Swimming with Gentle Giants - Humpback Whale Tour - Aug to Sept

Swim with the Giants – Humpback Whale Tour

Every year, over 30,000 Humpback Whales migrate along the Ningaloo Reef, and we’re proud to have been part of the first swimming-with-humpback trials on the Western Australian coast. Aboard our spacious 56ft vessel, Heron, our experienced and passionate crew provide the perfect platform for this unforgettable adventure.

For years, we’ve been captivated by the majestic Humpback Whales that grace Ningaloo’s waters — their sheer size, beauty, and playful antics never fail to amaze. Sharing the ocean with these gentle giants is a truly humbling and emotional experience.

Now, you have the opportunity to enter their world and quietly swim alongside them, witnessing a small part of their incredible journey.

Tour Focus

This tour primarily focuses on swimming with Humpback Whales, but if a suitable encounter cannot be achieved, we’ll seek out other amazing marine wildlife such as Whale Sharks or Manta Rays, depending on what’s in the area.

Swimmer Requirements

• Minimum age: 13 years old

• Must be a confident swimmer, able to swim 200m unassisted in open water

Humpback Whale Interaction Criteria

To ensure a safe and respectful interaction, our team and spotter plane evaluate each whale’s:

• Depth: In shallow, clear water

• Behaviour: Travelling or resting calmly

• Calf presence: If with a calf, the calf must be at least half the size of the mother

While encounters can never be guaranteed with wild animals, our dedicated team will do their best to maximise your chances of swimming with a whale.

How do we locate the whales

We use a dedicated spotter plane to locate pods that are calm, slow-moving, and resting - ideal for a successful, safe swim. Our pilot and skipper continually assessing their behaviour"

• Speed: Slower whales offer better opportunities for interaction

• Behaviour: Avoiding surface-active or distressed whales

• Location: Preferring shallow waters for visibility and safety

• Pod composition: Steering clear of mothers with very small calves

This careful process ensures both your safety and the wellbeing of the whales, while giving you the best chance to enjoy a life-changing encounter.

Swimming with Giants full day adventure

Your Swim with Giants experience is a full-day adventure, designed to showcase the very best of the Ningaloo Reef and its incredible marine life.

We’ll begin the day by picking you up from your accommodation at 7:00 AM, followed by a scenic drive to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp. Along the way, our friendly and knowledgeable crew will share insights about Exmouth and the Cape Range National Park.

Upon boarding our spacious vessel, you’ll be greeted by our skipper with a freshly made barista coffee, while our crew fits you with quality snorkelling gear. After a couple of important safety briefings, we’ll head out for our first snorkel on the stunning Ningaloo Reef—the perfect opportunity to get comfortable in the water and enjoy exploring Ningaloo Reef.

Following your snorkel, morning tea will be served, featuring a bread platter with dukkah, veggie platter and dips, cheese, and crackers. As you relax, we’ll head out to the outer reef, where our dedicated spotter plane will begin searching for our gentle giants! 

Once a suitable pod is located, we’ll make our way out to observe these gentle giants, and if they meet our safety criteria we will be able to enter the water. Only seven swimmers are allowed in the water at a time, accompanied by our experienced guide and professional photographer to capture this truly extraordinary experience.

If no suitable Humpback Whales are found to swim with, we’ll turn our focus to other Ningaloo favourites, such as Whale Sharks or Manta Rays, depending on what’s in the area. Sometimes we find them quickly; other times, it takes a little longer. While we wait, we may enjoy some Humpback Whale watching or search for other exciting marine encounters.

Later in the day, you’ll be treated to a gourmet buffet-style lunch, including local Exmouth prawns. 

If time permits, we’ll enjoy an afternoon snorkel in the lagoon before wrapping up the day with afternoon tea and a celebratory drink as we cruise back to shore.

Our professional photographer will capture every highlight of your experience — and you’ll receive complimentary photos of your adventure.

We’ll have you back in Exmouth between 2:00–3:00 PM, with memories to last a lifetime.

This is a full-day, unrushed experience, carefully designed to maximise your chances of swimming with Ningaloo’s most iconic ocean giants while ensuring the safety and comfort of both our guests and the wildlife.

Your Tour Includes

• Complimentary return transfers from your accommodation (hotels and caravan parks in Exmouth town, including Yardie Homestead).
  Note: We do not collect from Airbnb properties—please select the closest meeting point.

• Experienced and passionate guides, all qualified dive professionals.

• Onboard Marine Specialist to share insights about Ningaloo’s marine life.

• All snorkelling equipment provided: mask, snorkel, fins, stinger suits, wetsuits, noodles, and life vests if required.

• Dedicated spotter plane for the best chance of locating suitable whales.

• Buffet-style catering with morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea — featuring fresh local Exmouth wild prawns. (Special dietary requirements can be catered for; please let us know in advance.)

• Unlimited refreshments: tea, coffee, and chilled filtered water.

• Professional photographer providing complimentary photos of your day.

• All government fees included — a portion of every ticket goes directly towards whale shark research and conservation.