- The Magnificent Humpbacks of Tonga -

Instructor: Mike Mezeul II

Dates: August 12-21, 2025 (7 days on the water, 9 nights)

Tuition: $7999 (Payment plan information available below)

Group Size: 6 (1 Spot Open!)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see a school bus sized humpback whale swim right by you? What about having an innocent and playful newborn calf come try and make friends with you? If you have any interest in not only photographing, but experiencing what it is like to share the ocean with one of the most gentle and loving mammals out there, I invite you to come with me to Tonga to spend 7 days searching for and swimming with these incredible animals. So why come to Tonga? Well, for starters, it is one of the few places in the world where it is legal to swim with the humpback whales. Tonga also has rules in place to allow for respectful interactions with the whales. These rules include time limits with the whales, a limit on the number of people allowed to be in the water at one time, and the amount of time a boat can be on the water searching for whales. Now I know rules are no fun, but these rules are fantastic as they give us the ability to share the ocean with the humpbacks, but yet not create a stressful environment for them. The humpback whales in Tonga have traveled from the frigid waters of Antarctica to give birth to their calves in warmer waters where they are protected from predators and can build up the blubber needed to survive in colder waters. Our time spent in the water with the whales will be snorkeling only and each day will hold a different and special memory as we take a deeper look into these beautiful creatures lives.

What You Will Learn:

• How to create stunning and emotional wildlife imagery.

• How to discover and utilize your camera to its fullest capabilities.

• How to create a variety of scenes with multiple lenses and how to think “outside the box.”

• An understanding for light and how to take advantage of it in all conditions.

• How to bring your wildlife imagery even more to life through post-processing.

• An introduction to black and white photography for wildlife photography.

• How to pick your jaw up off the floor because you’re literally swimming with whales.

What You Will Need:

• A DSLR or mirrorless camera body.

• An underwater housing for your camera body (these are available for rent online).

• An assortment of lenses, but your primary lens will be a wide-angle. You will want a telephoto lens for any above water images.

• At least the trial version of Lightroom or Photoshop on your laptop.

• Multiple batteries and required power converters for Tonga (Type I).

• A valid passport and visa (if required for your country of origin).

• A wetsuit (3mm is great), fins, goggles, snorkel.

• A desire to learn, have fun, be flexible, and experience some of the most breathtaking wildlife in the world!

What's Included:

• Accommodations based upon double occupancy.

• Transportation from Vava’u Airport to our accommodations.

• Certified local captain, Tongan guide and boat.

• Welcome dinner (alcoholic beverages not included).

• Daily lunch on the boat.

• On-hand post-production and critique sessions.

• Post-processing video set.

• Access to my brain 24/7.

A Day with the Whales…

So what should you expect while out in Tonga? Let’s discuss what a day with the whales looks like!

We will begin our day early in the morning by meeting our boat and captain at a local dock around 8AM. We will then head out to open water in search of our first whales of the day. Depending on conditions, we can be seeing our first whales within just 15 minutes of leaving the dock. We utilize a “soft approach” on all whales. What this means is that just because we find whales, does not guarantee we will swim with them. Our captain and Tongan guide will assess the behavior of the whales, and if they seem welcoming, our Tongan guide will then go into the water first to “test the waters.” If we get the thumbs up, it’s go time! Due to Tongan laws, we are only allowed to have four swimmers (photo instructor + three participants) at a time in the water.

What this means is that we will either: alternate participants with each drop, or if we find a whale that is just relaxing, we will split the time with that whale accordingly between participants. Tonga has rules in places to protect the whales that we must adhere to, and those include that we can only spend a total of 90 minutes with each whale, and only one boat is allowed to be with each whale at a time while maintaining a distance of 500’ from other boats.

There are plenty of whales to go around, but it does take patience in finding the right whales to swim with. There are no guarantees that we will even see whales, but with Tonga being such a haven for mothers and calves, odds are in our favor. While we are looking for or observing whales, we can shoot images from the boat as whales fluke, breach and fin slap.

We will be on the water for approximately seven hours each day, so we will enjoy a lunch on the boat and at the end of the day, explore some local sea caves and reefs.

Once back on land, we will have time to download images and go out for dinner.

• Note: Due to Tongan law, the village shuts down on Sunday, with the exception of a few local restaurants open for tourists. It is illegal for us to operate any tours on Sunday.

Where Will We Be Staying?

We will be staying in a lodge near our boat dock in Neiafu. Details on our specific accommodations will be released closer to the workshop as bookings are still being confirmed due to the length of time between workshop announcement and workshop dates. Accommodations will be based upon double occupancy.

Explore More of Tonga

During our lunch breaks and after our time swimming with the whales, we will be stopping at some incredibly scenic and amazing locations including coral reefs, beautiful cliffs, and sea caves! You never know what you may find in these locations to photograph from above and below the water!

Physical Requirements:

It is REQUIRED that you know how to swim and are confident in swimming in open water that can be choppy at times. It is recommended that you be able to swim approximately 100 meters in open water comfortably. Our daily boat rides can be on glassy water, or on rough stormy water as well, this tour is not recommended for those who have any back or neck injuries.

Getting to Tonga:

The best way to get to Vava’u is by first flying into Nadi, Fiji. From there, you will take a short two-hour flight from Nadi to Vava’u. It is highly recommended to fly into Nadi a day or two before our tour starts as airlines in Fiji can be a bit finicky due to weather and operational delays. The same bit of wiggle room for scheduling is advised for your departure as well. I recommend flying Fiji Airways to Tonga.

It is quite nice to take a day in Fiji before your flight to Vava’u to explore the island and rest up a bit. There are quite a few hotels located rather close to Nadi International Airport.

Tour Start & Wrap:

Our tour will start at 2PM on August 12th with our Meet & Greet at our accommodations. This will be your arrival day into Vava’u and we will spend the afternoon getting settled in, getting to know Neiafu, and having our welcome dinner.

Our workshop will wrap the morning of the 21st after breakfast. You will have transportation available for your transfer to the Vava’u Airport.

Payment Options:

We want nothing more than you to come join us for this incredible workshop in Tonga, and that’s why we are breaking down our tuition payments into increments that we feel will make this workshop affordable for all!

Payment 1 - 25% of total tuition - Due upon registration.

Payment 2 - 25% of total tuition - Due by April 1, 2024

Payment 3 - 25% of total tuition - Due by August 1, 2024

Final Payment - 25% of total tuition - Due by April 1, 2025

* Please note: All payments are non-refundable. If you need to cancel your spot for any reason, and the spot can be filled, your payments will then be fully refunded.

Travel Insurance:

It is highly recommend to purchase travel insurance prior to our workshop to cover any possible issues that may arise including cancellations due to illness, travel delays, lost luggage, medical coverage and more. Tonga is a place where many things can change and can affect your travel. Travel insurance can help cover these issues if they arise.

JOIN THE ADVENTURE!

*A 25% Non-refundable deposit is required to register*