Swim With Whales
Best Responsible Wild Encounters
Live the dream and swim with whales.
Encounter the world’s largest animals in their own habitat. Find opportunities that indulge your adventurous side while protecting these gentle giants.
Where Can You Swim with Whales?
Technically, you can swim with whales almost anywhere on the planet. Whales inhabit every ocean and sea on our planet. To give you a sense of whale distribution, below is the range map of the humpback whale. They have been known to swim in all these waters. The noticeable exceptions to their range are the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Other whale species, however, inhabit these waters.
Swim with Whales: Global range map of all whale species combined.
Best Places to Swim with Whales
Just because you can swim with whales anywhere in the world, that doesn’t mean you could or should. Some whale populations are vulnerable or threatened and must be left alone. Other locations may have whales but they’ll be tough to spot. These are elusive creatures and if you want to swim with whales, you’ve got to head to the best locations. Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you and found the best locations around the world to swim with whales; locations that are both great for encounters and places that offer responsible swimming with whale activities.
Where to Swim with Whales
Xplore Our Planet will only ever support responsible whale swimming experiences. We’ve collected our list of three places to swim with whales that we understand to offer ethical encounters.
Swim with Humpbacks - French Polynesia
The stunning archipelago of French Polynesia is home to many famous opulent locations, including Tahiti. An absolutely staggering destination of natural beauty, the islands of French Polynesia are sheltered, quiet, and the perfect stomping grounds for humpback whales. Here, Blue Invitation offers private tours that opens the opportunity to swim with whales to both members of the public and research scientists. Their message is focused on low-impact encounters with plenty of support going to local initiatives to study humpbacks of the region. July to November is the time to swim with whales in French Polynesia.
Swim with Killer Whales - Norway
Ever since the first killer whale was captured for public display in the 1960s, people have been fascinated by these remarkable animals. As time has gone by though, wildlife enthusiasts have come to understand that captivity is not the place for these apex predators, and that the only way to encounter them is in the wild. Intelligent, confident, and curious animals, killer whales have no problem sharing the water with people. The only problem is when that comes in the way of their hunts, which are often disrupted not by swimmers but by boats. Responsible Travel offers the opportunity to swim with orca through live-aboard vessels. This provides a slower-pace experience that limits numbers and keeps killer whales from being disturbed. Encounters are reached by small ribs, further ensuring orca behaviour is not disturbed by your presence.
Swim with Minke Whales - Australia
Every year, Minke whales congregate in huge numbers around along the Great Barrier Reef. These small whales are inquisitive and relaxed, and are much more sociable than other species of whale, as they often swim together in small pods. This makes encounters not only fulfilling for swimmers, but also reduces the potential for stress on the part of the whales. Encounters here are not simple free-dives. Snorkelers are taken near to the whales via licensed operators, they then enter the water and remain attached to a rope fixed to the boat. With people floating nearby, the whales then have the option to investigate, which they often do. The way these tours work ensures encounters are on the minke’s terms. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions offers fantastic opportunities to swim with whales in Australia, while also supporting the Minke Whale Project, a research project designed to study minke whale behaviour and ecology. A member of the research team is present on every trip taken, promising not only excellent opportunities for education, but also that encounters are handled properly.
Responsible Guide to Swimming With Whales
Whales are massive, powerful animals. But, they’re also gentle creatures that need to be protected. Whales have been hunted and persecuted for hundreds of years and, while their numbers are slowly recovering, they are still vulnerable animals. Swimming with whales can be an amazing experience, but it also has the potential to cause harm and disrupt whales if carried out irresponsibly. In this section of our wild guide, we look at how you can swim with whales the right way.
How to Swim with Whales the Right Way
Anyone who wants to swim with whales wants to do it right. This is not like encountering a wild elephant or even going on a whale watching trip. To swim with whales requires individuals to travel to very specific destinations and engage in activities that require patience and luck. This is not your typical wildlife encounter. Given these facts, it’s safe to assume that you’re concerned about your impact on wild whales and are dedicated to swimming with whales in a way that does not cause them any harm or distress. So how do you achieve that?There are three ways to swim with whales in a way that supports their welfare:
Travel to the Right Destination
There are many locations around the world that allow you to swim with whales.
However, some are not regulated and encounters are run by unscrupulous tour companies that care little for whales and focus on generating cash. There are very few destinations in the world that allow for swimming with whales that is regulated in a way that protects the animals. Crucial to swimming with whales responsibly is finding those destinations that support whale welfare. Our list of the best places to swim with whales will help you find these locations.
Engage in Passive Encounters
They might be large and powerful, but whales are solitary and not used to human activity. Whales steer clear of people for the most part, which means if you force yourself upon them, you might find you cause stress and disrupt their behaviour.
To responsibly swim with whales, you need to engage in passive encounters. This is when you find whales, enter the water from a safe distance, and allow them to control the experience. They can be curious, and may approach, but if they don’t want to be part of your day, you have to let them swim away and not chase them. Here are a few things to remember when achieving successful passive encounters when you swim with whales:
Limit the number of people in the water to just a few
Do not stay in the water too long when swimming with whales
Give the whales ample space
Enter the water calmly and within eyesight of the whale
Do not enter the water in front of a whale as this can force them to change their direction/behaviour to avoid you
Never re-enter the water with a whale that has moved away from you.
Swim with Experts
It is common for those with a passion for true whales to get into eco-tourism.
It’s also common for some of those individuals to have high-level qualifications in marine biology. As a result, if you look in the right places, you will find both passionate and educated guides that want the same thing as you: to experience amazing whale encounters in a way that helps us learn without harming these surprisingly delicate creatures.
Search for the right people, and you’ll find them.
Swim with Whales: FAQs
Why Can’t You Swim with Whales Everywhere?
Many countries have laws that prohibit swimming with whales without permission from wildlife authorities. These rules apply to most highly-populated nations and help to protect whale populations from mass tourism and disruption. That does not mean you can’t swim with whales. You just have to look for the right location.
If Swimming with Whales is Restricted, Does That Make It Irresponsible?
Mass tourism and irresponsible wildlife encounters can have a disastrous effect on vulnerable animal populations, and the great whales are still recovering from the catastrophic years of whaling that decimated numbers in the 1800s.
To allow encounters in heavily populated and high traffic regions could have major impacts on whale populations and push them away from their natural habitats, mating grounds, and feeding grounds. Therefore, in areas where this could be a problem, swimming with whales is prohibited. Getting up-close and personal with whales, and forcing yourself upon them in their world, is definitely irresponsible.
This is not the case for all global destinations. In low populated areas with a high-density of whales, it is possible to have small numbers of swimmers encounter whales without causing disruption, just as it is possible to do so with any animal given the space and capacity to live naturally without human influence.
If managed correctly.
Is it Dangerous to Swim with Whales?
Following the incidents in Australia involving humpback whales and humans that left a few individuals in hospital, you may be wondering if it’s safe to swim with whales. The answer is complicated. Whales do not attack people but they can become aggressive if aggravated. A whale defending itself or it’s young is going to stand a very good chance of causing harm given its massive size and weight. However, incidents are very rare and usually involve mothers protecting calves. The best thing to do is to keep your distance, limit disruption and to avoid swimming with too many people at once.
Interested in swimming with dolphins?
Read our wild guide!