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Important
Information - please read before
you book your tour to Tonga |
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The
WhaleQuest Foundation
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Remember
Tongan lifestyle is in a slow
“time-zone”
– if
you are expecting fast service and everything to always
be ‘on time’ – you may want to consider
another holiday destination!
This is an
opportunity to relax and have a laid-back, cruise-y
holiday with the humpback whales!
You will experience many 'time'
issues while you are in Tonga - from local flight
schedules being changed several times before you even
depart for Tonga and when you arrive - our taxis being
late, boats not leaving on time and service in restaurants
being very slow.
THIS IS TONGA!!
It is a developing country and this is how they operate.
We advise that when there is a hiccup along the way.
. . just take a deep breath and relax!! Getting angry
and upset will not help the situation (the Tongans
cannot understand emotional outbursts) BUT most of
all, it will spoil your special holiday with us in
this beautiful island paradise. . . .
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Aquatic Abilities
Minimum requirement:
Ability to swim, snorkel with fins and be confident
in the water. A buoyant wetsuit, snorkeling or flotation
vest AND mask, fins & snorkel MUST BE WORN in
the water at all times.
To assure a safe and
memorable expedition, we recommend that you prepare
physically for your amazing adventure with the humpback
whales. We suggest swimming and strength training
to ensure your agility and fitness.
If the WhaleSwim Team Leader and/or the licensed whale-watching
guide is not satisfied with your snorkeling ability,
then they have the right to refuse you entry to the
water with the whales as your lack of ability may
endanger the live of others. Therefore, we would recommend
that you improve your skills and level of fitness
before the tour to ensure fulfilling encounters. If
you do not have these skills you are very welcome
to join the expeditions each day for wonderful boat-based
whale watching experiences.
For those who have never snorkeled, we advise that
you enroll in a snorkeling course at your nearest
dive centre.
So that we can ascertain your level of water skills
and know whether you will require any special support
from the WhaleSwim Team, we will ask you to complete
and sign an 'Aquatic Abilities/Health /Fitness' questionnaire.
PLEASE NOTE:
Our expeditions are not suitable for guests 60 years
and over UNLESS you are extremely fit and agile.
They can be strenuous and physically challenging.
They demand an above-average level of fitness and
agility.
You will be required to swim distances of 30 - 80
metres and climb in and out of the boat after removing
your fins in deep water - sometimes in choppy seas
and strong currents.
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Liability
Waiver & Indemnifying Agreement
When you book your
tour, you will be asked to sign an AFFIRMATION
& LIABILITY WAIVER & INDEMNIFYING AGREEMENT.
Signing of this agreement is compulsory if
you want to join the expedition.
This is not because
its dangerous to swim with whales!! This agreement
is for our guests to take responsibility for any accident
they may have while on a WhaleSwim Adventures tour.
Our WhaleSwim Team take every precaution to keep our
guests safe, however we are a small business and will
not be open to being sued for any accident our guests
may have during our tours. This is why we highly recommend
Travel/Accident Insurance - it will cover any costs
that may occur.
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Stone Fish
Lion Fish
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Travel & Accident Insurance
Our safety measures
are stringent and we take every precaution in making
sure that your experience with the whales is stress-free.
We will however require you to have comprehensive
Travel/Accident insurance cover before you begin your
WhaleSwim Adventures expedition.
Your insurance must
cover you for travel problems, flight cancellations,
luggage loss, illness, and injury. Tonga is an isolated
and under-resource country and you will need full
unlimited medical insurance to cover evacuation etc
in the case of a serious eventuality. We educate our
guests regarding harmful fish on the reefs - (see
Lion fish and Stone fish pictures on left), however
accidents do happen and we just want to make sure
you have a great stress-free holiday with us!
Also consider
that the local airlines are not always on time. If
you miss your international flight due to the domestic
airline being late, you will have to buy another one
way ticket home.The local airlines WILL NOT pay for
your new ticket. We advise you not to risk the possibility
of it happening to you.
Travel insurance
on our Tonga expeditions is very highly recommended.
If you choose not to have Travel Insurance, you will
be required to sign an Insurance Waiver Form
Policies are available through your travel agent or
bank.
FOR USA - go online at www.accessamerica.com
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Our Children Policy
We welcome children on our tours
however there is certain criteria that is in place.
The child/children must be 13 years and over,
quiet in nature, be a confident swimmer and snorkeler,
happy to converse with adults and be able to be in a
confined space for 6 – 7 hours and not need constant
stimulation.
As there are mainly adults on our expeditions, their
personal space must be respected and they are not on
their special holiday to be ‘baby-sitters’
nor are our WhaleSwim staff. Therefore the parent/parents
must be responsible for their teenagers at all times.
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Dietary Requirements
The foods available in Tonga
are very fresh and simple with lots of carbohydrate.
Most specialist foods are not available here.
If you are wheat
or lactose intolerant, a vegan or strict vegetarian,
then you will need to bring most of your dietary requirements
with you.
Only wheat-based bread,
mostly white is served everywhere, (a rye/wheat bread
is available - but it's usually stale by lunchtime!)
and most meals served in restaurants and at the resorts
contain dairy products, meat or fish. All dairy products
and red meats are imported, however fresh locally-caught
fish or chicken is plentiful and delicious.
There is a limited range
of seasonal fruit and vegetables available. From August
to October there is an abundance of fresh bananas, pineapples,
papaya and watermelon. Locally-grown beans, tomatoes,
cabbage, onions, potatoes, cucumber, capsicum and some
lettuce, are generally the only vegetables available.
Carrots do come into season in September & October.
Tongan traditional vegetables such as taro, cassava,
yams, sweet potato and tapioca are always in plentiful
supply. White rice and pasta dishes are also often served
for evening meals.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL
DIETARY NEEDS - THEN WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BRING WHAT
YOU REQUIRE.
Please complete
the booking form with your dietary requirements - this
is important as we need to inform our caterers, the
resorts and restaurants.
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Terms & Conditions
of Booking a Whalewim Adventure
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Online 'Book your Tour' reservations
will be held for 14 days. The non-refundable
deposit is required within 14 days to confirm
a reservation.
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Payment (Australian Dollars
only) in full is required 70 days prior to your
WhaleSwim adventure and is non-refundable.
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Re-scheduling and substitution
of guests is permitted with approval of WhaleSwim
Adventures.
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A Liability Waiver must be signed
by each guest & returned to our office,within
14 days of booking your WhaleSwim Adventure
tour.
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Travel Insurance - which includes
Trip, Airfare Cancellation and Accident - is
mandatory. Otherwise a No Liability Insurance
Waiver must be signed.
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All rates and conditions are
subject to change. If payments are not received
at the designated times, WhaleSwim Adventures,
reserves the right to sell those spaces in question
with forfeiture of all monies to date.
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The booking is binding and all
payments are non-refundable.
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Prices may change due to currency
fluctuation, schedule changes or circumstances
beyond the control of WhaleSwim Adventure
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All tours are paid for in Australian
dollars only.
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These are ecological holidays,
Whaleswim Adventures reserves the right to ask
any participants to leave the group should he/she
behaves in a way that is insensitive to the
whales, the environment, local people, our staff
or other group members. No refund will be given.
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Children under 13 years old
are not accepted on our tours
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If the minimum bookings of 6
people is not reached 10 weeks prior to departure
of each expedition, then WhaleSwim has the right
to cancel the expedition and refund any monies
paid to them or transfer guests to another expedition.
Any airfares booked and paid for by the guest
should be covered by their travel insurance.
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WhaleSwim tours can only be 'referred' through travel agents, they can only be booked directly with WhaleSwim Adventure.
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Our Employment &
Volunteer Policy
We are a small business with very few
employees.We employ guides and several volunteers only in Tonga.
Our employment and volunteer policy is firstly, based
on you having been a 'former paying guest' on our
WhaleSwim Adventures in Tonga. This allows us to get
to know you and most importantly, experience your
interaction with others in the group and the whales!.
Secondly whether you have excellent water skills,
an adventurous nature, genuinely care for people and
the whales and whether you 'fit' in the Team.
A decision is made at the end of each season by the
WhaleSwim Team, the 'special guests' we decide on,
we 'invite' to join the team the following year.
If you are interested in working with us - then book
your place on one of our tours and see if you love
swimming with the whales in Tonga as much as we do!
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Hire or Purchase a
WhaleSwim Neoprene Snorkeling Vest
Our specially designed 3mm neoprene snorkeling vests
are available to hire or purchase.
Hire Prices:
AUD$30 for 7 or 9-day tours
AUD$20 for 3 day tours
Purchase price:
AUD$60
Please order online (click here)
Many guests purchase them for other snorkeling holidays!
They are comfortable and light to pack.
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