Whales snorkeling is
- Risky
- Bad visibility of whale show
- Few chance to see them even there are just here
Risky :
Because whales are offshore and often offshore they are followed by offshore sharks ( by the oceanic whitetip shark see here Oceanic whitetip shark - Wikipedia ) which are among the most aggressive. It's really too risky but don't worry because the sight of the boat can be magical.
You have to know that offshore there is like no life then sharks systematically attack anything they see or hear. it's just a matter of survival for them. Because they are so few fishes for them, it's why they follow whales to eat their feces (better than nothing). Then you can imagine if they see you around whale. Choice between feces and you will be quick done.
Even you see the whale from the boat, you have few chance to see here when snorkeling :
- The whale must be stopped because if the whale move, even slow for here, it will be too fast for you
- If the whale was stopped she must not start again between the time you swim 100 meters (300 feet) to approach here. Whale are sensible animal then if when you swim you are too noisy or if other swimmer or other boat are to noisy then the whale will go away in less than one second.
- When swimming your head is just as the same level as the water line and also because there will be swell (you are in the middle of the ocean) then you will not see very well something at the water level. Then difficult to see the whale and to take the good direction with the head above water.
- From the law you must stay at 30 meters (100 feet) from the whales when snorkeling
- From the law the boat must stay at 100 meters (330 feet) from the whales. Then you have to swim at minimum 200 meters (660 feet) in ocean (100 meters (330 feet) to go to see the whale and also 100 meters (330 feet) to come back to the boat).
- We saw that this is difficult with the distance and the swell to see whale with head above water when swimming. But from under water this is not better because remember you must be at the minimum of 30 meters (100 feet) from the whales and water visibility in French Polynesia is around 25 - 50 meters (75 - 150 feet). Then if visibility is not enough good you will never see the whale with head underwater even the whale is just in front of you. When from the boat you will see at 100%.
It's why with me we will only watch the whales from the boat for your safety, the best view and the best whale show
Because whales are offshore and often offshore they are followed by offshore sharks ( by the oceanic whitetip shark see here Oceanic whitetip shark - Wikipedia ) which are among the most aggressive. It's really too risky but don't worry because the sight of the boat can be magical.
You have to know that offshore there is like no life then sharks systematically attack anything they see or hear. it's just a matter of survival for them. Because they are so few fishes for them, it's why they follow whales to eat their feces (better than nothing). Then you can imagine if they see you around whale. Choice between feces and you will be quick done.
Even you see the whale from the boat, you have few chance to see here when snorkeling :
- The whale must be stopped because if the whale move, even slow for here, it will be too fast for you
- If the whale was stopped she must not start again between the time you swim 100 meters (300 feet) to approach here. Whale are sensible animal then if when you swim you are too noisy or if other swimmer or other boat are to noisy then the whale will go away in less than one second.
- When swimming your head is just as the same level as the water line and also because there will be swell (you are in the middle of the ocean) then you will not see very well something at the water level. Then difficult to see the whale and to take the good direction with the head above water.
- From the law you must stay at 30 meters (100 feet) from the whales when snorkeling
- From the law the boat must stay at 100 meters (330 feet) from the whales. Then you have to swim at minimum 200 meters (660 feet) in ocean (100 meters (330 feet) to go to see the whale and also 100 meters (330 feet) to come back to the boat).
- We saw that this is difficult with the distance and the swell to see whale with head above water when swimming. But from under water this is not better because remember you must be at the minimum of 30 meters (100 feet) from the whales and water visibility in French Polynesia is around 25 - 50 meters (75 - 150 feet). Then if visibility is not enough good you will never see the whale with head underwater even the whale is just in front of you. When from the boat you will see at 100%.
It's why with me we will only watch the whales from the boat for your safety, the best view and the best whale show