Swim with Humpback Whales in French Polynesia

This classic yacht, built in 1971, is part of the Fraser charter fleet. For many years, Askari has offered charters in remote locales. The boat’s name is Swahili for “guard.” Courtesy Fraser

The good people of the South Pacific know a thing or two about interacting with marine animals. Once, when I was on a charter there, a guide instructed us guests and crew to link arms underwater. He then dumped a couple of buckets of chum in front of us and looked out into the deep blue. A shark zoomed in like a missile, and then kept going past him, right at us—until it stopped and turned around, thinking it couldn’t penetrate our human wall. It felt as if it looked me right in the eyes.

When we resurfaced and were back on the boat, I tried to describe the experience, which was hard to do given that I’d lost the ability to speak. Today, with the benefit of hindsight (and having regained use of my senses), I can say it remains one of the most memorable days of my life.

Schools of humpback whales come to this part of the world every year to mate and nurse their young. adobe.stock/craig lambert

That day also taught me a key lesson about booking a successful charter of this kind: Choose a yacht with knowledgeable crew and guides, preferably ones who know all the details about a region’s best experiences.

The toy chest aboard Askari includes tenders, personal watercraft, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, diving and snorkeling gear, tow toys and fishing equipment. Courtesy Fraser

That’s why I was so excited to see the announcement from charter management company Fraser about the motoryacht Askari accepting bookings this season in French Polynesia to swim with humpback whales. If you’re going to spend time underwater with a beast that can weigh as much as a loaded tractor-trailer, then you’ll want a crew and guides who know what they’re doing. Askari is a yacht whose team has long fit that description in far-flung destinations. I was aboard in New Zealand about two decades ago after a big refit and still fondly recall the insider’s tour of everything the Bay of Islands offers.

Askari accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms, and has seating areas (such as the aft deck, shown here) intended for settling in after a busy day of playing in the sun. Courtesy Fraser

The whales should be arriving in French Polynesia right around the time you read this, and Askari is no doubt already in prime position. Trust me when I say it’s an opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Swimming with Humpbacks

Prime months are August through October for swimming with the humpback whales in French Polynesia, though they sometimes stick around into November. Schools of them come to this part of the world every year to mate and nurse their young. Size-wise, a humpback can be 50 feet long. That’s about half the length of the yacht Askari, which is 108 feet. Regulations protect these whales, including from overzealous swimmers, so be prepared to respect the rules.

Take the next step: fraser.com

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