diving/snorkling with humpgacks

**maxpower** · 2019/12/03, 06:32 PM

As the title states, my wife always wanted to swim/dive/snorkel with humpbacks,

The internet only gives me one option (super expensive) here in SA. Are there any recommendations? It’s my 2019 idea for a Christmas present. Can anyone give me a name/adress for a company, that offers some time with the whales? Does not have to be scuba diving (we have both certificates).

What we are looking for is a company that offers the tour only, not a complete 1 week package, as we would like to go with our own car and camping.

Happy wife would be an easy life ;-)
Regards,
Amos

**CalDriver** · 2019/12/03, 09:41 PM

Not SA, but you can look in Vava'u, Tonga.

**Olyfboer** · 2019/12/03, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by maxpower

As the title states, my wife always wanted to swim/dive/snorkel with humpbacks,

The internet only gives me one option (super expensive) here in SA. Are there any recommendations? It’s my 2019 idea for a Christmas present. Can anyone give me a name/adress for a company, that offers some time with the whales? Does not have to be scuba diving (we have both certificates).

What we are looking for is a company that offers the tour only, not a complete 1 week package, as we would like to go with our own car and camping.

Happy wife would be an easy life ;-)
Regards,
Amos

In South Africa it's illegal to intentionally approach whales. All persons and boats are to remain at least 300 metres from any whale in the ocean.

**Steady** · 2019/12/03, 10:54 PM

Few years back I was spear fishing in Mozambique and a group of humpbacks swam past. They expect you to move or they just move you out of the way. Not sure I would look to swim with them intentionally.

**maxpower** · 2019/12/04, 12:48 PM

What a pitty... well nice if you consider conservation ;-)

Unfortunately it was possible in Broome (Australia), but we missed it on our last trip on the westcoast. Any Idea if its possible anywhere on the eastcoast? Mosi? Tansania?

Thx for all your help.

Besides: Any reccomodation for swimming/snorkling/diving with whale sharks? Any company you can advice on? Would be an alternative

Amos

**Leon Venter** · 2019/12/04, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by maxpower

What a pitty... well nice if you consider conservation ;-)

Unfortunately it was possible in Broome (Australia), but we missed it on our last trip on the westcoast. Any Idea if its possible anywhere on the eastcoast? Mosi? Tansania?

Thx for all your help.

Besides: Any reccomodation for swimming/snorkling/diving with whale sharks? Any company you can advice on? Would be an alternative

Amos

Jy kan saam Whale sharks in Mosambiek snorkel daar bo by Paindane as hulle daar is.
2017 het ons niks gesien nie en ek gaan nou weer Desember op Paindane toe.

**CalDriver** · 2019/12/05, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by maxpower

What a pitty... well nice if you consider conservation ;-)

Unfortunately it was possible in Broome (Australia), but we missed it on our last trip on the westcoast. Any Idea if its possible anywhere on the eastcoast? Mosi? Tansania?

Thx for all your help.

Besides: Any reccomodation for swimming/snorkling/diving with whale sharks? Any company you can advice on? Would be an alternative

Amos

Tofo, Mozambique. Maybe Zavora too. I'd email the dive outfits in Tofo and they can give you guidance.

**maxpower** · 2019/12/05, 12:01 PM

dankie vir die idee,

Saved Tofu/Paindane/ and Zafora for further research. Any particular company you can advice on?

Seems to be a lot of different offers on the market.

Amos

**BruceHun** · 2019/12/05, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Leon Venter

Jy kan saam Whale sharks in Mosambiek snorkel daar bo by Paindane as hulle daar is.
2017 het ons niks gesien nie en ek gaan nou weer Desember op Paindane toe.

South Mozambique or Sodwana.

**Leon Venter** · 2019/12/05, 10:09 PM

Sodwana wil nie eers verniet soontoe gaan nie was daar en nooit weer nie

Originally Posted by BruceHun

South Mozambique or Sodwana.

**RPiet** · 2019/12/05, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by Steady

Few years back I was spear fishing in Mozambique and a group of humpbacks swam past. They expect you to move or they just move you out of the way. Not sure I would look to swim with them intentionally.

my thoughts exactly. The few occasions I have encountered them in the water, I made sure to get out the way pretty quick. Can’t see how intentially approaching them in the water would be any fun.

there is a good reason that there are rules governing closing distances etc for whale encounters.

diving with whale sharks is pretty cool, but it has to happen basically by accident. There is no safe/friendly way to intentially approach any kind of whale/shark/dolphin etc

**rock hopper** · 2019/12/06, 12:05 AM

there are plenty humpbacks around Dassen island at the moment . a few days ago a superpod came past there. that must have been quite a sight. the fishing boats had to make a quick getaway. ive had plenty encounters with them there while spearfishing at the island. its quite a sight to see them underwater coming past you. theres also lots on simonstown side recently. i always used to see more southern right whales in false bay but lately theres been more humpbacks than southern rights. we had a southern right mother and calf that wouldnt leave us alone. the mother would swim under us and surface . you had to swim away or slide off her back. the mother came right up to me and stopped just checking me out with this eyeball as big as a hubcap. it was so close i could put my hand on it.