The best time to swim with humpback whales in French Polynesia is generally from August to November, with all of September and the first two weeks in October being the peak of the season.

During these months, the whales have migrated north from Antarctica in order to mate, give birth, raise calves, and escape the Arctic winter freeze in the warm waters of the South Pacific.

Yes, with proper guidance from experienced whale guides and adherence to safety guidelines, swimming with humpback whales is a safe activity. Our job is to ensure that interactions are respectful to the whales and safe for participants. We have two guides in the water at all times, one focused on safety and the other focused on interactions and documentation.

Swimming with whales is still a relatively new ecotourism activity in Rurutu— having established itself on the island about a decade ago.

When we find playful whales, our captain and trip leaders will discuss our approach based on the behaviors they can see at the surface. Each situation is different; we may encounter extremely playful adults, moms and calves, juveniles, singing whales, and even an occasional heat run where males are jostling for position in pursuit of a female in heat.

It’s imperative to listen to the whale guide and captain before getting into the water. Our goal is to keep both whales and humans safe and feeling unthreatened. Part of this means that our boat will never come closer than 100 meters from the whales and that we swim gently and carefully in the water.

No specific certification is required for snorkeling with humpback whales, as you will be primarily snorkeling with them at the surface. Strong swimming skills in open water are necessary to participate in this activity. You should be able to easily swim 300 meters unaided in deep, often choppy, open water.

While no wildlife encounter can be guaranteed, French Polynesia is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales up close, as the migration to these islands is an annual occurrence. However, how many whales choose to settle around the island for the season varies from year to year.

On average, we believe the chances of seeing whales from the boat are about 85% every day, while the chances of successfully getting into the water with them are about 70% every day.

We often have high success rates, but it's important to remember that sightings can vary. We have had lucky weeks that swam with whales every day for hours on end, and unlucky weeks that have struggled to get solid interactions at all. Weather and season play a big role in this.

This entirely depends on the interaction and conditions of the day. Normally with pass-bys and approaches, you can get about 2 meters from a whale.

Besides humpback whales, you may see some small fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and on very rare occasions pilot whales and oceanic white-tip sharks.

Rurutu is in the Austral Archipelago, a remote group of volcanic islands in the southern part of French Polynesia. Polynesian traditions remain strong in Rurutu, where the local language flourishes, culture and practices are maintained, and many things on the island originate from the island, including food and produce.

Rurutu (airport code RUR) is reachable from Tahiti (airport code PPT) on Air Tahiti three to four days a week. The flight takes about an hour and a half to reach Rurutu’s little airport and tickets can be reserved online directly from Air Tahiti’s website. We’ll pick you up from the airport when you arrive.

Yes, it's crucial to choose operators and boat captains committed to sustainable and respectful wildlife tourism practices. This includes limiting disturbances to the animals, not positioning motorized boats too close to the whales (100-meter minimum distance), adhering to strict guidelines on interactions, and supporting conservation efforts.

Likewise, human behavior needs to be respectful toward the whales— this means not touching them, not swimming directly at them, not swimming in front of their heads, and not chasing them. Humans should swim parallel to the whales at a distance of 3 meters or more from the whale unless the whale approaches you.

Because swimming with humpback whales in French Polynesia is an expensive investment, we ask all participants to bring their own gear that they are sure will fit them perfectly. Limited rentals are available on an emergency basis, but we really don’t suggest using any rental equipment.

The way we see it, you’re already paying enough to come on the trip and fly all the way to the South Pacific, to use rental gear that does not fit your face or give you the proper propulsion in the water is a shame.

All participants should bring at minimum a mask, snorkel, and long fins that they are comfortable using, fit their faces and bodies, and give them enough power to swim quickly and silently in the water.

A full packing list is provided to all participants before their trip.

You can book a trip with us by checking the available dates above and choosing the date that works best for your schedule.

A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is needed to secure your spot. You may check our standard Terms and Conditions here regarding cancellations and deposits.