“LOOK NO FURTHER! Humpback Swims can't be beat!!
My husband and I began traveling in 1978! Tonga was the 150th country we have explored, so we are quite experienced travelers.
We have budget traveled both alone, and used travel companies with various degrees of satisfaction.
We BOTH agree that Nadia Aly at Humpback Swims has the absolutely, most well organized, efficacious, and rewarding tour we have ever experienced in our 46 years of adventures. Every detail was attended to professionally, with kindness, and to the highest degree of satisfaction. Nadia's staff are some of the hardest working people we've ever met and they are truly proud of their conservation and protection of the humpbacks that visit Tonga waters every year. From the captain of the boat, the in-water guide, and Flying Annie staff, we could not have had a more rewarding experience. As we know, nature is unpredictable. However, the staff labored to find whales every day and we had 3/5 days of unbelievable whale swims. The guides were extremely conscience of the different levels of "snorkeling ability" and accommodated each of us, as needed, with a smile and enthusiasm!!
Flying Annie was quite a pleasant surprise! A cute little B&B that certainly felt like home! Extremely clean, friendly, and the breakfast each morning was fantastic. Beds were very comfortable and wonderful hot showers, too.
If you have ever dreamed of swimming with a humpback whale and her baby, this is the company to book. We highly recommend, without any hesitation, Humpbackswims.com. We honestly feel we got more than our monies worth, and the experience greatly exceeded our expectations as seasoned, senior citizen adventurers. Nadia and her staff are outstanding!!
Ryan & Nanc”
“What an incredible trip!! If you're thinking about seeing wild orcas in Mexico, go with Nadia.
I've been on a lot of wildlife trips, and what stands out about Nadia is how much she genuinely cares. She is incredibly detail-oriented, organized, and works nonstop behind the scenes to give everyone the best experience possible. You can tell she pours her heart into every aspect of the trip, and when it comes to finding orcas, she does absolutely everything in her power to put you in the right place at the right time!
The accommodations were fantastic, every detail was thoughtfully planned, and Chef Andrew absolutely spoiled us. Every meal was something to look forward to after a long day on the water!
One of my favorite moments was watching a curious baby orca approach us—those are the kinds of magical encounters that stay with you forever. Moments like that don't happen by accident. They come from experience, dedication, and a team that truly loves what they do.
Thank you, Nadia, for an unforgettable adventure and for creating such a special experience for all of us. I already can't wait to come back!!”
“If you're looking for a once in a lifetime ocean experience, Baja Blue Water Expedition delivers beyond anything you could imagine. In one extraordinary trip we encountered blue whales, whale sharks, manta rays, seals, orcas, and hundreds of dolphins — marine life that left us completely speechless.
The guides were exceptional — knowledgeable, passionate, and always seeming to know exactly where to be for the most incredible sightings. You felt like you were genuinely out there discovering the ocean with people who love it as much as you do.
And the food — outstanding, fresh, delicious and healthy!!
This trip didn't just exceed expectations — it redefined what an ocean adventure can be. Book it. You won't regret a single moment.”
“Nadia and crew were awesome; everything about the trip was well coordinated and we had a lovely group. Thanks to the luck of the ocean, our first day was electric- filled with mobula rays, and a group of incredibly curious killer whales preying on sea turtles that ended up being the highlight of the trip. The rest of the week was by no means boring by comparison! We saw a sperm whale, multiple days of breaching humpacks, were lucky enough to have had a SECOND killer whale day, pygmy sperm whales, and multiple dolphin species including one of my favorites; pantropical spotted! Each day we had lovely sandwiches packed for our lunch on the boat with dietary restrictions taken into account, and on the one quieter day (which isn't even really a thing in the sea of cortez!) we were taken to a beautiful reef to freedive. The accomodations were lovely, Andrew, the chef who made breakfast and dinner, was fabulous, and the whole group of other travelers were so fun to spend the week with. After this incredible week, we are looking at which of Nadia's other trips to book next!”
“This is my third expedition with Scuba Diver Life Expeditions and Nadia Aly. Each time I am reminded how committed she and her team is to give us the best experience possible. Each time I have found the tours to be excellently organized and professionally managed. Nadia takes it personally to make every trip as lifetime memorable as it can be and each time we were not disappointed. This time I took my brother and sister who are first time ocean swimmers and they came away loving the trip and we are already planning another family gathering this time inviting a cousin of ours. We can’t wait to be back!”
“This Orca Expedition was beyond any expectation and feel so fortunate to have been guided by Nadia. Her respect and knowledge with the Orca’s, Humpbacks, Sperm whales, dolphins, seals, rays, and other sea life we encountered was outstanding. She is supported by expert guides, captains who kept us safe and a private chef who cooked delicious meals. We highly recommend her for anyone who wants this dream to come true. Her enthusiasm is amazing and appreciated every moment. 🫶🏼🫶🏼”
“Absolute best week of my life. We had an incredible interaction with 4 Orca on day 1 of our trip. We were able to spend hours with them with really no other boats around. Nadia, the boat captain Armando and Peter the local dive expert all were so amazing at getting us the best chances of seeing wildlife while also respecting the animals. Nadia and the chef Andrew accommodated my plant based diet and made sure I always had incredible food to eat. The house was stunning, I actually saw a humback whale out in the ocean through the window while laying in my bed! A week I will never forget and will absolutely be back!”
“Fantastic experience with Captain Curt & Greg. Very knowledgeable- always knew where the whales were. Encounters every day - some spectacular. Will be back!”
“My experience swimming with Humbacks whales in Tonga was amazing! Ali and Esau are a great team. Ali is an experienced and professional captain and Esau is a hard working and fun guide. Mystic Sands was the perfect place to stay. I also enjoyed Vava'u in general. Nadia is responive and everything is well organized. This was my second trip with Nadia. I snorkelled with Sperm whales in Dominica and that trip was wonderful as well, due in large part to an experienced captain and a great guide. I'm hoping to swim with the Orcas next! And then maybe back to Tonga!!!”
“We are extremely happy that we chose this company for our experience. From the very beginning, Nadia was incredibly professional and helpful, offering excellent advice and making sure we were fully prepared. Thanks to her detailed checklist, we arrived at the boat confident and ready for the day.
Captain Curt was outstanding — very respectful and gentle with the whales, patient in his approach, and truly skilled at finding them. We could clearly see the difference compared to other boats around us; his professionalism really stood out.
Our guide Greg made the experience even more special by swimming with us and ensuring we felt safe and comfortable both on the boat and in the water. The entire team created a calm, supportive, and well-organized environment, which made the experience unforgettable.
If you are ever considering swimming with whales, this is absolutely the company to choose. We couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
“We had an absolutely unbelievable experience swimming with the sperm whales — truly worth every single penny. From the moment we entered the water, the encounters were powerful, humbling, and unlike anything we’ve ever experienced in the ocean.
This short video clip, captured by another guest, really says it all. It perfectly reflects the magic of being in the water with these incredible animals and the once-in-a-lifetime nature of the experience. We would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Exceeded Expectations I looked very hard into which company…
I looked very hard into which company to travel to Tonga with to fulfil my dream of swimming with humpback whales.
From start to finish Nadia and the crew at Humpback Swims stood out. They were professional, punctual and honest. The planning and preparation advice, the beautiful family and accommodation at Mystic Sands and the boat crew were faultless. I had high expectations and the trip exceeded them in every way. I honestly would recommend Humpback Swims, without hesitation, to anyone and I'm preparing to travel with the company to Dominica in the future. Thank you Nadia and all at Humpback Swims.”
“If you ever wondered what it would be like to get in the water with multi-ton humpback whales, then this is the company for you. Responsible and organized, they have the best guides and whale boat captains in Tonga! The local organizer, Julie, is a wonderful presence, and looks over everything. The whales do their part by showing up multiple times every day offering up calm mothers and energetic calves, and "singing" males whose vibrations you feel on your stomach. I can't imagine not enjoying this trip. Makes the traveling to get there well worth it. Everybody had an incredible time.”
“We had an absolutely unforgettable trip snorkeling with humpback whales in Vava’u, Tonga. We booked the 5-day swim on a 4-person boat with Ali and Sau, and it was perfect from start to finish. We had incredible encounters with whales every single day, and it was clear that Ali is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable captains on the island.
We stayed at Mystic Sands, which is a charming and welcoming spot right on the water. The hotel provided SUPs and kayaks, which we loved using. Peta, Mao, and the rest of the staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and memorable.
Thank you Nadia, Julie, Alastair and team for organizing!”
“Absolutely amazing from start to finish. Communication and booking couldn’t have been easier and everything arranged in a quick and timely fashion. Constant communication and updates throughout the process. The accomodation was clean, tidy and run by wonderful ladies, breakfast was cooked perfectly and timely for the adventures of the day. Time onboard was amazing, knowledgeable crew and so safe and respectful for the whales and the different encounters.”
“Swimming with humpback whales in Tonga has always been a dream of mine, and this trip truly exceeded all expectations. From the very beginning, Nadia was fantastic—she answered every question I had before the trip with such detail and care, which gave me complete confidence in choosing Humpback Swims.
Once in Tonga, Julie and the Mystic Sands team, took such wonderful care of us. Mystic Sands was the perfect place to stay—comfortable, welcoming, and right on the water. We felt looked after the entire time, and the staff went above and beyond to make our experience special. Thank you Peta!
Of course, the highlight was our time on the water. The encounters were magical, and I’ll never forget my favorite moment with a mom and calf humpback whale—it was everything I had hoped for and more. Enjoy this video from that encounter!
I did a lot of research before booking, and it was clear that Humpback Swims was the right choice. Between the expert team, the seamless organization, and the incredible in-water experiences, I can wholeheartedly say this was the trip of a lifetime. If swimming with humpback whales is on your bucket list, this is the team to do it with. It was clear we had the best boats, crew, place to stay that is availble on the island! I hope to come back again soon!”
“We did the 5 day Humpback Whale swimming with Ali and Esau. It was amazing! I can not say enough great about it. They were so knowledgable and respectful towards the whales. They also got excited with us throughout the week. It really made our trip the best ever! Alistair met with us to make sure we had all we needed and to help in anyway he could. We would highly recommend this once in a lifetime experience!!!”
“Our experience in Vava'u was pure magic!! Ali & Esau were the best guides! We had the most beautiful whale encounters that far exceeded our expectations. I have zero hesistation recomending this company. Thank you all for the best trip ever!!”
“We had a blast. This was such a well organised experience and I cannot find the words to describe the amazing experience my wife and I had. Every single day brought about an amazing swim with the whales and it blew our expectations away. We want to come back again!”
“I had a wonderful time on Nadia's Orca tour in Mexico. She and her team went all out to get us the best sightings, including taking us directly from the airport onto the tour boat and out to sea immediately on our arrival, because orca's had been seen the day we flew in. The diversity of the sea life was extra extraordanary and our guide and boat drivers went out of their way to get us the best sightings and answer our questions about the wildlife. The house where we stayed was absolutely top quality too. Overal I was more than satisfied with this tour and want to do it again.”
“We recently swam with the rays and Orcas in Cabo. This is not our first trip with SDLE - we alsi swam with the sperm whales in Dominica. That trip was fantastic and this voyage was just as wonderful. As always Nadia selected the absolute best guide and boat captain. In addition to the top notch team, she has air support and a great relationship with other captains. This means we had the absolute best chance of finding the animals our captain's experience meant that almost every drop resulted in an amazing encounter with orcas, swarms of rays, and even pilot whales. I highly recommend any package offered by SDLE!”
