Tonga's Gentle Giants

Nigel Marsh · Issue 135, Nov/Dec 2023 · pp. 50–55

Products mentioned: Nikon D500, Tokina 10-17mm lens, Isotta Housing, Nikon 18-300mm lens

Humpback whales can be viewed at many places around the globe, but one of the best places to swim with these gentle giants is the warm blue waters of Tonga in the South Pacific. I have wanted to visit Tonga for many years to photograph these graceful and majestic animals and this year I finally fulfilled that dream. Humpback whale swims are conducted at several locations throughout Tonga, with the island group of Vava’u considered to be the best. Covering an area of 115 square kilometres, the 34 limestone islands of Vava’u have the most sheltered and clearest waters of Tonga, and the most whales. The area also has the most licensed whale swim operators, around twenty. For my recent trip I went with one of the most experienced operators, Swimming with Gentle Giants which is owned by award-winning Aussie photographer Scott Portelli. Scott has been running these hugely popular trips for ove…