scubaseason
Least Concern· population increasing· assessed 2018

Humpback whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Sighting evidence at Swallows Cave Vavau, Vava'u, Tonga

Humpback whale

Photo: Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC

Mothers with newborn calves often shelter in the calm waters immediately outside Swallows Cave between July and October. Boat operators hold outside the 100-metre exclusion zone, but encounters near the entrance are not uncommon during the breeding season.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Humpback whale is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites