Swimming With Whales in Tahiti: The Mo’orea Whale Swim

In 2018 I crossed one of my bucket-list items off my list; I went swimming with humpback whales in Tonga. It was easily one of the best experiences of my life and something I knew I wanted to do again should I have the chance. Well, I got my second chance and was able to go swimming with whales in Tahiti.

The experience was quite different from that of Tonga, but it was still incredible being in the water with these gentle giants. On our first day, we saw 3 whales together: a female, her calf, and an escort male. On our second day, we found a male whale who sang to us (you can FEEL it in the ocean, it’s amazing) and then a second stop with a mother and her calf who swam incredibly close to us. Just as in Tonga, I was in awe.

So, for anyone else headed to French Polynesia, here’s what you need to know about the Mo’orea whale swim.

Where Can you Go Swimming With Whales in Tahiti?

Quick geography lesson, Tahiti is an island in French Polynesia. Not the nation itself although most people frequently associated ‘Tahiti’ with all the islands. The whale swim actually takes place on the island of Mo’orea which is just a 10-minute plane ride or 40-minute ferry away.

Out of all the Society Islands, the whales really only frequent the waters around Mo’orea. At least on a regular basis- enough for the people of Mo’orea to be able to offer whale swim tours. You may occasionally see whales around the other islands like Huahine and Bora Bora, but they usually just pass by and don’t hang around like they do in Mo’orea.

What Time of Year is Best for Swimming With Whales in Mo’orea?

Swimming with whales in Mo’orea is a seasonal activity. Whale season starts in July and runs to the end of November, but the best months to go are mid-August to the end of October. This is when you have your best chances at sightings and it’s also your best bet to see the newborn calves who can be very curious and playful. The calves are born around these waters and spend a few months close to the island staying protected from their natural predators, the orcas, before migrating to Antarctica. Since they stay so close to the island (which is pretty small) they are easy to find during the whale season.

How Much Does it Cost to do the Mo’orea Whale Swim? 

Swimming with humpback whales in Mo’orea can be pretty pricey with half day trips (4 hours) running at around $200 USD minimum. You can borrow fins and a mask and snorkel if needed  but I always advise bringing your own! ( I use TUSA brand and love them). It’s not a cheap activity, but if you do go I suggest planning at least two days as some days have better sightings than others. 

What Happens During the Mo’orea Whale Swim Tour

Swimming with the whales in Mo’orea is very different from my experience in Tonga. If I am being completely honest, I was actually quite shocked and maybe even a bit disappointed on our first day because it was so different to the experience in Tonga.

In Tonga, there can only be 1 boat per whale with a maximum of 4 people in the water with the guide. Interactions are cut off at 30 minutes and there is absolutely no chasing. If the whale wants to interact-great. If not, you move on to another whale.

It’s a bit different in Mo’orea. When I visited in 2021, there were no limits on boats or people in the water. So both days had multiple boats and easily 20-30 swimmers in the water with the whales at a time. It was pure chaos.

Thankfully, as of 2025, the tourism board has placed stricter regulations on swimming with whales in Mo’orea. Now, each operator can only have one boat per whale sighting and a maximum of 6 people, which is still more than Tonga but significantly better than no restrictions at all. Having had both experiences, I promise that being with them in a smaller group is so much better. 

Requirements for Swimming With Whales in Mo’orea

To swim with the humpback whales in Tahiti you, as you guessed it, need to be able to swim. You don’t need to be a ninja in the water but you do need to be comfortable enough to swim in the open ocean. Boats can’t go too close so you will have to swim at least 100m to the whale but probably further because they move. Fins, masks, and snorkels are all worn and our tour offered little floating boards to help those who felt they needed a little more assistance with floating above to look down.

Again, this is the open ocean so if seasickness is something you have an issue with you will want to make sure you take some medication ahead of time. The swell can get pretty rough once you are out of the lagoon.

So, is Swimming with Whales in Tahiti Ethical?

On top of limiting the number of boats and swimmers in the water, there are several other rules in place. Boats can’t go more than 100 meters from the whale and swimmers need to stay back as well. You also are not meant to chase them and there is no free diving allowed. As usual, there are some rule-breakers but the guides are pretty good at reigning them in.

As mentioned earlier, I am thrilled to know that since my visit there have been regulations put in place in terms of the numbers of swimmers allowed in the water with the whales. When I visited, Chantae and I jokingly compares ourselves (and the other swimmers) to mosquitos as groups of swimmers excitedly swam towards them.

What Tour Company to Go With

All tours run the same way as per the regulations so take your time to do some research and compare reviews and pricing. Sadly the tour operator we used seems to no longer be in business, but I will say while doing your research one thing to keep in mind is local vs expat operators. 

Our guide told us that of all the operators out there only a handful are actually local. The rest are all expats from France who came over with a lot of money and bought boats. This is common in tourism across French Polynesia so I would suggest trying to choose local if possible.

Swimming with whales in Mo’orea is incredible and if you are visiting during the season, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary.

PS: My trip with my friend Chantae was a research trip for her to write the official Moon guide book to the islands. It is now available and you can grab a copy here to help plan your French Polynesia adventures.

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I have used esims around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA- they are super easy and you don’t risk losing your home sim! There are two brands I have used and recommend so I suggest comparing both. 

Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.

Sim Local: Another easy to use alternative with competitive pricing. Here’s my link with a promo code.

Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas. 

Looking for a travel buddy?

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