“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”
“Captain Ali & swim guide Esau selflessly shared their experience, knowledge & commitment to making this an incredible, fun, amazing week with these marvelous mammals! If you're going to spend the money & time to travel for this adventure, don't settle for any other crew. Their love & respect for the whales, combined with safety protocols for guests made this a 10 out of 5 star rating. Spend the extra money for 4 person swim boat to maximize their talents and your time with whale encounter opportunities.”
“Our five days at sea in Tonga were absolutely fantastic. Ali and Esau were simply perfect as captain and in-water guide.
Every day we had the chance to swim with whales in completely different situations: singing males, mothers with their calves, a male and female chasing each other, and much more.
It still remains a mystery to us how they manage to find the whales and get you into the water in exactly the right place every single time!
They are professional, knowledgeable, and also wonderful company. The boat is very comfortable, and we especially appreciated the fantastic ladder, which made getting back on board so easy.
Thank you so much for an unforgettable experience.
Cristina and Maurizio”
“We were out on the boat for 5 days and had magical experiences swimming with whales each and every day. Ali and Esau were awesome at spotting the whales in record time, and could tell if the whales were receptive to company or not. Truly a once in a life time experience. The staff at Mystic Sands were exceptional in every way. From fixing awesome meals, to accommodating our every need. Would highly recommend the Humpback Swims Team. Stay at Mystic Sands. It's quiet and easy to get a ride into town if needed. PETA and Mau were delightful hosts.”
“Where to start? This was a long-awaited experience for me and my niece. The experience with the whales was mind-blowing, awesome, inspiring, impressive, goosebump raising, and emotional. Not kidding. It was more than anticipated. I got what I wanted and more.
Our boat crew was great, from our Captain Noah to our guides who knew their stuff. They took care of us, taught us how to get the best face pictures or videos. They really were wonderful.
We stayed at Mystic Sands, which we loved. I love the peace and quiet, me and my niece have chickens so the chicken chatter didn’t bother us. PETA and her crew were fantastic! From breakfast however you want it to scrumptious dinners outside on your deck at whatever time works for you.
I fell in love with Tonga. The people are sweet, quiet, considerate and beautiful. We went to church, which I highly recommend even if you are not religious, the a cappella choir is amazing.
Recap, book it, take this trip, you will not be sorry.”
“Captain Ali's deep knowledge of the sea and humpback whales were evident because we swam with them every day despite a week of challenging weather. (A highlight was swimming with a two week old calf and mother.) He is passionate about the safety and well-being of the whales.
Esau's calm demeanor and keen whale behavior insight kept us from getting hurt and, equally importantly, from us inadvertently harming the whales. I am so grateful for such an incredible experience and owe it all to Captain Ali and guide Esau; malo 'aupito!”
“We travel the world on adventure travel trips looking to see different animals in their natural surroundings. Of all the trips we have taken, this ranks right at the top. It is humbling to be so near these complex and majestic creatures. Ali and Esau put us into the whales safely and confidently to get the most out of this experience. I could not recommend them and this trip enough.”
“After several years of research, I definitely made the right decision to book with Nadia and her fantastic team. The entire experience was incredibly well orca-strated from pre arrival until departure. Accommodations, food, transportation, communication, captain, and the entire crew should know we could not have had this unforgettable experience without each and every one of you. Everyone had immense knowledge of their jobs and were clearly experts in their respective roles. Thank you for making my literal dreams come true not just one day but every day of the adventure. Truly exceeded my expectations!”
“The La Ventana trip was one of the most amzing experiences I've ever had. From the fantastic marine life encounters every day, to the wonderful accomadations, great meals and lovely group of like-minded travelers, the trip was perfect from begining to end. Our boat was comfortable, and our captain and guide were knowledgeable and respectful during our wildlife encounters. They both worked very hard to ensure we had memorable, safe encounters. Nadia's experience clearly shows in the way she manages the many logistics involved with running a tour like this. I will definately travel with her again.”
“My wife and I just returned from the most incredible adventure of our lives in La Ventana, Mexico with SDL Expeditions. The dream was to swim with wild orcas—if we were lucky. Orca sightings are never guaranteed.
We hit the jackpot.
Over six days, we swam with wild orcas on four different days. We also encountered enormous schools of mobula rays, sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins, sea turtles, a whale shark, silky sharks, and countless other marine animals. Every day felt like we were living inside a National Geographic documentary.
We've had some amazing life experiences—building and selling our business, trekking with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and participating in the 1996 Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies—but this adventure surpassed them all.
I've loved orcas for as long as I can remember, and being just a few feet away from them in their natural habitat was pure magic. It's a moment I'll treasure forever.
Thank you, Nadia, and the entire SDL Expeditions team, for creating the adventure of a lifetime!”
“If you have ever wanted to see Sperm Whales, Orca Whales or Humpbacks you MUST go on one of Nadias trips! She is the most dedicated trip leader I have ever known. Everything is taken care of, the support materials are very informative, the place you stay and the food are top notch. Her captains and crew are the best these places have to offer. Your not sold a bill of goods as far as seeing the animals but she will take every step to get you to see them. These trips have far exceeded my expectations and I will be back.”
“This was my third trip with Nadia--Tonga, Mobula Rays and this time, Orcas. Each trip has been absolutely incredible. Honestly each time has been a spiritual experience with these animals. She can't promise that every trip, but I've been lucky every time. I've seen countless other awesome species with each trip as well. She's highly organized, has the best operators, cannot recommend more. Her trips are the best.”
“In over 40 years of international travels this was one of the best organized trips we have experienced. The 6 day on water experience exceeded our expectations. The boat and the crew were first rate and their capability in communicating with other boats, as well as a spotter plane helped to ensure the best accessibility to a variety of large marine animals that amazed us. We ended up with three out of six days contacting pod of orcas, as well as encountering mobula rays, dolphins, pilot whales, sea lions, a whale shark, an oceanic giant ray, ahumpback whale, sperm whale, and a Baird beaked whale. The accommodations were excellent, clean, spacious, with an outstanding view of the water. The on site chef made the meals both convenient and tasty. We enthusiastically recommend Nadia Scuba Diver Life Expeditions.”
“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!!!”
