Whale Corridor
Vava'u, Tonga · Tonga
The open water channel between the outer islands where humpback mothers and calves rest during the July to October nursing season. In-water encounters are conducted under strict Tongan permit rules — snorkel only, small groups, no chasing. A patient approach rewards divers with full-length whale passes at 3 to 5 metres distance. Outside whale season the channel sees spinner dolphin pods and occasional oceanic whitetip sharks.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 35 m
Advanced depths
Current
Variable
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
25 to 40 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
23 to 29°C
3mm full
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Spinner dolphin
Photo: martinmoscovich · CC BY-NC
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Humpback whale
Photo: Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC
Rare
Now and then
Oceanic whitetip shark
Photo: Lesley Clements · © all rights reserved
Rare
Now and then
Field journal
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