Moorea Whale Tour: Watching and Swimming (Temoana Tours)

About This Experience

Temoana Tours is a Moorea whale operator with more than 15 years on the water, and this is its half-day humpback trip: watching from the boat first, then guided swims when the whales and the sea allow it. It holds a 4.8 rating from 74 reviews, with guides Yoann and Nicolas and boat driver Henua named again and again.

The listing offers pickup or a meeting at the operator's start point, and the details come with your booking. From there the boat heads outside the reef, because watching and swimming with whales is allowed only in the open ocean, never inside the lagoon, bays or passes.

On the water the guide explains humpback behavior while the crew looks for whales that are calm enough for a swim, then leads each water entry. Reviewers describe waiting with the guide for the right moment, several chances to get in the water, and mothers with calves close by. One guest who stayed on the boat still saw and heard a mother and calf, and the crew shared a video of the day afterward.

It suits confident swimmers with at least moderate fitness, as the listing puts it, and reviewers add that you need to be a decent swimmer. One October group had large swells and still felt looked after. It is not recommended for pregnant travelers or people with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. A three-star reviewer who accepted the wildlife risk was unhappy with the organization of the day, so keep an eye on your confirmation messages.

The price starts at $312 per person, which puts it among the pricier shared swim trips on this site. Bottled water and snorkeling gear are included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start, and the tour runs in English and French.

Highlights

• Watch humpbacks from the boat, then swim with them when the guide judges it safe
• Guides with more than 15 years of whale trips around Moorea
• Reviewers report mothers and calves close by during swims
• Several chances to enter the water on a good day, according to reviews
• Four hours outside the reef, enough time to wait for a calm whale
• Commentary on humpback behavior while the crew searches

What's Included

• ✓ Four-hour small-group boat trip outside the reef
• ✓ Guide who briefs you and leads each water entry
• ✓ Pickup available, or meet at the start point
• ✓ Bottled water
• ✓ Use of snorkeling equipment

Not Included

• Snacks or meals (only bottled water is listed)
• Wetsuit (not listed among the inclusions)

What to Bring

• Swimsuit and a rash vest or wetsuit if you have one
• Towel and a dry layer for the ride back
• Mineral sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
• Motion-sickness tablets, taken before boarding
• An underwater camera on a wrist strap

Good to Know & Caveats

• Licensed whale tours can run only from 20 July to 20 November, between 07:30 and 17:30; outside those dates no operator can take you to the whales.
• Sightings and swims are never guaranteed. Whales are wild, and the crew decides on the day whether sea state and whale behavior allow anyone into the water.
• The listing asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and reviewers say you need to be a decent swimmer for the open ocean.
• Operators require a life jacket in the water unless you wear a wetsuit; ask Temoana Tours which applies before the day.
• Swimmers must stay 15 m from a whale and the boat 100 m, so the whales set the distance.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

Temoana Tours offers pickup or a meeting at its start point on Moorea, with the details sent after booking.