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I am looking to organize a special trip to swim and photograph some of the most majestic creatures on the planet, the humpback whale. I am looking to go in 2017 during the peak of the humpback migration where thousands of Southern Hemisphere Humpbacks migrate from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Tonga. The sheltered bays and inlets around Tonga provide the perfect nursery for mothers to teach their calves all about being a whale! Ive personally observed many humpbacks around Oahu and off the coast of Maui and Im completely blown away by their size! Its a magical experience to be in their presence. Tonga is one of the few places in the World that allows people to legally get in the water with these gentle giants. Swimming with humpbacks is a privilege and we must not forget that heavy regulations and laws have allowed people this amazing opportunity. We must respect the laws and obey them. Spaces will be very limited, and only a small group will be allowed in order to maximize everyones water time. Who would like to join me on this once in a life time adventure? For dates and prices please email me (photographybyleighton@yahoo.com) or message if you are interested! Spots are very limited! Once in a life time opportunity!

September 21 thru 27 – Ha’apai, Tonga – 2 spaces left Join Tim Rock’s privately chartered 50-foot catamaran yacht to cruise the stunning Ha’apai Islands in Tonga in search of humpback whales, marine mammals, manta rays and stunning coral gardens. Tim will offer three charters with experts Dave & Tris Sheen in September 2015, which is the height of humpback whale season in Tonga. The yacht offers the finest crew of whale experts to be found in beautiful Tonga. The Sheens promote “sustainable interaction” as part of their business, believing the more that islearned about humpback whales, the better the chances of protecting them. We’ll watch their surface antics as they breach, tail slap, pec slap and romp in the sea. They will have heat runs (dramatic fights by males to gain the attention of a female) that we will follow and watch for the victor. And we will watch while snorkeling as new calves suckle milk from their mothers while resting. We’ll also watch as baby tries to learn from mom by doing breaches and other surface activity. We will enter the water to snorkel only with the humpbacks and videographers and photographers will be led to the best vantage points to get the best images and footage of the humpbacks. This catamaran is a broad and stable platform and is great for viewing and shooting topside whale activity. The sea level entry is perfect for in-water encounters with humpbacks and other marine mammals . Exit is also very easy. Space is limited to just four guests per one-week trip. Tongan law says that only four people and a guide can be in the water with a whale or whales at any time. By having just four guests, everyone is assured of getting in the water every drop, every day, for great interaction and observation. This is a special opportunity to have your own private charter and do what few humans in the world ever dream to do… swim one-on-one with the largest mammals on the planet. The charter is 7 days and will cruise through the 62 islands of the Ha’apai chain in beautiful Tonga, over-nighting under the stars at various isles along the way. We will visit deserted isles with fruit bat colonies and white sand beaches. We will also snorkel beautiful hard coral reefs and look for fish shoals and manta rays. We will have the opportunity to try stand-up paddle board, catch a fresh fish dinner and enjoy the beauty and serenity of this amazing island group. September 21 thru 27 – Ha’apai, Tonga – 2 spaces left Read more here: http://www.guammicronesiadivetravel.com/travelblog1/?page_id=1900 Trip show here: https://vimeo.com/78398214 Contact me at: timrock@doubleblue.com

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to let you all know about our new business focussed on snorkelling with Basking Sharks from Oban in Scotland. We are gearing up to start in May and are using a brand new vessel which has just arrived (this weekend) on the west coast. We are offering single, two and three day trips where we will explore all round the Argyll coastline looking for the sharks. The boat we are using is a brand new 12m cabin RIB, 760hp and has 14 suspension seats. Although this isn't a dive boat, it's a very comfortable way to travel by sea having a nice toilet and galley, combining a cruising speed of 28knots. The benefits of travelling to Scotland to see the sharks is that the seasonal population has been shown to be one of the most consistent in terms of sightings and also numbers. In addition to the sharks we have an abundance of marine life such as seal colonies which you will also be able to snorkel with. Along with whales & dolphins, eagles, puffins and now good consistant sightings of otters. Not to mention the stunning Scottish scenery, historic landscape and options for island exploration. On our longer tours we will be stopping in Tobermory and Iona which are awesome places to explore along with sampling our friendly island hospitality. Our start base in Oban makes travel far easier for everyone, with direct train links not far from the boat and only being a few hours drive from the central belt and the major Scottish airports. It also makes the car journey from further south in the UK a bit more bearable too. We would be happy to arrange for transport for larger groups. You may notice that this makes a longer journey to the known shark 'hotspot' but what sets us apart is that as soon as your are on the boat in Oban we are looking for sharks and other wildlife straight away! With an unpredictable animal this means we have the best chance of seeing them by covering the most ground! Although we are not a dive boat, we can cater for a small amount of divers and as underwater photographers and videographers i'm sure you will be keen to take advantage of our wonderful Scottish marine life. We can arrange custom dive trips for you, please see this link as a sample of some of the image opportunities open to you. http://baskingsharkscotland.co.uk/scuba-diving/ My own background is that I was born and grew up in Scotland and starting diving in 1996. I qualified as a commercial and scientific diver in 2001 and completed my marine biology degree in 2003. I am a BSAC First Class Diver and Advanced Instructor, along having technical and rebreather qualifications and my own underwater photography is well published. Just to give you some comfort as to our professionalism and understanding of both the animals, our area and you as specialised customers. We would welcome enquires from groups and can offer discount on these types of bookings however we can equally accommodate individuals booking on trips. Please visit our website at www.baskingsharkscotland.co.uk and follow our news on facebook at www.facebook.com/baskingsharkscotland and please feel free to contact us with any query. We look forward to giving you amazing experiences at Basking Shark Scotland. Safe Diving Shane