Marine Life & Conservation
9 epic dive destinations for whale fans
Whether you’re swimming with whales or watching them from a boat, there is something truly special about spending time with these ocean giants.
Thankfully there are a variety of dive destinations that offer whale swimming and above-water whale encounters you won’t want to miss.
Read our guide to the best dive destinations for whale fans to find out more.
1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
For one of the lesser known yet incredible whale experiences, go Great Barrier Reef diving during the Australian winter.
Tens of thousands of whales migrate from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef during the winter months, including dwarf minke whales.
These 8 meter long whales are utterly charming and actively seek human contact, coming close to snorkelers in the water and making repeated passes.
You can see them whilst scuba diving but joining a minke whale safari is the best way to spend hours in the water with these whales.
The Ocean Quest liveaboard offers ‘meet the minke’ safaris during July each year.
2. Norway
The largest member of the dolphin family and toothed whales, orcas are easy to identify and a firm favourite with ocean fans around the world.
Hundreds of orcas gather off the coast of northern Norway during the Arctic winter to feast on migrating herring moving through the fjords and along the coastline.
Since they follow the herring, the orcas are relatively easy to find. You can join dedicated safaris with the Sula liveaboard to get in the water with the orcas as a snorkeler or free diver.
Just be prepared for typically cold Arctic winter conditions and chilly water!
You’ll be rewarded with a life-changing experience and a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights dance across the night skies.
3. Tonga
Tonga has some beautiful dive sites without any crowds but is best known for its clear blue waters and abundant humpback whales.
It is one of the best and most reliable places in the world to swim with humpback whales and their young. It’s also an idyllic destination for a far-flung adventure any time of year.
The Nai’i liveaboard is one of the few boats that offer liveaboard-based Tonga humpback whale swim safaris.
Just make sure you book early, as it’s extremely popular.
4. Dominican Republic
Silver Bank marine reserve in Dominican Republic is another great place for swimming with humpback whales.
The marine reserve provides a winter haven for the North Atlantic humpback population, where they gather to mate, calve and raise their young.
The Turks and Caicos Aggressor II offers safaris that focus solely on humpback whale swimming, typically from January to March each year.
5. Spitsbergen
If you’re visiting the Arctic during the summer months, you won’t be able to dive with orcas but you can go diving around Spitsbergen off Norway.
It’s a remote and wild destination where you can try ice diving, boat-based diving and even wreck diving.
The best dive sites are only accessible by Arctic liveaboard diving and you’ll find plenty of life underwater, including sea snails, sea butterflies, crabs, fish, sea lions and more.
While you’re there you can spot minke, fin, humpback and blue whales, plus walruses, Arctic foxes, bearded seals and an array of birds.
6. Hawaii
The Hawaiian chain of volcanic islands offers a good mixture of dive options, including wrecks, caves, healthy reefs and drift dives.
All accompanied by lush coral gardens and striking lava landscapes, plus marine life you won’t find anywhere else on Earth.
If you dive there during November to May, you also have the chance to watch Hawaii’s humpback whales as they migrate through the area.
Keep your eyes on the blue if you’re diving off Oahu during September to December, as that’s also tiger shark season.
7. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
If you’ve not yet dived Western Australia, add it to your wish list.
Quieter than the Great Barrier Reef, western Australia offers an array of dive opportunities and plenty of marine megafauna.
The UNESCO-listed Ningaloo Coast supports an abundance of marine life including humpback whales from July to November.
Thousands of these whales migrate through Ningaloo Reef each year, where you can go swimming with them or enjoy their mating displays from the comfort of your boat.
8. Mexico
The Cabo Pulmo marine park, the Socorro Islands and the Sea of Cortez all offer spectacular Mexico scuba diving and whale watching.
These megafauna hotspots offer encounters with many whale species; including blue whales, grey whales and humpbacks, plus giant mantas, dolphins and sea lions.
If you’re looking to encounter blue whales, head to Baja California between February and March.
For grey whales, visit from January to mid-March. The Socorro Islands host humpback whales during the winter season until April.
9. Antarctica
For a truly remote adventure and whale watching experience, join an Antarctic liveaboard diving expedition.
As one of the world’s last wilderness areas, it is busy with life including around 15 whale species.
Go diving there and you have a chance to dive Antarctica and immerse yourself in snow and ice-covered landscapes.
You may also see blue, fin, humpback, minke, sei, southern right and sperm whales during your expedition.
This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com
Marine Life & Conservation
Double Bubble for Basking Sharks
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
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