Tongan Expeditions Dive & Whale Watching
Tongan Expeditions Dive & Whale Watching
Tongan Expeditions Dive & Whale Watching
5
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
We carry out whale swim eco-tours in the pristine waters around Vava'u where the majestic humpback whales come every year to mate and calf. Our tours are carried out under strict guidelines with fully qualified and certified personnel to ensure minimal impact on these beautiful mammals. We are also a fully licensed PADI dive resort offering daily dive trips and all levels of diver training.
Neiafu, Tonga
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTongan Expeditions Dive & Whale Watching
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsContribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
140 reviews
Excellent
128
Very good
5
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
0
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Elizabeth W
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Solo
It was incredible!! The experience of swimming with the whales was so surreal. I feel so thrilled to have such an amazing opportunity. Tongan Expeditions we’re incredibly professional. Tonga the boat captain was skilful and I felt so safe on the water. Lome our whale guide was intuitive and caring and made us feel so safe in the water with these beautiful creatures. Thank you so much!
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rtravel
5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
An exceptional experience that allows you to swim peacefully with whales and their young beyond what you can dream of
The staff is extremely kind and friendly
I recommend 100%
And the price given the quality of the service is reasonable
Go for it !!
The staff is extremely kind and friendly
I recommend 100%
And the price given the quality of the service is reasonable
Go for it !!
Written April 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah G.
12 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
We went out with Tongan Expeditions for 4 days and had an incredible experience! Our guide, Lome, did a great job! She was friendly, knowledgeable and put our safety and whales well-being first! Each day we had a great swims! We saw whales playing with dolphins, a pregnant female, the end of a heat run and several females and calves! It was breathtaking being in the water so close to such a large wild animal, words can’t describe it! Lome always checked to make sure the whales were interested in swimming with us and knew when it was best to leave them alone. I felt like the whales were respected and not over crowded. Lome should have her own GoPro!!
Written October 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David Schneider
11 contributions
Sep 2024 • Solo
Unfortunately my 3 day tours were very chaotic. From the time of booking confirmation you will not receive any further information, be it regarding the meeting point, where and when it starts, or what you need to take with you. I asked if it was possible for the boat to pick me up at my accommodation. The answer was that it was not possible because of sea level. Unfortunately, that was a false statement. The sea level was high there in the morning. On the 2nd morning I was picked up there by boat without any problems. But not the other days. I wonder why? All other guests were picked up by boat. I also asked whether snorkeling equipment was available. Of course not. So I had to borrow expensive equipment, only to find out afterwards that the equipment was available. There was no instruction on the day trips, you just didn't know what the daily routine was like. The guests always had to inform each other because there is simply no information available. All guests were complaining about not recieving any information about whats going on. Really strange. On the third day I was transferred to a boat from another company. Everything worked there, everything was communicated well. There was even lunch and a briefing. You pay a lot of money and then you get so disappointed. Maybe better looking for a diferent company...
Written September 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chickensofmystery
Courtenay, Canada59 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
The whales themselves are 5 star.
We went out with Tongan Expeditions three times on the Makaira (September and October 2016). The diesel powered boat was roomy but much slower than other boats. The skipper was, at times, gruff. One of the guides barely spoke English and none of them provided background insight into whale behavior like on other boats. On all three days, we found whales only by locating other boats that had found cooperative whales (I am sure there is an element of luck to it, but we covered half the ground that other boats such as Whales in the Wild did). So, we were always late to the party and had quite limited time with the whales, compared to boats who got there first.
There was 2 bottles of water provided for 8 customers and 2 crew, so we often ran out of drinking water by lunch time. The lunch was basic (we asked other people what they had on with other operators and ours was the bottom of the heap).
On 2 of the 3 days, we left whales and headed back to the office by 2pm. On the third day we were back by 3pm. It felt like a union shop (other operators stayed out longer on those days, and had faster boats to get back with). Overall, I didn't feel that the operator appreciated that we were spending a lot of money on the excursions. We shared the boat with other customers who had been out with other operators and they felt the same. I'd use another operator unless they were full.
But the whales were great!
We went out with Tongan Expeditions three times on the Makaira (September and October 2016). The diesel powered boat was roomy but much slower than other boats. The skipper was, at times, gruff. One of the guides barely spoke English and none of them provided background insight into whale behavior like on other boats. On all three days, we found whales only by locating other boats that had found cooperative whales (I am sure there is an element of luck to it, but we covered half the ground that other boats such as Whales in the Wild did). So, we were always late to the party and had quite limited time with the whales, compared to boats who got there first.
There was 2 bottles of water provided for 8 customers and 2 crew, so we often ran out of drinking water by lunch time. The lunch was basic (we asked other people what they had on with other operators and ours was the bottom of the heap).
On 2 of the 3 days, we left whales and headed back to the office by 2pm. On the third day we were back by 3pm. It felt like a union shop (other operators stayed out longer on those days, and had faster boats to get back with). Overall, I didn't feel that the operator appreciated that we were spending a lot of money on the excursions. We shared the boat with other customers who had been out with other operators and they felt the same. I'd use another operator unless they were full.
But the whales were great!
Written December 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gordon S
242 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We had rough weather going out: some rain but high seas. We found a whale right away but guide (Shauna) saw a bull shark there so we didn't dive there. She and the boat driver decided to go to the North Bay area in the open water. Given the bad weather, this was a bad decisions. We putted around for 3 hours in North Bay in high waves without seeing a whale at all.
We came back into the waters east of Hunga and found whales again but had wasted most of the day. My swim with whales was very cool but I had only a 10-minute experience with them. That's it! It was VERY COOL but I wish there was more for my time and money and expectations.
The lunch was really bare minimum: bread, one thin slice of meat, one tiny tomato slice and a couple of package cookies.
I think if they had not gone out to the open sea, we would have had a better experience.
We came back into the waters east of Hunga and found whales again but had wasted most of the day. My swim with whales was very cool but I had only a 10-minute experience with them. That's it! It was VERY COOL but I wish there was more for my time and money and expectations.
The lunch was really bare minimum: bread, one thin slice of meat, one tiny tomato slice and a couple of package cookies.
I think if they had not gone out to the open sea, we would have had a better experience.
Written September 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for rating the weather and complimentary light lunch that you were provided. Having certain expectations and zero expertise in this environment is more likely a huge error in judgement on your part, to be questioning experienced staff decisions and the safety of all guests on-board I find very narrow mined from you. I think for future (un natural) wildlife experiences you may be best suited to visit an aquarium or zoo.
You feedback is highly welcomed and we wish you good luck for all future wildlife experiences.
Written September 8, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
delikiz
Jersey City, NJ73 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
They left a lot to be desired for me. I took their boat 5 days in a row and requested to be on a faster boat just for one day - but because it was just me - and I hadn't booked something more "special" with them I was treated like a collateral. AND I had booked this in March for August. I've asked Linda/Lisa(?) a couple of times and she said no she can't. It was unfair and unpleasant as I was watching 2 people move from the boat they were in with me the previous day to the faster one - because a couple didn't show up.
Here's why the faster one was important for me - with the slower boat it takes a longer time to get out to the whales and a longer time to get back. Meaning whales are usually spotted by other boats first - sometimes they'll get tired and leave by the time we get there. It also meant we had to leave the whales while the other boats could still get another 20-30mins because we had to be back in dock by a certain time.
To be fair - there wasn't a single day we didn't see whales, it would be practically impossible not to in the season.
The boat was unnecessarily out-dated. To the point the bathroom door needed to be held by somebody if you needed to use it, it wouldn't stay.
Their guides and captain are absolutely great though. Management isn't half as friendly as the other operators.
You will still have a great time, regardless, because the whales are just magical to experience. But with a management who's not willing to accommodate requests and be friendly I'd recommend to try one of the other Top 3 for the full experience. That is what I will be doing next time.
Here's why the faster one was important for me - with the slower boat it takes a longer time to get out to the whales and a longer time to get back. Meaning whales are usually spotted by other boats first - sometimes they'll get tired and leave by the time we get there. It also meant we had to leave the whales while the other boats could still get another 20-30mins because we had to be back in dock by a certain time.
To be fair - there wasn't a single day we didn't see whales, it would be practically impossible not to in the season.
The boat was unnecessarily out-dated. To the point the bathroom door needed to be held by somebody if you needed to use it, it wouldn't stay.
Their guides and captain are absolutely great though. Management isn't half as friendly as the other operators.
You will still have a great time, regardless, because the whales are just magical to experience. But with a management who's not willing to accommodate requests and be friendly I'd recommend to try one of the other Top 3 for the full experience. That is what I will be doing next time.
Written February 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, I am very sorry to hear that your visit did not live up to your expectations. Let me start by clearing a few facts. Your original booking was with one of the other "top 3 operators" here but they could not accommodate you in the end so we took you, less than 4 weeks out from your arrival (Invoice date 4th July 2016). You also did not do 5 days straight whale watching but in fact booked 3 days whale and 2 days scuba.
The day that you requested to be switched to our other vessel was a day in which it was booked out on a private charter and as you were not related to that family your request was rejected, out of my control unfortunately, but I did ask.
What you also failed to mention was that on one of your scuba diving days we did manage to accommodate you in fitting you in on the whale boat again.
In all the years that i have been here doing this speed has not been a thing, if anything having some vessels get out earlier helps as by the time a slower vessel gets out whales have already been found and can be time saving. Given that there are less than 20 vessels out on any day and an estimated 700-800 whales in the area I would like to think there is enough for everyone and you shouldn't have to rely on other vessels.
The vessel that you were on is our most reliable and popular requested vessel, it is fully compliant and in current survey. It is now in its 12th year of doing this work and has proved to be a very reliant and capable vessel year after year. As for a hinge breaking on the bathroom door, I will give our engineer a slap on the wrist for not diagnosing that as nothing should ever break on a vessel. You also mentioned that it would be practically impossible to not have a whale encounter in the season, I can tell you first hand that I know operators here that were running a 50% success rate last season where we had had a 100% success rate.
Having said all that, it is great to hear that you do indeed intend to come back again one day and experience the uniqueness of swimming with whales in Tonga. I know that trip will not be with our company which is fine as we truly want people that come here for the whales and not just a high speed boat trip.
All the best
Written March 24, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mariana C
Portland, ME87 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We arrived to Vava'u to swim with whales after swimming with them in the much less touristed area of Ha'apai, where the whale swims were much less expensive, and much less "competition" for the whales.
The first two days we went out with the same guides. Although they were helpful in some ways, and really tried to get us in the water with whales, they spoke little English and spoke very little to us. Whereas the owner of the business has many years of experience, our guide the first two days had only been doing it for 4 years. At the end of the second day, when they wanted to come in 2 hours early and only stayed out after I insisted, I asked to have our last day be with other guides. Our second guides spoke much better English, were much more caring about the guests, and although just a few years of experience, we felt cared about.
There were a lot of safety issues too. For example, of of the caves they take you to to swim in is very hard to get into - there was a Japanese woman on our boat who spoke little English and didn't swim well, and they guides did not provide a clear sense of the danger and skill needed to get into the cave. Two days I had to communicate to the guides how to take care of her as they didn't know how to accommodate someone with little English.
Having talked to many people who were with different guides, I think it is all about how deeply the guides love, care for, and are committed to the whales.
The whales themselves, however, did not disappoint! Definitely try to go in August or September when whales are plentiful.
The first two days we went out with the same guides. Although they were helpful in some ways, and really tried to get us in the water with whales, they spoke little English and spoke very little to us. Whereas the owner of the business has many years of experience, our guide the first two days had only been doing it for 4 years. At the end of the second day, when they wanted to come in 2 hours early and only stayed out after I insisted, I asked to have our last day be with other guides. Our second guides spoke much better English, were much more caring about the guests, and although just a few years of experience, we felt cared about.
There were a lot of safety issues too. For example, of of the caves they take you to to swim in is very hard to get into - there was a Japanese woman on our boat who spoke little English and didn't swim well, and they guides did not provide a clear sense of the danger and skill needed to get into the cave. Two days I had to communicate to the guides how to take care of her as they didn't know how to accommodate someone with little English.
Having talked to many people who were with different guides, I think it is all about how deeply the guides love, care for, and are committed to the whales.
The whales themselves, however, did not disappoint! Definitely try to go in August or September when whales are plentiful.
Written July 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Worlds Okayest Freediver
1 contribution
Aug 2019 • Couples
We spent 5 days out on the water with these guys. Our guides were outstanding, balancing everyones desire for an incredible experience with the need to be respectful of the animals.
A truly unique experience, a beautiful part of the world and a great crew of people to show it to you.
What more could you want?
A truly unique experience, a beautiful part of the world and a great crew of people to show it to you.
What more could you want?
Written September 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KlugePhotography
Titisee-Neustadt, Germany7 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
What a amazing time we had!! Thanks to Tongan Expeditions and their team, we had the best of the best. As it wasn't my first time in Tonga, I can assure you how important it is to have the right people on board. The whale guide we had was so engaging with my friends and never too shy to hold them tight when they needed to be. She was also taking very good care of the whales and wouldn't push it in any case. Whale were always coming first which was in my high interest, even as a photographer. Our skipper made a wonderful team with our guide so we could have the most of the day. The communication was excellent. I also really enjoyed to be taken out by locals, that makes it even more special. Many thanks Gary, Tonga and Lomi!! Missing you already!!
Written August 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there! Does anyone know how to contact this company? I was trying to book but I'm having no luck. Any help is appreciated.
Written December 6, 2018
Try the website.
I tried to provide a link to the various means of contact listed on its website, but then received a message from Trip Advisor that: ‘ Sorry, questions may not include HTML or website links. Please edit your answer.’
So, unfortunately I cannot help further.
Written December 7, 2018
Buongiorno,
qual è l'isola migliore di Tonga per vedere il passaggio delle megattere a settembre?
Written April 4, 2018
Hi, my partner and I have 3 nights booked at Tongan beach resort on the 29th- 01st September. Can we book to go whale diving when we arrive or can we book now? We are in Tonga from the 28th August to 6th September- does whale diving tours book out quickly?
Written June 10, 2017
Accomodation
Hi I'm thinking about going to Vavua Tonga to swim with the whales I'm just unsure about where to stay , which is the best accomodation which is near the meeting point of the tour and is not too expensive as travelling solo
Written November 16, 2016
Hi Gigi, Lucas is correct in his message, Portwine is a very nice affordable establishment. If that is still out of your budget then have a look Hilltop hotel and Port of Refuge.
Malo
Written November 17, 2016
Hello, just curious the cost for the Whale swim? What if you did a whale dive or are whale dives not possible as the bubbles might scare the whales?
Written August 12, 2016
Whale interaction by law prohibits scuba or free driving under the whales. The excursions is planned around snorkeling in short intervals with a limit of four people plus a guide in the water at a time.
Written August 18, 2016
Showing results 1-5 of 5
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.