By David Stanley
We've all heard about whalewatching from boats or shore, and afew companies are now offering the possibility of actuallyswimming and snorkeling with whales in the wild. Is this a goodthing?
Some whalewatching operators in the Kingdom of Tonga, SouthPacific islands, advertise the possibility of swimming andsnorkeling with humpback whales during the cetacean's annualmigration 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, theswim boats must come closer than the 30 meters laid down inTongan government guidelines in 1997. Engine noise from amaneuvering boat can startle a whale, and repeated disturbancescan lead to the animals changing their behaviour and evenabandoning their traditional habitat. The nursing and restingroutines of the pods can be disrupted, potentially threateningthe health of the whales.
This high-risk activity is not covered by most travel insurancepolicies. The humpback whales of Tonga are wild animals withpowerful fins, and swimming near one always involves some risk.The movements of these huge creatures can be fatal to a humanswimmer, 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 arewhales, especially calves, and at least one shark attack on aTongan guide swimming with whales has been recorded. A tragicaccident involving tourists seems to be only a matter of time.
Most whale encounters occur in deep waters where unperceivedcurrents and wave action can soon tire a snorkeler and possiblylead to panic. For these reasons, responsible whalewatchingcompanies like http://www.whalediscoveries.com do not offersnorkeling with whales.
Of course, the demand is there, and pressure has come to bear onthe Tongan Government to revise its guidelines to allow boats tocome within 10 meters of a whale. Several new whalewatchinglicenses have been issued recently, raising the number ofcommercial operators in this small area to about a dozen, andvessels often have to queue to drop off swimmers. Cases havebeen observed of boats approaching to within five meters ofwhale pods, and of mother humpbacks and calves being pursued outto sea.
Visitors should be aware that by purchasing such an excursion,they could be adversely affecting the noble creatures they cameto see. It's a good idea to discuss these matters with theoperator before booking your trip, and to avoid those who seemmost interested in maximizing their own profits at the expenseof the whales.
Even if you decide to book such a tour, be aware that only 10percent of swim-with attempts are successful and there are norefunds. These concerns only apply to attempts to actually swimwith whales, and whalewatching from a boat at a safe distance isno problem
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