Frequently Asked Questions

We understand, a big trip needs preparation! Here are the common questions we get asked regarding the tour in Aitutaki

When is the best time to swim with whales in Aitutaki?

We get asked this question frequently. It’s a difficult answer, as the humpbacks (and other species of whales & dolphins) are in Aitutaki for the 3.5 months of the breeding season – late July to mid October – in numbers. We see and swim with humpbacks every day through the season – except when the weather is very rainy and windy and that happens only 3 or 4 days over the 3 month seasons. We only operate on dates that we absolutely know, through experience, the whales are around Aitutaki!

We swam with humpback whales every day we hereon the water in 2025 season. So many whales! You can see the whales playing just over the reef from the restaurant at your accommodation most of each day.

Why are you not operating day trips?

Our aim is to take you on the fullest and best whale-swimming experience possible – not fleeting glimpses. For this, you need to maximize your time on the water. We are not here to force any interaction but instead find you the right whales to have the best interaction with! Our years of experience allow us to know that immersing yourself in many different whale encounters over a week time is the best way to experience this very intimate & profound privilege. It can be absolutely life-changing for many.

AND . . know that once you have swum with them, once you have looked in the eye of a whale, you will want to do it again and again.

A good whale-watching skipper knows that the best way to get great encounters is to take the time to let the whales get used to the boat and for the swimmers to be an un-intrusive as possible. Our skipper, Onu is a local and operated his dive centre for over 20 years. Our guide, Tui is a Tongan, born and raised in New Zealand and is Onu’s son-in-law. You will be greeted with a big smile, that stay on his face all day! He has been taking people in the water with whales for several years now, he loves and has a very deep respect for the whales and the ocean.

It is harder for the 1/2-day trips as they have limited time and are under pressure to deliver the swims so the swims can be fleeting. We intend to be in the water having a relaxed and amazing encounter with the humpbacks for up for 1.5hrs.

How to arrive in Rarotonga & get to Aitutaki?

The International Airlines servicing Rarotonga Cook Islands are:

Air New Zealand - direct flights daily from Auckland
Jetstar direct flight from both Sydney and Brisbane
Hawaiian Airlines from major cities in USA via Honolulu every Friday, arriving at 10:50 pm in Rarotonga island is required) and returning every Saturday at 12:30 pm. These flights fit our 5 & 6-night and some 7-night tours.
Air Tahiti Nui and Rarotonga Airlines from Tahiti several times a week. Check their websites.

Once your arrive in Rarotonga, the capital and the main island of the Cook Islands, you need to fly to Aititaki which is a 50min flight and there are 4 flights per day except on Sunday morning. Go to www.airraro.com to book your flights.

Mobile Visitors SIM cards are available at the airport- they are for 30 days. But getting an eSIM online before you leave to go to Aitutaki is even a better way to do it. https://www.vodafone.co.ck/
Then you can just pop into the little store at the International airport to make sure it's all hooked up or there is a Vodafone store in the main town on Aitutaki. Just remembered the store is closed on weekends so it's good to top up during the week. It's easy because we passed the Vodafone shop transferring you to/ from the whaleswim boat. Vodafone is the only network on the Cook Islands. We recommend that you get a ‘visitors SIM’ for your stay with us.

If you have time to wait for your domestic flight onto Aitutaki - we recommend the local bus the circles the island every 40 mins - ask at the Information Desk at the airport or any friendly local will help you. You can get on and off wherever you can - just tell the driver!

DOMESTIC FLIGHT TO AITUTAKI
A 50min flight with www.airrarotonga.com
There are several flight per day :

Monday to Saturday  Departing RAR : 5.00am, 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.30am, 1.00pm, 6.30pm & 6.30pm
Returning AIT: 6.10am, 9.10am, 10.10am, 11.40am, 2.10pm, 5.10pm & 7.40pm
Sundays  Departing RAR: 11.15am, 1.30pm & 4.00pm
Departing AIT: 12.25pm, 2.40pm & 5.10pm 

Visa Information

Entering the Cook Islands: A visitors Visa is not required from any country in the world, if you are staying less than 30 days.

Transiting through Auckland International Airport;: you are required to have a Transit Visa, even if it's just a two hour wait between flights. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/transit-visa/

this Visa is valid for up to 24 hours it costs NZ$235 and takes around4 days to process online.

If you are staying longer than your 24 hour transit Visa in New Zealand, you will need a Visitors Visa and if you intend to work while you're there you will need a Work permit. New Zealand Immigration is very strict on this. To apply for a formal Visitor Visa.

Transport on the island of Aitutaki.

Transport for visitors on Aititaki is via taxis, rental car, scooter, bike or electric bicycle. All need to be rented. There is no public bus service. We recommend that you hire a car for some of the days that you're there or if you're fit and can circumnavigate the island on an electric bicycle, then we recommend that very highly. Taxis are not cheap and some, charge per person.

Staying on Rarotonga?

We highly recommend staying a couple of nights on the main island of Rarotonga before or after your tour with us and Aitutaki. It's a wonderful island! It's laid-back, relaxed, beautiful, lots of activities to do, great food, great restaurants and excellent accommodation (from high-end beach resorts to backpackers/home-stays and everything in between) highly recommend it! Go to Trivago, an accommodation site that will show which website has the best deals https://www.trivago.com/

If you are a scuba diver, this is a wonderful place to get in a couple of dives before the tour or after the tour as there is no scuba diving available on Aitutaki during the whale season.

Scuba Diving - Adventures Cook Islands: we highly recommend this operator. He is very respectful to the environment and the best dive Centre on Rarotonga. https://www.adventurecookislands.com/ also have a fantastic hire centre for kayaks, motorbikes/scooters, snorkelling gear etc - check out their website.

Snorkelling with Turtles & Eagle Rays - Ocean Toa Turtle Snorkelling tours https://www.oceantoa.com/

Lagoon & Water Activities

Glass-Bottom Boat Tours: Take a lagoon cruise out to the motus (small islands), often featuring snorkeling stops and a beachside BBQ.
Kitesurfing & SUP: Muri Lagoon offers ideal, calm-water conditions for stand-up paddleboarding and introductory kitesurfing lessons.

🥾 Land & Nature Adventures

Cross-Island Hike: Tackle the 3 to 4-hour trek to The Needle. The summit provides incredible panoramic views of the island's coastline.
Eco-Cycling Tours: Take a guided mountain bike or electric bike tour through the tropical interior, learn about local history, and enjoy stream-side rides. https://www.storytellers.co.ck/discover and
Tuk-Tuk & e-Bike tours on Rarotonga https://www.tik-etours.com/ Hop aboard the bright orange electric Tuk Tuks of Tik-e Tours for a fun, sunset bar crawl around Rarotonga. You can enjoy tropical cocktails at top beachside spots while your driver handles the driving, making it a perfectly safe and memorable evening on the island.
Wigmore's Waterfall: Take a short, leisurely walk through the lush rainforest to this scenic, freshwater swimming spot.
Buggy or 4WD Tours: Jump in an off-road buggy or open-air 4x4 to journey through the island's rugged dirt tracks and plantations. https://www.rarobuggytours.com/ and https://www.rarosafaritours.com/

🌺 Culture & Nightlife

Punanga Nui Market: Visit in the main town of Avarua on Saturday mornings to shop for fresh fruit, black pearls, handmade crafts, and local food.
Muri Night Market: An open-air food market operating on select nights, offering a fantastic variety of fresh seafood, curries, and desserts.
Island Nights: Experience a traditional buffet dinner combined with spectacular drum and dance performances, hosted at various resorts and cultural centres across the island.

Can anybody join the tour or do I need a minimum of fitness level?

You need above-average fitness and agility in the water.
Good snorkeling skills
To be comfortable and confident snorkeling in very deep water in the open ocean, for 50 – 200 metres (sometimes in big swells).
You need to be able to get your fins/mask & snorkel on quickly when requested by the crew.
You must be able to get yourself off and on the boat unassisted.

Although humpback whales are 12 -15 metres long and weigh about 40 ton, they are gentle animals and are very aware of us in the water. They will even drop their 5m long pectoral fin or turn their tail fluke to avoid us as they swim by. The calves are sometimes very curious and they often seem to love to be around us. The thought of being so close to them may be frightening but after your first encounter you will understand why they are known as the gentle giants of the sea.

If you feel that your swimming and snorkelling skills is not up to the level we require, or that you are a little unfit, we suggest that you enrol in snorkelling lessons and improve your swimming skills and fitness levels prior to joining your tour to insure the best encounters possible.

Your level of skill and confidence will determine whether our Skipper/Guide will allow you in the water with the whales.

It is TOP PRIORITY to have good snorkeling gear.

Please note: Your tour leader is not there to assist you in the water, he is there to keep all the group safe.

What equipment do I need to bring?

A good snorkelling gear that fits you personally!

We will be out in the water every day so it's essential to have your own comfy snorkelling gear. You will not be able to rent good quality snorkelling gear in Aitutaki or Rarotonga.

PLEASE NOTE: FOR YOUR SAFETY we ask you to wear a buoyant wetsuit or vest PLUS your mask, fins and snorkel at all times when snorkeling with the whales on any WhaleSwim Adventure tour

You will need:

comfortable mask & snorkel – semi-dry top and self-purging is preferable so you are not constantly blowing water out of your snorkel. (but not with totally dry’ style with the ball in the top – the ball can jam shut, making breathing extremely difficult! ) Please have your mask ‘fitted’ correctly at the store – all masks are different and all face shapes are different. Remember, this gear is the very reason you are booking our tour! Please choose a black or dark blue, red or dark grey masks – NOT clear masks as they tend to create reflection off the surface of the water.
comfortable pair of full foot long fins, do not buy them too tight or you will get blisters. Make sure you have a bit of movement in them. (NOT dive fins that you need to wear neoprene booties with - because the booties float!) You have to keep your fins below the surface of the water when snorkelling (prevents noise and water disturbance that spooks the whales) and this will be difficult if you are wearing booties that float.
If you want to protect your feet/heels from blistering in your full-foot fins, then the nylon/spandex skin socks (https://www.finisswim.com/Skin-Socks)
For older women (or mens with knee problems) we recommend Mares Fluida fins - they are light and easy on your knees! Blade: 35cm / 13.7in.
We also recommend the Mares Avanti Quattro Power fins for speed and comfort.
Fin / Blade length for snorkelling with whales should be from about 12 - 20 inches / 35 - 48 cm) long (NOT including the foot pocket)
If you buy fins that are a firm to tight fit, you will get blisters by day 2!
My fins are loose, when standing in them, I can bend my foot & just about pull my heel out of them. Most people think they will fall off in the water, this is not true. They will be really comfortable you'll feel water inside of them as you are finning and you will not get no blisters. REMEMBER! please do not take the advice of the store-seller - unless they have swum with humpback whales!
For large feet (up to size 16) – we recommend https://www.leisurepro.com/p-scpfg/scubapro-go-travel-fin
buoyancy – its safer and easier to be still in the water around the whales wearing a buoyant garment – like a neoprene vest or t-shirt or a wetsuit (short or long – depending on whether you feel the cold). It will keep you afloat on the surface without any effort and allows free movement in the water. You can hire our sleeveless zip-up vests for $30 - see photo - order them in our booking system once you have booked your tour. We have sizes from XS - XXXL
Water temperature is 24/26 degrees but we DO recommend, if you easily get cold, to bring a 3mm wetsuit (even in the tropics!)
a Lycra top (Rashie) or suit or a Sharkskin top will keep you warm if you tend to feel the cold easily and for protection from the sun while you are on the boat. (optional)
If you are bringing a Go-Pro – short handle pole ONLY! – a head-strap doesn't work and a long-pole is not permitted!
Latest iPhone or Samsung with the latest under-water housing, a compact camera with excellent lenses and uw housing are other excellent options.

Type of equipment we recommend :

For Safety reasons, we DO NOT recommend this type of equipment :

(This mask is designed for using on a reef in shallow still water - they fog up

and often leak in choppy waters)

(The booties will make your feet float therefore

splash the water & scare the whales)

(Those fins are too short and

not enough powerful to swim with - please do not listen to the store sales
person if the have not swim with whales in the open ocean!)

(The all dry snorkel with

ball on top, the ball can jam shut making breathing difficult!)

(Long selfie stick forbidden on our tours,

they get in the photos & on the face of other guests)

How many people in the group?

Our tours are small and cater for a maximum of 10 guests only.

Our 27 years of experience being in the ocean, with humpback whales, it doesn’t matter if there are 4 or 15 people in the water at one time, it’s about the way we behave around the whales.
This means that you are in the water with the whales every time and you will have the opportunity for many in-the-water encounters during our 4 – 4.5 hours on the water with the whales, over the 6 or 8 days. You will have time to enjoy the incredible up-close surface action too.

We are the only Whaleswimming company that teaches you 'how to get to and how be around the whales safely and without harassment. This is extremely important to us and why we no longer operate in Moorea, Tahiti. Since 2025, they allow a maximum of ( 9 people from the 3 licensed boats that have permission to be within 200m of the whales that means 27 people around a whale or a group of whales or mother and calf at one time! This is harassment because you cannot manage that many people in the water surrounding the whales. All other boats queueing, have to stand off at 300 m and wait their turn.

Minimum age is 18 years old unless you are booking all 10 spaces on the boat.

Where to stay prior or after the tour?

Planning to stay a little longer?

Here are our recommendation of hotels in Aitutaki: Resort Tava’e, where you are staying for the tour - excellent and on the beach.
If you would like a few nights at a 5-star resort - we recommend Pacific Resort Aitutaki or Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort.

We look forward to you join us in paradise!

WhaleSwim Adventures
Contact Rae if you have more questions!
rae@whaleswim.com

Cameras

Over the past 27 years we have tried many kinds of cameras and we are happy to tell you that you don't have to buy those big underwater cameras with housing etc any more!

The easiest and best under-water camera and the best quality videos is:

#1 JOBY SeaPal Action Kit for iPhone & Samsung last year and loved it. Great results and it felt secure. Note that you can’t take still photos underwater with it and you will need to practice with so that you know how to use it for those magic moments with the whales. Here’s a good review: Joby SeaPal Waterproof Phone Case review: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/joby-seapal-waterproof-phone-case-review

We highly recommend the JOBY SeaPal Action Kit for iPhone & Samsung which contains, Seapal waterproof case, a Seapal Bluetooth Shutter Grip & Sports Leash. The shutter grip handle, contains a Bluetooth button connected to your phone, just press to take the photo!.
SeaPal supports all the latest features of the iPhone 16/15/14/13/12* models and Samsung Galaxy S24/23/22 series phones.

No 3rd party apps required. Just use your phone, your way.
*not compatible with iPhone 13/12 Mini*
Depth Rating: 10 m / 33 ft

Yes, you can bring your GoPro but be aware, that it has a wide angle lens, therefore you will not be able to get close-ups of the whales, they will look much further away in your video clips and stills. The still underwater camera that we highly recommend is The Olympus G7 Tough is a good little camera for still photos, and one we have used for the past 5 years. Takes good stills, video not fabulous though. Here is a pretty accurate and recent review: Olympus G7 Tough Camera Olympus https://amateurphotographer.com/review/om-system-tough-tg-7-review-raw-makes-it/ Best small camera with excellent lenses, for high quality photos. You can also add the underwater housing but it's not necessary up to 10 m deep.

SEAPAL JOBY ACTION KIT (iPhone and Samsu