Swimming With Humpback Whales!

Our man Kenzo recently returned from a trip to the other side of the world. He went to Tonga to witness something truly spectacular: the congregation of humpback whales during mating season. As much as I want to make a joke about Kenzo looking for whales during mating season, I will refrain from it.

Once landed in Tonga, he took a boat over to the island of Vava'u, where the whales tend to like to meet up. As early as 5 minutes from the pier, you may be able to spot a whale; but like most things, you can never be sure. Less than an hour into his first expedition, he spots a breaching whale. 

Once you find the whales, it's go, go, go. The captain gets into position, and assuming the whales are preoccupied, you slip into the water as quickly and as quietly as you can so as not to disturb them. 

This is the moment you've been waiting for. Your excitement levels are at an all-time high, your heart is racing, you're in the water looking forwards, and out of the vast blue background, the whales emerge. It's an experience that simply cannot be put into words, however with the help of some videographic visuals, you may get a better sense of the experience. 

Tips and Tricks:

Goggles/masks often come with a protective coating on the inside to protect the lens from scratches. You must remove this coating. Take a lighter and apply heat from the flame to the inside of the mask. You will be able to see this protective coating burn off instantly. After that, take some toothpaste (preferably white paste, not gel) and coat the inside of the mask. Leave it to sit overnight and rinse off the next morning. Your goggles are now ready to dive. 

Also: saliva can help as well, so if you do fog up in the water, feel free to spit in the lens.