JoBeth + Mark Tonga

Tonga - Aug 2024
We wanted to send you a thank you for booking us on yet another fabulous vacation.  We don’t know how you managed to book us to Tonga during the height of their high, whale calving season but we couldn’t have been more excited and delighted.

After a very long flight and an overnight in Tongatapu, (you were so right, absolutely nothing happens on Sundays in Tonga), we arrived in Vava’u to begin our 50th anniversary vacation. The Reef Resort was lovely and just what we needed, a spacious fale overlooking a bay of the Pacific, swaying palms, delicious food, an extremely and helpful hands-on owner and his daughter, charming guests, exciting snorkeling with humpback whales and their calves and some diving into the blue, blue water. As the resort has only 5 fales, the quiet was perfection and the chef individually prepared our meals to suit our palettes creating not only delicious meals but artistic presentations. 

After 7 nights and a day of whale snorkeling, we were transferred by boat and in our wetsuits to The Tongan Beach Resort closer to town. Miraculously, our luggage and dive gear awaited us upon our arrival. This resort, while we were there, seemed to service larger groups all of whom, quite rightly, were in Tonga to view the whales. The rooms were comfortable, the food ample and again a hands on owner assuring us that all our needs would be met, and they were.

About snorkeling with the whales, there was no guarantee that whales would be seen during our outings, but every time our captain and crew did get us in the water multiple times.  Only four snorkelers and a guide are allowed in the water at one time.  We were alerted to a sighting, the captain would wait to see if the whales would ’settle', if they did, we would as quietly as possible slide into the water and follow our guide to get as close as possible to the mother and calf. At times there would be male escorts far below in the water and we would wait for the calves, who needed to surface around every 6 minutes to breathe.  The mothers, bigger than our 30’ boat, would keep a close, dinner plate sized, eye on their calves and on us, and sometimes they would surface with their babes. Rules prevented us from diving down with the calves but at times we were close enough to reach out and touch them, which was also forbidden.  The boat would then come for us and allow the remaining 4 snorkelers a chance to experience this heart pounding encounter. This would be repeated for the 7-8 hours we were aboard and every time we watched a whale breach or heard their song, we awaited the opportunity of sliding into the water. Absolutely thrilling! So much thanks for once again helping us to experience this once in a lifetime adventure.

All our very best,

Jo Beth and Mark Ravitz