Liquid exclusive Humpback Whale Conservation Specialty and Whale Interaction Tour is a great way to learn more about the Humpback Whales and how to conserve them. For example, did you know that a new born humpback whale gains 50 kg of weight in a single day?
Whale Interaction Tour
The most asked question we receive is ‘Can we swim with the whales?’. Well now, for the first time in Tofo we have created what we feel is a blueprint for sustainable and ethical whale interactions.
Humpback whales come to Tofo to breed and give birth. They return to the area where they were born to do this – so the whales that we see here really are Tofo Whales. We do not want to do anything to disturb this phenomenon and so we have created a package that we feel has the least impact.
Area – the trips will not be conducted close to shore in the ‘Ocean Safari Zone’. This is where there is higher boat traffic and potentially significant numbers of people in the water swimming with whale sharks. We want any in water interactions to be our boat only. If we are traveling through this area and we see whales, we will just watch from the boat.
Boat noise – we want to make as little noise as possible, so if we see a potential opportunity we will stop the boat at least 150m away and cut the engines. This distance allows the whale to control the encounter – they choose to interact.
What is a ‘Good Opportunity’? The guide will watch the behaviour for several minutes to assess the activity. We would only enter the water if the whales are calm and NEVER if they are performing any kind of active display. We will not enter the water if they are cruising.
Before entering the water a visibility test will be carried out. We check that underwater it is possible to see one end of the boat from the other (our boats are 8m). If the visibility is lower than this then entering the water is pointless and potentially also dangerous – by the time you would be able to to see the whale you are too close!
In Water rules – clients must be calm and respectful and swim as quietly as possible so as not to disturb. You will stay behind the guide and stop at an appropriate distance away from the whales – remember their pectoral fins alone are 5m long! If a whale starts to make any form of active display we exit the water immediately.
Of course there is no touching! Whales are peaceful creatures, but could cause extensive bodily harm if they felt threatened.
No flash photography
We also have a hydrophone to listen to the whale song. This is only available on these trips and not the ordinary ocean safaris.
All of our guides are PADI Divemaster or Instructors Humpback Whale Conservation Specialists with in water emergency training and first aid.
The trip is 2 hours
Minimum 2 people – maximum 6 people
130€ per person
Add a PADI Humpback Whale Conservation Specialty to Whale Interaction Tour
Liquid’s Whale Interaction tour can be part of PADI Humpback Whale Conservation Specialty course, only done at Liquid in Tofo.
The specialty is a half day experience that starts with a lesson about the magnificent whales of Tofo. Your guide will also fully brief you about our boat launching procedures, codes of conduct and how we interact with the whales.
During our time at the sea, we observe several groups of whales, listen to their singing through hydrophone, try to take ID pictures of their flukes and learn more about their behavior and conservation.
If our experienced guide sees the opportunity to swim with these intelligent mammals you may enter the water with them. There is however a strict code of conduct and we can never guarantee swimming with them, safety comes first. Seeing them from the boat is already a magical experience.
Your tour ends with debriefing and sharing photos and experiences.
Tour and specialty together:190€ per person
Whale Watching is great in Tofo, since the Humpback Whales visit us every winter from June to October. In increasing numbers, they migrate here and use our safe waters as a birthing ground and to raise their young. Thus, making Tofo an excellent place to witness, research and raise awareness of these graceful giants.
Experience these magnificent animals through one of our whale interaction tours, you’ll have the opportunity to see them up close, learn about them, and possibly swim with them!
Through our trips we aim to increase awareness of the environmental importance of these precious animals and marine conservation efforts more generally. This way we strive to ensure that Tofo continues to be a special place to see whales and other amazing but sadly endangered megafauna. We encourage our whale tour participants to get involved in the conservation work focused on these elegant giants and contribute to important ongoing research work.
We make sure that we have as little impact on these intelligent mammals as possible and that all our customers respect them and their marine habitat.
Liquid exclusive whale interaction tours are available from July to end September.
