HA’APAI ENCOUNTERS WITH HUMPBACKS - TONGA

Swim and dive with Humpback Whales during an 11-day exploration of the Ha’apai Islands, part of the South Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga, with diving specialists Dive Worldwide. Departures are available from Heathrow weekly from now until October, coinciding with peak season for Tonga whale watching.

The Ha'apai group of islands is Tonga's best kept secret, with friendly people, an uncanny sense of timelessness, white sand beaches, balmy breezes and warm waters teeming with tropical fish. There are 60 small islands of which only 17 are inhabited. With virtually no tourism, these small islands with traditional fishing villages and fantastic beaches are truly enchanting. A highlight of the diving in Ha'apai is the geography of the reefs themselves. There are caves, canyons, caverns and tunnels to explore on just about every dive with probably many more yet to be discovered. There are also vertical walls, fast flowing passes and colourful coral gardens. Hard corals dominate the reefs but there are also gorgonian fans and soft corals to be found. From July to October Humpback Whales pass through the Ha'apai group, migrating from their summer feeding grounds in the Antarctic. The whales come to the warm protected South Pacific to mate and give birth and are often spotted from the diving boat - the very lucky may even get a closer encounter during a dive. Guests are accommodated at the Sandy Bay Resort, situated on a long stretch of secluded white sand beach with all tide swimming and an excellent snorkelling reef. The onsite dive centre, Happy Ha’apai Divers, caters for both novice and experienced divers. Many of the dive sites are within the shelter of the islands and barrier reef, but there are also a number of dives that are in more open water providing opportunities for pelagic animal encounters, including sharks, tuna, trevally and barracuda. During whale season, through passive observation and interaction, the dive team aim to provide divers with a unique opportunity to share an extraordinary Humpback Whale experience.

The holiday costs from £1,995 p/p including flights, taxes, transfers, accommodation at the Sandy Bay Resort with breakfast daily and a 10-dive package (tanks and weights included).

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