For guests who have dreamed of swimming with humpback whales, the Tonga Tango rigid inflatable boat (RIB) will allow you to take you close enough to swim with the gentle giants.

The Tonga Tango is a 28 foot speed-boat designed with snorkeling & diving in mind. For more personalized diving trips the boat is designed to take a maximum of twelve "whale-swimmers." The boat is very fast, clean, and offers a quiet ride while comfortably cruising at an exhilarating 30 knots. Getting there is truly half the fun. The boat also has a specialized camera table with fresh water rinse to take care of your underwater photo gear.

On arrival, guests may either ease into the water, simply back roll off the side, or slide off with your camera and snorkeling gear. The boat's custom & one-of-a-kind dive ladder makes getting out of the water and back into the boat easier than on other dive boats.

Please note: This Concierge Choice tour is limited to 12 participants, only. This snorkel tour is not recommended for novice swimmers/snorkelers as it is a strenuous activity. All guests will be required to wear life jackets while onboard the boat, and a personal buoyancy aid (P.B.A.) while swimming/snorkeling. Guests are encouraged to wear swim wear with cover up, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and bring snorkel gear, towel, and bottled water with them. While onboard, lunch consisting of sandwiches, fruit and soft drinks and water are provided.

Vava'u's big island is set in a cluster of nearly forty smaller islands. The only harbor providing access to Neiafu is considered one of the most picturesque in the Pacific. Your boat excursion takes you on a cruise through the harbor to the island of Kapa where you will visit the famous Swallow's Cave, sanctuary for thousands of swallows every autumn.
You will continue by boat to the the island of Nuku. With its crystal blue waters and perfect beach, it is one of the most exquisite islands in Tonga. Once ashore on Nuku, you will have time to stroll, swim, and relax on the beach before returning by boat to Vava'u. Refreshments will be also be served.

Please note: Guests are encouraged to wear reef shoes, and a swimsuit under cover-up, adequate sun-protection. Please bring a towel and insect repellant with you from the ship.

This scenic tour takes you across the northern side of the main island and provides an opportunity to learn some of the history and lifestyle of this tropical destination.

Begin your tour with a visit to Tailulu College, which is a secondary school of the Free Church of Tonga. This vantage point offers a clear view of Mount Talau, the highest point on the island, which is over 400 feet high. Tailulu College also has one of the most spectacular views of the sheltered harbor of Vava'u and your cruise ship. The tour then continues to Garden Bay, the only Botanical Garden in Vava'u. Here you will see what many islanders do for a living. Adorned with native plants as well as some species that have been introduced to our island through migration, you will be guided by a knowledgeable botanist who will describe how the plants are used for medicines and other uses. The Botanical Gardens also cultivate vanilla beans and kava plants which are cash crops of the island's economy.

Afterwards, re-board your bus and proceed to the Paradise International Hotel for refreshment and traditional entertainment before you return to your ship.

Please note: For the January and February 2009 calls to Vava'u, refreshments and traditional entertainment will be provided at the Puataukanave Hotel.

From Halaevalu Wharf, you will travel aboard a non air-conditioned, 'island style' mini-van to the beautiful Eneio Beach via the township of Neiafu and through some picturesque little villages.

Upon arriving at Eneio Beach, the time is free and unscheduled for you to enjoy. Feel free to relax, indulge in some sunbathing or swim in the warm sheltered waters.

A Tongan buffet style lunch will be served with a variety of mouth-watering traditional island dishes, including roast suckling pig, fish, taro and seasonal tropical fruits. Colorfully dressed islanders will exuberantly serenade you with Tongan songs and dances and later on there will be still time for swimming before returning to your ship.

Please note: Guests are encouraged to wear swimming/beach attire with a cover-up, and to bring a towel, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Due to the coral reefs proximity to the beach, guests are encouraged to swim with footwear (washable shoes or aqua socks). A restroom is available on the beach.

Vava'u is one of few remaining places left in the world where you can view these gigantic creatures. Aside from being able to observe these magical creatures from the vessel experience this truly once in a lifetime opportunity with experienced guide.

Every year from July to November, they complete their migration from the cold feeding waters south of New Zealand and Australia, to the warmer tropical waters of Tonga where give birth to calves and perform courtship readying themselves for the next season.

Watching the Humpback Whales is a treat everyone should see, both above and below the surface they aim to please with wonderful displays of activity. Breaching, spy hopping, fin slapping are a few of the behaviors regularly encountered on the surface of the water. The most heart warming though, are the underwater views of mother's resting with their calf, taking a well-earned break whilst still keeping an eye on her restless and often playful calf.

Enjoy a boat ride through the pristine inland water-ways of the Vava'u Island Group. See stunning and unique island formations crystal clear waters and like for humpback whales enjoying the calm seas. Escorts eager to gain courtship during the season will often accompany the mothers, keeping out of the way and generally at a slight distance, but still keeping a watchful eye out for that certain signal.

Through out July to November, the waters surrounding Vava'u are filled with music as the Humpback Whales sing their hearts out. Laying on the surface of the water your body absorbs the vibrations and captivates your whole being into their song. A stunning once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Please note: This tour is not a snorkeling tour, and guests are not able to enter the water. Marine life sightings cannot be guaranteed. Guests are strongly encouraged to wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. While onboard, lunch consisting of sandwiches, fruit and soft drinks and water are provided.

Enjoy stunning sub-island views as you make your way to the outer reefs of Vava'u.

Vava'u offers a vast array of year round diving for all levels and experiences. Topographically, the islands of Vava'u offer stunning underwater caverns and cave systems, where divers can surface in different chambers, and encounter the marine life that inhabit these areas. Soft coral walls and large sea fans can be found on many of the dive sites, and there is even a wreck dive within the sheltered harbor waters. Mandarin fish and sea horses have also been located in the main harbor.

During the first dive you will descend with your guide and your surface interval may be spent making your way to the second dive site, or enjoying some of the many shallow reefs nearby.

Please note: Guest Divers are required to bring proof of certification and dive log. The estimated depth of dives are approximately 80 - 85 feet. This tour is limited to 12 participants, only. This scuba tour is not recommended for novice/beginner divers. Guests are encouraged to wear swim wear with cover up, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, towel, and bottled water with them. While onboard the dive boat, lunch consisting of sandwiches, fruit and soft drinks and water are provided. Guests are encouraged to bring additional bottles of water with them from the ship.