The ECO-Accredited ‘Swim with the Humpback Whales Tour’ in Coffs Harbour, NSW

The annual migration of Humpback Whales is a spectacle that evokes wonder and awe. Towers of water vapour sent high into the air, or the enormous splashes after the whales rise from the deep, are often so large that they’re visible from land. But the real thrill lies in the unique opportunity to swim alongside these majestic creatures in the open ocean.

Join me in Coffs Harbour NSW as I come face-to-face with a herd of curious humpback whales on Jetty Dive ECO-accredited ‘Swim with the Humpback Whales Tour‘.

What to expect from the Jetty Dive Swim with the Humpback Whales Tour

Getting kitted up at Jetty Dive Coffs Harbour: The morning tour kicks off at Jetty Dive Coffs Harbour to get fitted and kitted with wetsuits, masks and flippers. There were so many different sizes, and the friendly team was super helpful in getting everyone’s gear packed quickly and efficiently.

Step aboard the boat for a safety briefing: Before departing the Marina, our Skipper, Steve, gets everyone’s attention for a comprehensive safety briefing, including what to expect from the sometimes unpredictable nature of the experience. The success rate for a Jetty Dive whale swim is exceptionally high, thanks to the network of spotters on land who constantly communicate with our boat, ‘MegaWild’. Its powerful engines ensure we can quickly navigate where we want to be.

There’s almost a 100% chance you will see humpback whales: After cruising for a few minutes, someone spotted a large spout of water filling the air. The excitement was palpable as we had already spotted our first whale of the day, and then, seconds later, in another direction, a second big splash!

Sometimes it takes time to find the ‘right’ ones to swim with: After years of watching and studying humpback whales, Jetty Dive knows which whales are safe to swim with and which ones are best to let be. As swimming with mothers and their calves closer to the shore was not permitted, we headed to deeper and clearer waters closer to the edge of the continental shelf. Here, we were more likely to come across some curious juveniles or “less frisky” adult whales taking a break from their mission to protect whales closer to shore from predators.

“When the whales start to approach us, put masks on and get ready to slide into the water.” With the land, a hazy 25km blur in the distance, nearby splashes and whale waterspouts began to appear. Two ocean giants came to our boat, spy hopping (whales popping their heads up out of the water) to check us out / say hello. Everyone popped their gear on, and within seconds, we were sitting on the boat’s edge, ready to get wet. By this time, at least three whales were slowly taking turns gliding right underneath us. The water was so clear you could see these curious creatures turning upside down, exposing their white bellies, magically turning the deep blue water above them into a beautiful turquoise.

As the whales approached, my heart raced with excitement. After a few calming breaths, we were instructed to slide into the water without making a splash. We were reminded not to swim towards the whales but to let them approach us, which they did.

OMG, I’m swimming with a Humpback Whale! There was almost no time to think about being afraid, as within a split second, we gathered into a small group, with Humpback Whales the size of a bus swimming all around us and our boat. Just as we were interested in them, so were they of us. The whales gilded gracefully and peacefully through the water, taking several breaths – the sound of their blowholes sending water vapour high into the air is something words cannot describe. Eventually, they dived below us, slowly faded into the deep blue, and eventually disappeared altogether.

Ditch the ego as you might need to ‘speak whale’: One of our guides reminded us to keep making lots of sounds and singing, even though we felt silly. By doing so, we were able to engage with the whales, who swam a little closer to satisfy their curiosity.

Sometimes, the whales come very close! Within minutes, another four whales joined us from a different direction. This lot was even more curious, getting as close as 5 metres away. One whale was so near I looked straight into its beautiful eye, which is something that I will never forget. The whales seemed like they were playing with us and enjoyed rolling around upside down, showing us what looked like a little wave with their fins. I could only imagine what they were thinking of these strange creatures with colourful flippers bobbing in the ocean. The amazement was mutual.

A short time later, the original two whales returned from their deep dive, and we were now swimming with six humpback whales in total. Watching the whales swim all around us was a mind-blowing experience, and the range of emotions I felt at this moment could only be described as wanting to cry, laugh, and scream all at once. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to feel extremely calm in the presence of these serene and magnificent creatures. Their energy is pure serenity.

This whale encounter lasted around 40 minutes, but it felt like four. Believe it or not, this was the first of three whale swims that day!

Humpback Whale swim tours Coffs Coast, Australia: Best times To go

The success of spotting or swimming with a humpback whale will increase depending on the season and migration numbers. From June, Humpback whales migrate north from the south pole to have their young in warm, shallow waters off Queensland in Australia. From August to November, the whales will begin to make their way back south, which is the best time for whale watching. The Coffs Coast is unique for humpback whales because the surrounding waters are like giant, shallow bays. They are especially favourable to whales wanting to protect their young or older whales and wanting to stop and rest/play.

While there is no guarantee that you will get to swim with a whale during the migration season, Jetty Dive typically delivers a 75-95% success rate during the swim tour months of August and September, which is also when there is high visibility in the water.

Jetty Dive leads the way with the only eco-accredited whale swim tour in NSW

Jetty Dive’s ‘Swim with the Humpback Whales Tour’ is also NSW’s only ECO-accredited whale swim tour, focusing on respecting the whale’s well-being in this non-intrusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Skipper Steve advised us Jetty Dive follows strict guidelines that regulate boat tours to maintain the safety and well-being of migrating whales. These guidelines include protocols for keeping a safe distance, limiting the number of boats and travel speed, and limiting the duration of interactions. Steve always watched from above when we were in the water, managing participant behaviour to ensure respectful and non-intrusive encounters.

Advanced Ecotourism Certified, Jetty Dive is committed to sustainable practices, conservation, and minimal environmental impact. This certification assures customers that Jetty Dive adheres to high standards in ecotourism, providing eco-friendly experiences while contributing to environmental preservation and local communities.

Aside from a wealth of knowledge, one of the benefits of doing a whale swim tour with Jetty Dive is that they regularly collaborate with the Solitary Islands Marine Park , a significant marine science and conservation area. This partnership allows them to offer unique experiences that are not only thrilling but also educational, providing insights into marine research and conservation efforts. Jetty Dive is and contributes to scientific research and conservation efforts within the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

All images used in this article are supplied by Sarah Jae Photography & Creative

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