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.
About the author:
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/
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