Winter-only experience: Swimming w/ humpback whales

When the cold winter arrives and you think the ocean has gone dormant, Okinawa welcomes the most amazing natural wonder - the migration of humpback whales!

In order to breed and raise their young, these huge marine creatures travel thousands of miles from the cold north to the warm waters of Okinawa.

An adult humpback whale is about 12-16 meters long and weighs 25 to 40 tons, with the heaviest reaching 60 tons.

Because they are migratory animals, they live and hunt in cool high-latitude waters in the summer. After storing enough energy, they will embark on a migration journey of up to 25,000 kilometers to warm tropical or subtropical waters to mate and give birth. So every December to April, humpback whales visit the waters of Okinawa !

In addition, they usually give birth every two years, with a gestation period of about 10 months. The mother whale will accompany and take care of the baby whale for about 6 to 10 months, allowing the baby whale to learn to be independent. Therefore, in February and March, there is a good chance to see baby whales learning to swim with their mother.

You’ll have the chance to observe these magnificent creatures up close and personal above the water , so don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience winter in Okinawa with the Zatōkujira!

AgeRange

12 years old - under 60 years old

Participant Eligibility

Hold an Open Water Diver or Free Diver Certificate or above

Minimum number of participants

2 person

Duration

5-7 hours

Rules

• You must follow the instructions of the captain , crew , and tour guide throughout the trip
• Keep quiet when entering the water
• The sea conditions in the waters where whales are located cannot be guaranteed to be stable, so they must be able to take care of themselves, such as getting on and off the boat quickly, swimming against the current, etc.
• No chasing of whales
• Try to watch whales without swimming
• The use of scuba equipment and apnea diving are prohibited
• Self-diving long frogs (including Gull Barracuda) are prohibited
• No flashlights or other luminous objects are allowed.
• If diving/free diving is discovered, the store has the right to prohibit the guest from entering the water!

Schedule

• Arrive at the meeting point
• Fill out the health form: Due to Japanese government and insurance requirements, guests must fill out the form in person on the day of the event.
• Changing equipment: *Please wear your swimsuit first, and then put on your wetsuit when you arrive.
• Activity Introduction: The coach will explain the teaching and matters that need attention before the activity.
• Go to the port to board the ship
• Event Start
• End and return to the port by boat
• Return equipment and take a simple shower: *Please bring your own towel
• Port Dissolution
• What's included?

What's included?

Boat fees, coaching fees, equipment fees and insurance fees

What do I need to bring?

• Swimsuit (it is recommended to wear the swimsuit under your clothes before meet-up)
• Beach slippers
• Towel
• Windproof jacket
• Light lunch, snacks, water 
• Please bring your own anti-dizziness medicine if necessary** It is recommended to prepare

Please note

• Whales are wild animals and there is no guarantee that you will encounter them in the water. There is no refund if you do not swim with the whales .
• When booking, please accurately enter the English names, height, weight, shoe size, representative's mobile phone number, etc. of all participants. Submit your size information
• People with circulatory/respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, otitis media, epilepsy, diabetes, liver disease, pregnant women, or those who have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol the day before/on the day of the tour are not allowed to participate in this tour.
• Please be sure to read and confirm the health checklist .
• Contact lenses may be lost in water, so it is recommended to wear daily disposable contact lenses.
• The coach will take 5-10 photos for the passengers for free under safe conditions as souvenirs, and a download link will be provided after the activity.
• Our store offers a waterproof camera rental service, each camera costs 3,500 yen. Visitors can rent the camera and take photos by themselves. After the event, a download link will be provided for download. As the number of cameras is limited, please request when making a reservation if you need one. Or you can bring your own waterproof camera.
• If you think you need more time to find your way, arrive 10-15 minutes early. This is to avoid shortening the activity time due to lateness.
• If you are late for 20 minutes or more, we reserve the right to cancel the activity and no refund will be given.
• If only minors are participating, a guardian’s signed consent form is required for participation.
• Elderly persons aged 60 or above are required to obtain an original medical certificate to participate.
• Our store may use photos from activities for promotional purposes. If you do not want us to use your photos, please inform the coach before the activity.

We offer you an exciting winter experience - swimming with humpback whales!