Tonga Hotels and Beach Resorts Online Travel Reservation Services - www.SeatTravel.com
Tonga Hotels and Resorts Directory
Hotels by Destination
Africa Hotels Asia Hotels Middle East Hotels Europe Hotels Australasia / Pacific America Hotels

Tonga Travel Guide
Map Weather Holidays Cities Tours Travel Tips Car Rental Transfers Group Reservation

Useful Links
Currency Exchange Air Ticketing Testimonials Disclaimer FAQ's
Tonga Travel Tips

Tonga Hotels and Resorts - Best Price on Tonga Hotels and Resorts

Selected Tonga Hotels and Resorts for your preview with online hotel booking service!!!

Whale Watching in Tonga

Dos and Don'ts

Tonga's Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, its Ministry of Fisheries and the Tonga Visitors Bureau have jointly sponsored a brochure on what to do or what not to do for the ever increasing number of visitors who are 'into' whale watching.The brochure says Tonga is a great place to see whales and dolphins, as they occur in all Tongan marine waters and can be seen anywhere along the coastline, although their visits may be infrequent and unpredictable.Whale watching in Tonga is centred mainly on the Humpback Whale which migrates to Tonga in the winter months to breed and give birth. Other species of whales may be seen all year round. All whales and dolphins are protected under Tongan Law.The following guidelines for whale watching have been designed to encourage safe, enjoyable and educative whale watching for all people interacting with whales in Tonga.By using these guidelines you will not only have a better whale watch but will minimise the disturbance to the whales.

When whale watching:

. Cease any contact at any sign of whales, particularly mothers and calves, becoming distressed or alarmed.

· All the whales to control the nature and duration of the encounter.

· Whales may leave an area if continually disturbed.

· Respect the marine environment.

· Do not throw rubbish or other objects into the water.

· Dumping rubbish, particularly plastics, can kill whales and other sea life through accidental swallowing or entanglement.

· If whale watching from land, remain within established footpaths and lookout points, protect the environment, e.g. don't trample vegetation, minimise noise levels and don't swim to whales from shore.

Whale watching from the air:

· Aircraft includes sea planes, microlite and light aircraft

· Aircraft must maintain a minimum height of 300 metres from a whale.

· No aircraft may land on water to whale watch.

· The duration of a whale encounter by aircraft is limited to
five minutes or two approaches (sweeps).

· No more than one whale watching aircraft may be within five
kilometres of the whales being watched.

· BAN on helicopters for whale watching.

Whale watching on the water

· Do not approach whales closer than 100 metres

· All vessels, including water craft, both commercial and non commercial,
under power or sail, must slow to a speed of no more than 4 knots within a
300 metre Caution Zone.

· In the Caution Zone:

· Vessels must allow their engines to idle for at least one minute
before switching them off.

· Vessels must minimise boat and other noise, e.g. gear shifting

· No more than two vessels may be in the Caution Zone at any one time

· As a matter of courtesy vessels should limit their time within the caution zone if
other vessels wish to enter.

· No dinghy to be launched from a vessel within the caution zone.

· Vessels are banned from approaching whales from directly in front or behind.
This is an Exclusion Zone for vessels.

· Vessels must not box whales in, cut off their path or herd or chase them.

· If whales approach a vessel, you must avoid sudden changes in
vessel movement until whales move on.

Vessels, when leaving a whale, must move away very slowly
(no wake speed) until at least 100 metres away.

· Swimmers must not approach a whale closer than 30 metres

· No more than four people per vessel may swim with any one
group of whales at a time.

· No other vessel may be within 100 metres of the swimmers' vessel.

· Before swimmers enter the water their vessel must be at least
100 metres from other vessels.

· The use of SCUBA is banned.

· The use of artificial light sources is banned

· The use of jet skis and motorised swimming aids are banned for whale watching.


Specialist interactions

Specialists include scientific researchers and commercial filmmakers/photographers who must obtain all necessary permits from relevant Government agencies.

When working with whales they must use the guidelines. However:

· Permits may specify additional requirements for researchers.

· Permits may specify additional requirements for commercial filmmakers and photographers.

· Any exception to guidelines for these specialists must be specified in their respective permits.


For questions or to ask about hotels not listed, please Inquire Here Don't know which hotel to book?
Don't know which hotel to book?
Click here for assistance!