By David Stanley
We've all heard about whalewatching from boats or shore, and a few
companies are now offering the possibility of actually swimming and
snorkeling with whales in the wild. Is this a good thing?
Some whalewatching operators in the Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific
islands, advertise the possibility of swimming and snorkeling with
humpback whales during the cetacean's annual migration from July to
October. This activity sounds appealing, yet there are a number of
things to consider.
To drop clients off within snorkeling distance of a whale, the swim
boats must come closer than the 30 meters laid down in Tongan
government guidelines in 1997. Engine noise from a maneuvering boat
can startle a whale, and repeated disturbances can lead to the
animals changing their behaviour and even abandoning their
traditional habitat. The nursing and resting routines of the pods can
be disrupted, potentially threatening the health of the whales.
This high-risk activity is not covered by most travel insurance
policies. The humpback whales of Tonga are wild animals with powerful
fins, and swimming near one always involves some risk. The movements
of these huge creatures can be fatal to a human swimmer, either
accidentally or if the beast feels threatened, and a nursing mother
with calf can be especially unpredictable. Swimming into the path of
a whale greatly increases the danger.
In Tonga, sharks are known to frequent areas where there are whales,
especially calves, and at least one shark attack on a Tongan guide
swimming with whales has been recorded. A tragic accident involving
tourists seems to be only a matter of time.
Most whale encounters occur in deep waters where unperceived currents
and wave action can soon tire a snorkeler and possibly lead to panic.
For these reasons, responsible whalewatching companies like
http://www.whalediscoveries.com do not offer snorkeling with whales.
Of course, the demand is there, and pressure has come to bear on the
Tongan Government to revise its guidelines to allow boats to come
within 10 meters of a whale. Several new whalewatching licenses have
been issued recently, raising the number of commercial operators in
this small area to about a dozen, and vessels often have to queue to
drop off swimmers. Cases have been observed of boats approaching to
within five meters of whale pods, and of mother humpbacks and calves
being pursued out to sea.
Visitors should be aware that by purchasing such an excursion, they
could be adversely affecting the noble creatures they came to see.
It's a good idea to discuss these matters with the operator before
booking your trip, and to avoid those who seem most interested in
maximizing their own profits at the expense of the whales.
Even if you decide to book such a tour, be aware that only 10 percent
of swim-with attempts are successful and there are no refunds. These
concerns only apply to attempts to actually swim with whales, and
whalewatching from a boat at a safe distance is no problem.
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David Stanley is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific
http://www.southpacific.org/pacific.html which has a chapter on
Tonga. Stanley's online Tonga Travel Guide is at
http://www.southpacific.org/text/finding_tonga.html while his Tonga
travel photos are on http://www.pacific-pictures.com/tonga/