Whale Discoveries: Swimming with Whales

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Whale watching tours in the Kingdom of Tonga

Swimming with Whales Involves Risks

Close human contact with wild animals involves risks to either the animal or the person, or both. The concept of swimming or snorkelling with whales may be intuitively appealing, but the reality is that people who initiate close contact with cetaceans place themselves at risk of injury and may inadvertently cause changes in the whales' behaviour. Whilst strategies may be adopted to minimize the risks, it is important to remember that cetaceans are wild animals and therefore risk cannot be eliminated.

Risks for the Swimmer

On rare occasions, humans have been injured by captive and wild cetaceans. Whales are extremely large, wild animals with powerful appendages. Furthermore, it is known that sharks frequent areas where there are whales, in particular newborn calves. A recent shark attack on a native Tongan who was swimming with whales at the time of the accident testifies to the risks for swimmers. Whales are typically found in deep water often with surface current and wind chop - challenging sea conditions for many swimmers, who may consequently become fatigued or panic.

Risks for the Whale

The main risk to whales of swim interactions is disturbance from inappropriate vessel operation and swimmer behaviour. Engine and gear shifting noise from a vessel manoeuvring in close proximity and splashing or sudden, rapid movements of swimmers can startle a whale and force it to actively avoid interaction. Swimming directly in the path of a whale or in the vicinity of calves and prolonged swim interactions also increases the risk of harassment.

Whale Discoveries' Position

Tonga is one of only two nations in the world where commercial swim operations are legal. Owing to the risks of injury or harm to swimmers and cetaceans, the majority of nations do not allow people to deliberately swim in the vicinity of whales or other cetaceans without a special permit.

Whale Discoveries has chosen not to swim with whales for these same reasons. This decision followed extensive consultation with researchers and non-governmental organizations (Whales Alive, International Fund for Animal Welfare, South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and Greenpeace) regarding the safety and conservation issues surrounding the practice of swimming with whales.

For a swimmer to get a clear view of a whale underwater, they must get very close to the whale. Tonga's Whale Watch Guidelines prescribe a minimum distance of 30 metres for swimmers, and the Vava'u Whale Watching Operators Association is pushing to reduce this distance to 10 metres.

In Vava'u, breeding and birthing grounds for humpback whales, swimmers typically target whale pods containing calves or cow and calf pairs, which are particularly vulnerable owing to their relative accessibility. Tonga's Whale Watch Guidelines prescribe a minimum distance of 100 metres for a vessel from a whale. Again, the Vava'u Whale Watching Operators Association is advocating a reduced distance: 30 metres and as close as 10 metres for vessels picking up swimmers.

We are concerned that swim interactions may not only disrupt the behaviour of whales, but also may lead to the whales moving offshore in the longer term. As well, we are concerned that swimmers are at risk in such close proximity of what are, after all, wild mammals whose behaviour is inherently unpredictable. Until research is conducted into the impact of swimming with whales, Whale Discoveries has taken a precautionary approach and has elected to abstain from this activity. However, in the interest of the whales, we would consider participating in such research.