Swimming with Whales in Moorea (Moorea Expedition)

About This Experience

Moorea Expedition is a team of local watermen that has been taking visitors out on Moorea's water since 1984, and this is its half-day whale swim. It is the second most-reviewed Moorea whale tour on this site, with a 4.7 rating from 278 reviews.

The base is on the roadside by the Coco Beach Restaurant: look for the large sign reading "Coco Beach Restaurant" and "Whale Watching", with a big parking lot on site. Pickup is offered as an option when you book; otherwise you meet the crew there. The operator gives the trip as three to four hours.

Once through the reef, the crew searches the open ocean for humpbacks and any other animals around that day. The guide briefs the group before each entry, and swims happen only when the guide judges that whale behavior and the sea state allow it. Only six guests from a boat can be in the water at once, and swimmers keep 15 m from the whales. Reviewers describe guides who follow the regulations strictly and explain whale behavior, and on good days a group gets in twice, often with a mother and calf.

This is a swim-focused trip for strong swimmers. The listing asks for a high level of physical fitness and advises against it for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health and for pregnant travelers. If you would prefer to stay on board, Moorea Expedition also sells a watch-only version of the trip.

Bottled water and snorkeling gear are included; bring your own towel and sunscreen. One reviewer recommends a wetsuit, since operators require a life jacket for swimmers who do not wear one. Prices start from $289 per person, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. The same trip is also sold on GetYourGuide from $284, where it has 148 reviews.

Highlights

• Run by local watermen who have operated on Moorea since 1984
• 278 reviews on Viator, the second-highest count among the Moorea whale tours on this site
• Guides explain whale behavior and follow the approach rules closely, according to reviewers
• Several reviewers report two swims in one trip, often with a mother and calf
• Large parking lot at the base for guests who drive themselves
• Whale sightings reported by reviewers into late October and November

What's Included

• ✓ Half-day boat trip beyond the reef (three to four hours)
• ✓ Swim briefing and in-water guiding
• ✓ Use of snorkeling equipment
• ✓ Bottled water
• ✓ Pickup available as an option at booking

Not Included

• Towels
• Sunscreen
• Wetsuit (not listed among the inclusions)

What to Bring

• Swimwear
• A towel
• Reef-safe mineral sunscreen
• A shorty wetsuit, if you own one
• Seasickness tablets, taken before you board
• A waterproof camera such as a GoPro

Good to Know & Caveats

• Whale tours run only in French Polynesia's legal season, 20 July to 20 November, between 07:30 and 17:30.
• Sightings and swims are never guaranteed; the guide decides on each entry based on whale behavior and the sea state.
• The listing asks for a high level of physical fitness.
• Operators require swimmers to wear a life jacket unless they wear a wetsuit, and wetsuits are not listed as included.
• Only six guests from a boat may be in the water at once, as the operator notes on the listing.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time through Viator.

Meeting Point

Moorea Expedition base by the roadside sign for "Coco Beach Restaurant" and "Whale Watching", with a large parking lot on site; pickup is available as an option.