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Swim with Humpback Whales

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Mo'orea, French Polynesia // South Pacific - 7 nights, 6 full days of whale swims

Imagine yourself aboard a boat adrift with the tall green peaks of Moorea rising up behind you. The air is warm and the breeze is light. In front of you a mother and calf humpback whale are resting lightly at the water's surface when your guide says it's time to go in with them. You don your snorkel and fins and begin to swim in the direction of the pair as their large shadows start to come into view. You float there calmly as they roll around and maybe the mother begins to nudge the baby your way to have a look. The excitement, the rush, and the pure joy of being in their realm is unlike anything else on this earth. ​

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On this journey, we will head down to the gorgeous and lush island of Moorea, located just a few miles west of French Polynesia's main island of Tahiti. Here, you will find yourself immersed in a tropical paradise with shallow turquoise lagoons and reefs surrounding the island, lush slopes rising up from the palm tree laden beaches, and whale blows randomly dotting the ocean's horizon. 

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From the comfort of our newly built luxury hotel, we will head out every morning for a full day at sea in search of the humpback whales who migrate to this chain of islands every year to mate and give birth. While our chances of seeing humpbacks and swimming with them are very high, we will also have ample opportunities to swim with dolphins, turtles, sharks, rays, fish, and so much more. These days may end up feeling like a dream and an escape from reality, because that's what they are! Aboard our private catamaran, we will be joined by a local family who have been operating in these waters for decades. With their expert knowledge and Chase's whale background, you will have the perfect set of guides to make this a once in a lifetime experience. Not to mention, we will be limiting this experience to just 7-8 guests aboard a 12-passenger vessel to ensure everyone gets plenty of space and more time in the water with the whales.

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Do not wait any longer to come fulfill this bucket list trip! Moorea is waiting and the whales are calling, so come see for yourself what true magic can feel like!

IMAGES TAKEN WHILE ON 
SWIM WITH HUMPBACK TOUR

Price Includes + 

Price Does Not Include - 

  • 7-nights accomodation

  • 6-days of private boat

  • Snorkel gear

  • Breakfast and lunch

  • Photography and post-processing instruction

  • Transportation to and from Moorea ferry dock/airport

  • R/T ferry ride from Tahiti

  • Flights to/from Papeete Int'l Airport 

  • Hotel in Tahiti before/after arrival (if needed)

  • Gratuities for boat crew

  • Dinners

  • Any other excursions while on tour

  • Trip Insurance (highly recommended)

SUGGESTED CAMERA GEAR:

  • DSLR or Mirrorless camera body (highly recommended to bring at least 2 camera bodies)

  • Fisheye lens (8-15mm range)

  • Wide angle lens (e.g. 16-35,mm 24-70mm, etc. Mostly used for up-close shots of wildlife and landscape/environmental)

  • Mid range lens (70-200mm)

  • Telephoto lens (300mm-400mm)

  • 512GB - 2 TB worth of memory cards

  • Tablet or Laptop for backing up images and Photoshop lessons

  • GoPro

  • Underwater housing (for phones or larger cameras)

  • Polarizing filter

  • UV filter (if you worry about sea spray on your lens)

  • Camera bag capable of carrying gear and daily necessities

POSSIBLE WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS:

  • Humpback whale

  • Pilot whale

  • Beaked whale

  • Spinner dolphin

  • Rough-toothed dolphin

  • Green sea turtle

  • Blacktip reef shark

  • Gray reef shark

  • Silky shark

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  • Whale shark

  • Pink Stingray

  • Spotted eagle ray

  • Booby bird

  • Frigate

  • Terns

  • Petrels

  • Tropical shearwaters

HIGHLIGHTS: 

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  • 6 full days aboard a private vessel with the goal of swimming with humpback whales​

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  • Encounter and swim with other wildlife such as dolphins, turtles, sharks, rays, fish, and more

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  • Enjoying relaxing afternoons and evenings at our luxury resort by the ocean

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  • Hearing the haunting sound of a humpback whale singing 

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  • Swimming with a curious mother and calf humpback pair

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  • Snorkeling over untouched coral reefs along Moorea's famous coastline

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TOUR DETAILS:

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Dates: August 21st - 28th 2026 (2 spots left) &  August 28th - Sept. 4th, 2026 (3 spots left)

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Group Size: 7-8 participants aboard a 12-passenger vessel

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Cost: $7,195 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement of $950 

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Payment: $1,800 deposit to hold and confirm spot. Remaining balance due 120 days prior to departure. Please inquire about split payments which can be paid off interest free up to 6 months after finishing the tour.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrive in French Polynesia through main international airport in Papeete (Faa'a Int'l // PPT). Overnight at hotel of your choosing.

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Day 2: Head to ferry terminal for scheduled 30-minute transit from Tahiti to Moorea. Transport provided to Cooks Bay Hotel. Enjoy afternoon at your leisure with welcome dinner in the evening.

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Days 3-8: Enjoy breakfast at the resort before boarding the boat for a full day of whale swimming. Depending on sightings and conditions, we will also make a couple visits to shallow turquoise lagoons to swim with sharks, rays and turtles. Opportunities to swim with dolphins and pilot whales may arise too. Return to hotel dock in the afternoon to relax and have dinner. At least one of the evenings we will head to a famous lookout in the rainforest to get a great view of Moorea.

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Day 9: Head to ferry terminal on Moorea for transit back to Tahiti. Transit will be provided to airport or hotel if staying overnight or continuing on. 

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Physical Requirement: New regulations state we will get dropped off approximately 300 feet from the whales when entering the water. You should feel comfortable swimming in the open ocean for extended periods of time. Our swim guide can assist if you feel tired or uneasy in the water. If you do not feel comfortable being in the open ocean, you can always view animals from the vessel. 

  • How do I use Zoom or Skype? Where do I get it?
    Both Zoom and Skype are free to download and run on a variety of OS versions (both Windows and Mac). It is very easy to install the client. Do this before our meeting. A short time before our session, I will email a meeting link to you. Click on the link and you’ll join right in.
  • Should I do an in-person or online photography lesson?
    I always like to talk with whomever wants a lesson in advance to make sure I understand everything possible about what it is you are looking to learn. During our emails or phone calls before the lesson, we will decide what is best for you!
  • Can I get in person coaching?
    Yes, certainly, provided you (and I!) are in the Monterey Bay, California area. This is a good option if you want advice on using your camera, reading a location and choosing a composition. I recommend at least a 2-hour block of time for an in person lesson. Lessons can be given in other locations, but additional fees apply for travel. Please inquire for more details!
  • What can we photograph in-person around Monterey Bay?
    Monterey Bay has a plethora of wildlife and shooting locations as its one of North America's top wildlife and nature photography destinations (one reason I live here!). We can photograph wildlife from otters, sea lions, birds, whales, bobcats, and more or focus on landscape photography around Big Sur or the rocky shoreline of the peninsula. If you choose you would like a lesson in nearby Yosemite, Point Reyes, or somewhere further, we can set that up too! Longer trips are usually done over 1-3 nights.
  • Do I need to use my entire lesson time in a single sitting?
    It depends on what you are looking to learn! Some subjects can be taught rather easily within 1-2 hours, but many students prefer to have ongoing lessons. Maybe you want to schedule 1 lesson every week or every month or maybe you want to start with an in-person lesson and then follow-up with an online lesson where to post process some of the photos we have taken. We can decide all of this as we go along as flexibility is key!
  • My schedule changed last minute. What do I do?
    Hey, life happens. Contact me and we'll work out a new schedule. If the worst happens and we can't reschedule, you'll get a full refund.

REGISTRATION

When I receive your registration information, I will respond within 24 hours with a registration packet and more information. The remaining amount for the safari must be paid in full 120 days prior to your departure. Tour fees can be paid through Zelle (easiest and preferred), check, PayPal (2.95% processing fee), and credit/debit card (2.95% processing fee). Please inquire about paying off tour over 12 months with zero interest. 

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If you wish to speak to me directly, feel free to call: (425) 301-1757, or email: chasedekker@ymail.com

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