

Mitochondrial DNA is only passed from mother to child. The fact that Eve’s DNA has been found all over the world opens up additional questions. Today, only male s***m whales travel far from where they are born. Females tend to stay put, so Eve’s mitochondrial DNA should have as well. But, for some reason, it didn’t.

The new genetic study also reveals that the current lack of female s***m whales migrating puts a limit on genetic flow for the species—an issue in the face of anthropogenic climate change and other threats, which are isolating s***m whales into smaller, geographically isolated sub-populations. Populations in Eve’s time may have been more able to mingle with each other over time. That opportunity is now no longer available.

This suggests that management strategies for s***m whales may need to prioritize females, not necessarily populations as a whole. If all of the females in a given location die out, it now appears unlikely that any new females would migrate to replace them.

What this study has introduced is another reason why it is so important to protect females if we want to conserve a population.

Source: Hakai, John R. Platt, Alana Alexander, NOAA.

WE HAVE TWO SPOTS AVAILABLE 8-15 DECEMBER IN DOMINICA. JOIN US ON THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE SWIMMING WITH S***M WHALES! LINK IN BIO 🐳

27/07/2024

18/07/2024

LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT! If swimming with the gentle giants is your dream, we want to help you realize it! This is a RARE OPPORTUNITY to join us with a substantial last minute discount . We have only 2 Spots Available August 8th - 15th. If you are interested please check the link in our bio and fill out the application form. PLEASE HURRY if you are interested! 🐋💙🙏🏻 Please share & Tag a friend who’d be interested 🙏🏻🐋

We can’t wait to meet all of you who are coming to share this experience with us. 🐋

Annually, Between July and October, humpbacks take part in one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, both on land and sea. During the Southern Hemisphere winter, the humpbacks leave their feeding grounds in Antarctica and start migrating north to the warm waters of Tonga; to mate, give birth and nurse their young. 🐋

Ever since our first whale encounter in 2008 we have been on a continues journey of heart expansion and our mission is to share these whale moments with others and help increase awareness and understandings of the extraordinaire of whales and at the same time, their fragility. 🐋

12/07/2024

10/07/2024

After a pregnancy of up to 18 months – one of the longest gestation periods of any mammal – the mother gives birth to a single calf. Newborn killer whale calves are highly dependent on their mothers. Like all mammals, females produce milk to feed their calves, which will nurse for between 1 and 2 years. Females invest a substantial amount of energy to sustain a growing calf, with lactating mothers increasing food intake by 42% to meet their nutritional needs during this demanding time. Once calves are weaned, their mother continues to supply them with solid food and actively teaches hunting skills. Despite all this effort, only around 50% of killer whale calves survive to adulthood.

As a consequence of the long gestation and prolonged period of parental care, killer whales are relatively slow to reproduce. Females only have one calf at a time, usually at intervals of about five years. Unusually among animals, female killer whales undergo menopause, ceasing reproduction in their early 40’s despite often living into their 60’s and 70’s —and occasionally to 100 or more. However, post-reproductive females aren’t done mothering! They continue to care for and help feed their children and grandchildren and play a vital role as repositories of ecological knowledge, using their experience to lead the pod when food sources are scarce. Source: Smithsonian, Hakai, OceanWise, (WDC).

10/07/2024

Orcas are highly social animals that live in tight-knit family groups that include all the descendants, male and female, of an adult female, or matriarch. These groups, referred to as matrilines, are very stable social units, with as many as four generations travelling together and maintaining near-constant communication.

Female killer whales can live up to 90 years in the wild, including 22 years after they go through menopause. In orca pods, offspring stay close to their mothers for their entire lives, males are especially dependent on their mothers, even in adulthood: if a male killer whale’s mother dies after he reaches maturity, he is three times more likely to die the following year. If he lives to 30, his risk of death increases eight-fold after the loss of his mother.

After a pregnancy of up to 18 months – one of the longest gestation periods of any mammal – the mother gives birth to a single calf. Newborn killer whale calves are highly dependent on their mothers. Like all mammals, females produce milk to feed their calves, which will nurse for between 1 and 2 years. Females invest a substantial amount of energy to sustain a growing calf, with lactating mothers increasing food intake by 42% to meet their nutritional needs during this demanding time. Once calves are weaned, their mother continues to supply them with solid food and actively teaches hunting skills. Despite all this effort, only around 50% of killer whale calves survive to adulthood. Source: Smithsonian, Hakai, OceanWise, (WDC).

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SIAL’E TOFUA’A HINEHINA ~ White flower~ White humpback After several observations of the young whale eyes we can now confirm that the calf is a female and it is indeed an Albino whale. Soon she will embark on her first long journey (7,000 km) south to Antarctica where she will stay with her mom for up to two years and will hopefully return to Tonga in a few years once she is ready to mate and give birth. White animals are rare in the wild, and white humpback whale sightings are even more rare. Only our were recorded. Without protective coloration, unless they’re in an arctic environment, they are more vulnerable to attack and the harsh sun. Leucism and albinism are often difficult to tell apart in animals since the conditions share some of the same characteristics. While albinism refers to the complete lack of melanin—the natural pigment that gives skin, feathers, hair, and eyes their color—leucism involves a partial loss of pigmentation. Animals with albinism are white or pale in color over their entire bodies but also have eyes that are pale, pink, or red in color, while animals with leucism often have partially white or patchy features with darker eyes. These inherited genetic traits are all recessive and must be inherited from both parents (who don’t necessarily have to have albinism themselves). Animals have been observed excluding members of their group with albinism to avoid predation of the entire population Animals that are white in color are often mistaken for having albinism when they actually have leucism. Often, the simplest way to tell animals with leucism apart from albinism is to look at the eyes. Animals with leucism will have dark-colored eyes rather than red or pink. Albinism is an extremely rare condition in wildlife that occurs at birth. Researchers estimate the rate of albinism in animals to be anywhere from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 1 million, though it’s believed to be more common in bird, reptile, and amphibian species

Sperm Whales Have an “Eve” New research reveals that every sperm whale in the world can be traced to a single female All of the sperm whales in the world descended from just one female who lived tens of thousands of years ago. That surprising result comes from an examination of the mitochondrial DNA of more than 1,600 sperm whales from all over the world. Fittingly, researchers have named her Eve. Mitochondrial DNA is only passed from mother to child. The fact that Eve’s DNA has been found all over the world opens up additional questions. Today, only male sperm whales travel far from where they are born. Females tend to stay put, so Eve’s mitochondrial DNA should have as well. But, for some reason, it didn’t. The new genetic study also reveals that the current lack of female sperm whales migrating puts a limit on genetic flow for the species—an issue in the face of anthropogenic climate change and other threats, which are isolating sperm whales into smaller, geographically isolated sub-populations. Populations in Eve’s time may have been more able to mingle with each other over time. That opportunity is now no longer available. This suggests that management strategies for sperm whales may need to prioritize females, not necessarily populations as a whole. If all of the females in a given location die out, it now appears unlikely that any new females would migrate to replace them. What this study has introduced is another reason why it is so important to protect females if we want to conserve a population. Source: Hakai, John R. Platt, Alana Alexander, NOAA. WE HAVE TWO SPOTS AVAILABLE 8-15 DECEMBER IN DOMINICA. JOIN US ON THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE SWIMMING WITH SPERM WHALES! LINK IN BIO 🐳

That feeling of being included in something extremely special. a long and emotional interaction with two adult whales as they played and kept returning to our boat. in a few short months we will return to Tonga after three years away.... so looking forward to spending more time with our favourite animals. want to join us? we still have limited spots for August. www.freedivingholidays.com

Spot X- Blue and Sperm whales

Itching to go on a holiday and swim alongside the Blue whales, Sperm whales and 24 other species of porpoises as they navigate the Cetacean super-highway between Dili and Atauro Island in East Timor? Due to a cancellation, we have a few open spots for this incredible trip between 14-20th of November. Be quick, as these spots will not last long. Daily swims, Snorkelling, breahitng workshops, photography workshop.... https://freedivingholidays.com/tour/timor-leste-2022/

Sound on 😍 listen to a singing escort while a little calf practices their breaching. Still have a few spaces left for our 2020 season in Tonga, come and join us . . . . . . . #dissocean #deeperbluegram #bluuespace #whalesnation #whalegram #fathomlesslife #oceanloversunited #girlsthatfreedive #thefreedivegirls #divingpassport #freediver #freediverlife #freedivetonga #freediving #bestfreedivegear #oceanlife #ocean #oceanholiclife #oceandotcom #oceanculturelife #tonga #sing #adventure #travel #instagram #whale

Dreaming of blue water, sunshine, coconuts and humpback whales. Two spots available this year if you feel spontaneous and wish to get away from the cold. @erezbeatus @freedivingholidays #apnea #apneainternational #tonga #haapai #humpback #swimwithwhales #adventuretravel #bucketlist

The size of an adult Blue whale is almost incomprehensible, even when swimming alongside it. This particular individual was very relaxed and allowed is to swim with him as he covered huge distances. Blue whales can easily travel the length of Sri Lanka overnight so being there in the right ment is a game of chance. Join us one one of our amazing expeditions. Video on permit by @lexhilife @freedivingholidays #apneainternational #apnea #whaleswim #srilanka #bluewhales #swimwithbluewhales #blueocean #lifeinblue #ocean #bucketlist #freedivingart #freediving

Our most ambitious and remote expedition, the sea of Okhotsk is home to one of the most remarkable mammals of this planet- the Bowhead whale. Over the course of 16 days, we will travel by truck for three days, use fast boats and stand up paddle boards to locate and swim with them. We will encounter Orca and beluga whales as well as bears as they hunt Salomon. Not an easy trip due to the cold water and challenging location but well worth it. By the end of this trip, you will be one of a handful of people to ever swim with Bowheads! Extremely limited spots left so be quick. Link in our bio. Freediving Holidays #apneainternational #apneaaustralia #erezbeatus #whaleswim #russia #expedition #extreme #bowhead #ocean #whale

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29/10/2024

17/09/2024

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06/09/2024

06/09/2024

25/08/2024

12/08/2024

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30/07/2024

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