Swimming with Humpback Whales in Moorea: The Most Incredible Wildlife Experience of My Life

From giant sea turtles and curious stingrays to a humpback whale that swam right beside me in the open Pacific Ocean, it was a day our family will never forget & one of the most incredible wildlife encounters of my life.

Swimming with a Humpback Whale in Moorea

Swimming with a humpback whale had been on my bucket list for years.

So when we found ourselves in Moorea during whale season, there was only one thing on my mind.

Whales.

And hopefully, if we were lucky, the chance to swim with one.

The morning we headed out was unbelievably calm. The lagoon glowed every shade of blue imaginable as our small boat slipped across the reef and into the open ocean.

Then the guide casually mentioned something that hadn't crossed my mind.

Tiger sharks.

Apparently they sometimes hang around these waters.

Perfect.

Suddenly I felt a lot less brave.

We spent the next 30 mins scanning the horizon and listening for news from other boats.

We spotted turtles and then finally the guide nodded.

"There."

A whale had been spotted.

Within minutes six of us were slipping into the water and following the guide into the deep blue.

I remember looking down and seeing nothing.

No reef.

No bottom.

Just endless ocean.

The kind of blue that seems to go on forever.

And then I saw it.

At first it looked like a faint white line appearing out of nowhere.

Slowly the shape became clearer.

Long white fins.

A pale belly.

A shadow rising from the depths.

The whale was coming towards us.

Everything else disappeared.

The boat.

The other snorkellers.

Even the nerves.

There was just me and this enormous humpback whale moving gracefully through the Pacific Ocean.

It surfaced beside me.

I couldn't believe how close it was.

Or how peaceful it felt.

You expect something that big to feel intimidating.

Instead it felt strangely calming.

Like being allowed into a world that wasn't really meant for humans.

It's difficult to explain just how enormous a humpback whale is until you're floating beside one.

Every movement felt slow.

Every flick of its tail looked effortless.

And for a few minutes I simply swam alongside it completely speechless.

It remains one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters I've ever experienced.

The Whale Chose the Boat Instead

While I was in the water, Jason and the girls stayed on the boat.

Suddenly a humpback whale surfaced right beside them.

Not off in the distance.

Not fifty metres away.

Right beside the boat.

The whale lifted its huge eye above the water and seemed to look directly at the girls. Like it was just as curious about them as they were about it.

When I climbed back aboard they were all talking at once, desperate to tell me what had happened.

As incredible as swimming beside a whale was, I think that moment might have been even more special.

Snorkeling and Spotting Other Wildlife

After that incredible encounter, the crew took us to a dive spot where we floated above schools of fish and even saw a few blacktip reef sharks cruising below. Then we headed back toward the shallows, spotting more turtles on the way.

For our last stop, we were dropped off in a sandy, waist-deep area where super friendly stingrays and reef sharks glide around. The girls loved it, and it was such a fun way to top off an already incredible day 🐋

Swimming with Stingrays

It honestly ranks as one of the best travel days we’ve ever had. If you are travelling through French Polynesia during whale season, put this on the top of your list!

Why Moorea is One of the Best Places in the World to Swim with Humpback Whales

• Whale season runs from July to November

• Strict rules protect the whales

• Calm lagoon conditions make tours suitable for families

• Easy 40-minute ferry ride from Tahiti

• Excellent chance of seeing turtles, rays and sharks as well

What to bring on tour

• Mask,  Snorkel & Fins if you prefer to use your own, otherwise Tip Nautic will provide them

• Reef Safe Sunscreen. We love MooGoo Invisible Zinc!

• Rash shirt

• Go Pro and underwater camera gear. I absolutely love my go pro dome - for those half land/half water photos

• Water , snacks and a sense of adventure!

When to Book & Prices

We choose Tip Nautic as they keep the tour group size small, as we wanted to support a small, local business. As they keep the numbers low and only go out once a day (conditions permitting) it’s best to book in advance. You can email them anytime to book on.

For people choosing to swim with the humpbacks (never guaranteed) 15,000 XPF per person

If you wish to enjoy whale watching from the boat 10, 000 XPF per person (you can always jump off in the shallows and snorkel with the reef sharks and stingrays too)

French Polynesia completely stole our hearts. If you're planning a wider trip through the islands, don't miss our Budget Travel Tips for Bora Bora, our guide to Snorkelling with Sharks and Stingrays in Moorea and the Cheapest Way to Travel to Tahiti from Australia.

If you're trying to decide whether Moorea or Bora Bora is the better island for families, this incredible whale swimming experience was one of the reasons Moorea became our favourite island in French Polynesia.

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