Tonga Whales 2013 - First Expedition

Destination: Tonga

Trip Date: Aug 5th - Aug 16th, 2013 - Comments

Author: Erwin

Welcome Back: Josh, Liz, Darcy, Rob, Diana, Vernon, Sharon, Rosanna, Larry, Chard and Julie

Tonga. How wonderful to be back.

On this cruise, the first whale cruise of the season we had a group of experienced liveaboard divers led by Josh & Liz, who were the NAI’A cruise directors about 10 years ago bringing with them many repeat whale swimmers and NAI’A guests from the U.S.A and Australia.

The trip started off a little slow with many sightings from the NAI’A but few in water opportunities for the first four days. Then the encounters started.

We had to wait but when they came, we had some great ones! Curious adults, playful juveniles and finally some good mother and calf encounters and even some great singer performances.

Rob helped out with his daily sacrifices and Vern’s snorkel brought the whales up every time. It was uncanny. If we had been on the skiff for a while, bobbing around, wondering where the whale would pop up next we would whip out the snorkel and pass it around, giving everyone a chance to call the whales by playing it like a trumpet. At first it was a bit of a joke but quickly turned into a ritual. Like I said, it worked every time. We all had our turn and then like clockwork the whales surfaced. Some may say that it was all coincidence as they were bound to surface sooner or later but what do they know?

Video by Liz and Josh, Undersea Productions" allowfullscreen>

by Chard Nelson

by Larry & Rosanna

by Larry and Rosanna

by Liz

by Shaz

We were on the skiffs when a squall passed through - thunder and all - right as we were having an encounter with three very curious juvenile whales adding some extra drama and excitement to an already high energy situation.

Apart from that quick storm, the weather held and we spent loads of time out on deck and in the skiffs. The heat runs were on, the whales were breaching and the encounters were at times very amazing.

A great start to the season. I have a feeling that it’s going to be a good one….