Sunbeams streamed down through sapphire blue water reflecting off the massive 40 ton, 15 meter long humpback whale as she poised motionless just above the sand 10 meters below. Tucked under her giant chin a baby whale also hung motionless staring eye to eye with the 5 strange creatures floating above on the surface. Eventually the desire to breathe every 10 – 15 minutes drove the baby to the surface but equally compelling was the curiosity of youth and the desire for play.

Rising effortlessly upward the baby angled towards the five snorkel divers and perceiving no threat engaged them face to face. Though tiny in proportion to its mother it dwarfed the divers filling their field of view as it frolicked on the surface. Watching vigilantly below, the mother decided to join her calf and the new playmates that were such an interesting distraction. She seemed to levitate to the surface and with one gentle swoop of her 4 meter pectoral flipper she scooped up her baby and moved off into the endless blue.

Although capable of detecting the song of other humpback whales through miles of ocean, neither mother nor calf would have heard the shouts of joy among the group of Dive 2000 snorkellers bobbing in the wake of these whales.

We had come to the beautiful, sheltered, Islands of Vava’u to rendezvous with the annual migration of Humpback whales escaping the harsh Antarctic winter. The protected waters close to the sea cliffs and islands provide in ideal environment for the birth of each year’s babies and an opportunity for prospective males to mate and create next year’s offspring.

We found whales in abundance; we observed and swam with many mothers and calves, also escorts who were either her next choice of mate or a caring aunty. On every trip out we had successful encounters and enjoyed interacting with the whales in the crystal blue waters of Vava’u.

Our scuba dives were filled with the song of humpbacks to the point where it was almost too distracting to concentrate on the coral seascape before us. Giant sea caves beckoned exploration, fields of sea fans led us through tropical coral gardens and reefs of soft corals dazzled with vivid colour when touched by torch light.

Surface interval in Vava’u was an absolute pleasure. Our rooms all looked out across the vista of scenic Port of Refuge, a haven for yachtsmen from all over the globe. Our evenings were spent tasting the delights at charming seaside restaurants spread along the foreshores. None would disappoint and many would tempt us back to complete the repast.

Tonga is known as the friendly isles for good reason; the heartfelt welcome we received everywhere we travelled filled our hearts with the desire to return. Every day brought a new experience for our group. On our non dive day we ventured forth on a Kart Safari, the best way to get off road and with the help of our guide, discover some of the most scenic viewpoints in Vava’u. Also great fun along the way.

Peaceful nights were filled with dreams of gentle giants gliding through blue waters, their haunting song etched into our minds. It all seems unreal now as I sit in my office at my computer, except I have the spectacular images that my camera captured even though I was mesmerised at the time.

And even when these images seem unreal I just cast my mind back to one moment in time when my wife Cherie, a lover of all creatures great and small, looked at me and said, `my god I can’t believe it, I have just swum with whales!

The humpbacks and calves are migrating down our coast to Antarctica now, perhaps you will see them pass. One thing I can promise, we will be back in the beautiful islands of Vava’u in September, 2010 when they return.

You might want to join us too!

More Photos at http://www.dive2000.com/blog/Photos/TravelPhotos/TravelPhotoArchive/Tonga