Itinerary
The workshop begins on the first date above, which is set aside for everyone’s arrival into Vava’u. We have arranged transportation into town for any incidentals, then we will continue on to our waterfront resort to settle in! We will have a group orientation and gear check, followed by dinner on the beach. We will then enjoy five full days on and in the water searching for humpacks and any other ocean wildlife we can find. A typical day will be breakfast at 6:30am, get on the boat right at the hotel and depart the dock at 7am, search and swim with whales and eat lunch on the boat, and be back at the resort at 1:30pm. At the end of each day, we will return to the resort to relax and learn, edit photos and share stories from our day on the water. On our final full day, the plan is to relax and enjoy the beach the whole time. We can snorkel right in front of the resort or kayak to a nearby location, edit photos or whatever you’d like! Participants should plan to fly back home on the end date, though extensions may be arranged before or after your trip dates.
More detailed info will be sent closer to the workshop date and by request.
What to Expect
We choose to run tours in Vava’u because of the generally calm conditions this time of year and wide variety of wildlife and islands available to us. We swim with the whales in all but the worst conditions, and can cover a wide area in a single day. It varies from calm, sheltered bays and waterways to open seas with the accompanying swells. We are after clear water and cooperative whales first and foremost, so we do not always choose the calmest seas. Please keep in mind that this is an ADVENTURE, and one geared towards getting those truly epic swims of a lifetime. This will not always be a gentle cruise over glassy water on a beautiful day (though those days are amazing). It is important to be prepared for a variety of conditions from sun, to wind, to rain, to cold water. It can be a very short day if you are comfortable and having amazing swims, but it can also be very, very long if you are miserable and we are usually too far away to return you to the harbor early unless its an emergency.
The water is typically a few degrees cooler than Hawaii, so we suggest a shorty spring suit to keep you comfortable and perhaps a full 3mm suit in case we hit some colder weather. More importantly, a warm sweatshirt or jacket (that dries quickly) and sometimes a rain jacket to put on when you get out of the water is your key to happiness. There are some more specific suggestions in the ‘Gear’ section.
Climate
The climate is tropical, but mild. Expect temperatures in the low 70’s to low 80’s, with water temps hovering around 77 degrees. Sunrise is right around 7am, with sunsets around 6:30pm.
How to Get There
Participants should arrive in Vava’u (airport VAV) via Fiji (NAN) on Fiji Airways on the first day where we will transfer to the resort. We will transport you back to the airport on the final day for flights home.
Accommodations
Our accommodations are truly special, and certainly among the very best offered in the country. Unless otherwise requested you will be double occupancy in a beachfront studio, with air conditioning, ceiling fan and a natural breeze. Each room has its own covered balcony with deck, table and chairs. You will enjoy a bathroom with hot and cold showers, tea and coffee in room, fridge, and complimentary bathroom toiletries. Daily housekeeping is included. Single occupancy lodging available for additional cost. Triple or quad occupancy may be available for a small savings, ask for details.
Food
All meals are included for the duration of your time with us. This includes daily breakfast at the resort, lunch on the boat and dinners both at the resort and in town for some local flavor. They are all accommodating of dietary needs, and you are welcome to pick up anything else you may want during your stay when we stop in town.
What to Bring
Water and Boat Gear:
- Snorkel mask and snorkel
- Closed foot snorkeling fins
- Shorty wetsuit
- Full 3mm wetsuit
- If comfortable, weight belt with 5-8 pounds.
Recommended clothing and etc:
- Appropriate clothing for a warm, tropical climate
- Quick drying lightweight jacket or other warm layer for after swims
- Rain jacket
- Small packable padded cushion
- Bug Spray
- Sunglasses
- Insulated bottle for hot drinks
- Sunscreen
Cameras:
- Beginner camera – DJI Action 6, phone housing or Olympus TG7
- Intermediate camera – Sony RX100VII or similar
- Advanced camera – DSLR or mirrorless camera with 16-35mm lens or similar
- Underwater housing with spare o-rings
- Multiple memory cards
- Multiple batteries
- Lens cloth, rocket blower, etc
- Computer with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
- Notebook
- Topside camera with 100-400 or similar.
What's NOT Included:
- Camera Equipment
- Water Housing
- Dive & Boat Gear (see above, this cannot be rented in Tonga)
- Airfare
- Hotels before or after the workshop
- Drinks
- Tips & Gratuities
Photography Tuition
If you are a photographer, you can expect to learn about all the following and more during your time on this trip:
- Creating compelling wildlife portraits underwater
- Understanding underwater equipment, how to assemble, maintain and ensure proper sealing
- Controlling your camera in a housing and what modes to use for best results
- Understanding and using the Histogram and in-camera metering to preserve detail and protect highlights
- Best settings and techniques to photograph whales underwater
- Techniques for interacting with whales, including safety and best practices to extend the swims as long as possible
- Understanding light and color underwater and how to use natural light to your advantage
- Body position in water for maximum camera stability and freedom of movement
- Lightroom - importing, organizing and development tools
- Cleaning up images – Water cleanup, white balance correction, how to pull out maximum detail in the subject
- Using new Lightroom additions and Photoshop for more advanced editing techniques, separating subject and water for localized editing
- Dodging and burning
- Using layers and masks
- Mindful sharpening (depending on the output)
- Image Critiques and sharing
