Guest reviews
In their own words
“Be prepared to be blessed.”
“One With Whales gave us a gift of a lifetime. When you are in the water with these beautiful creatures, be prepared to be blessed. The size and grace of the whales will take your breath away. The encounter is very close and powerful. Swimming with a mom and calf was ethereal. We were also blessed to have a whale sing to us on multiple occasions.
My wife and I were rookies in the water and yet we had the same great experience that the veterans had.
The company also immerses the guest in Rurutu culture and food. The majority of the staff is part of the Tavita family and are proud to share their house with us. The matriarch ‘Momma’ Giselle personally gave us a tour of island with history and cultural context. She also sang and played a string instrument for us. Just when the experience couldn’t get better, the final meal was beyond our expectations. Four fish dishes, veggies and fruit followed by a party where the family sang and danced for us. A very special and memorable moment.”
“Not a typical tourist day trip.”
“What stood out most was how thoughtful and respectful the entire approach was. One With Whales works closely with the local Tavita family… This was not a typical tourist day trip — it felt like a much deeper and more immersive experience, spending time in the whales’ environment and learning how to share their habitat respectfully.
Captain Onoï knows these waters like the back of her hand, and a very special mention has to go to Hervé. His knowledge of these animals is extraordinary, and he seems to have an almost instinctive sense for where to find the best and most meaningful encounters.
I came away with a much greater appreciation for humpback whales, their behaviour, and the importance of approaching wildlife encounters with patience and respect.”
“What truly matters in life.”
“Swimming with the humpbacks with One With Whales was a core memory I will forever hold dear to my heart. I found our hosts and guides to be knowledgeable and ethical experts who understand the behavior of these majestic animals. They put us in the best position to capture incredible footage of the whales in a way that does not harass them.
The whales are the draw, of course. But what made the week special were the wonderfully warm and accommodating family and guides. Their contagious joyful energy and hospitality was something I really appreciated. The locals were excited to share their beautiful culture with us…
Island life is simple and basic where human connections and personal bonds are part of the experience. It really does remind you of what truly matters in life.”
“Not a chill vacation, but worth it.”
“I spent a wonderful week in Rurutu with One with Whales, it left me with a taste for more (both food and whales :-) ). Sarah and Elias were such great trip leaders, made sure to put us in the water as many times as possible with some exceptional encounters with these beautiful animals, and took care of our every request…
The locals are so nice and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of eating the Sashimi there…
The sea can be a bit rough and a little cold, this is not a chill vacation, but it is all worth it once you get that magical moment when a 40 ton Humpback swims directly towards you (and then does it again, and again).”
“Probably the best experience of my life.”
“Holy cow what a week! I think I can say swimming with humpbacks with One With Whales at Rurutu was probably the best experience of my life. Just to be in the water with the whales (adults, grande/medium/petit bebes) is the privilege of a lifetime.
But to also get to hang out with our great guides and the local family is the icing on top. So lucky to have Teiti be our amazing chef, Onoi our incredible boat captain, and Herve our OG Guide.”
“Explaining the unexplainable.”
“On the 4th day, we changed our approach. We slept in, went for a walk, listened to some of Rurutu’s oral history and made peace with their gods.
I mentioned I’m lucky? Well, when it finally happens. When you see it emerge from the same vast endless blue water you’re swimming in, everything freezes.
For that one moment, it’s all a contradiction. Is this happening? Should I stop swimming, keep swimming? Am I scaring it, should I be scared? Can it understand me?
There’s something spiritual about whales. Something you have to feel for yourself as anything else would be explaining the unexplainable.”
“Live and laugh with the best local family.”
“If swimming with whales isn’t enough to have your breath taken away, then getting to live and laugh with the best local family surely is!
Rurutu is a fantastic island and I couldn’t have wished for a better host family!”
“Exactly what was promised.”
“The humpback whale encounters were, of course, the heart of this trip - and they were absolutely magical. We spent so much time in the water, getting incredibly close to the whales, watching them swim towards us and looking into their eyes. But the wellbeing of the whales and the respect for these animals were always in the center of everything.
But the trip was actually so much more than ‘just’ the whales. And that is exactly what was promised beforehand. The Tavita family opened their home to us and welcomed us so warmly. They shared their culture and their island with us, showed us around and spoiled us with the most delicious food. As a vegetarian, I was especially grateful for how much care they took to always prepare lovely food options specifically for me.
It was a deeply moving experience and one I would recommend from the bottom of my heart.”
“Everything came together.”
“Rurutu is an amazing place, but what truly made the expedition special was the people, especially our guide Elias, whose energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm made even the challenging days feel exciting…
Over the course of a week, there will inevitably be challenging days on the water, with big waves, strong swells, and sometimes rain. But Elias always managed to put a smile on everyone’s face, even on the toughest days.
We saw and swam with humpback whales on our first two days, and during the following day and a half, we saw several amazing breaches but didn’t get the opportunity to swim with them. Then, during our final day and a half, everything came together, and we had some incredible encounters and were able to swim with the whales. It was an unforgettable experience from start to finish.”
“One of the best trips I’ve ever taken.”
“This is a once in a lifetime experience and doesn’t disappoint!! Elias is an excellent team leader. We had a lot of fun on the boat - dancing, sharing snacks, taking ‘would you rather…’ quizzes and, of course, looking and waiting for whales…
The guides are conscious not to stress or crowd the whales. The lodging is very comfortable and the staff is lovely, kind, and generous. All the meals are delicious. All the groups come together and it’s very convivial…
There’s a wonderful island tour led by Madame Giselle, who has lived here all of her life and is very knowledgeable. She also sang local songs for us and played on a local ukulele. All in all one of the best trips I’ve ever taken!!”
“Always respectful and very special.”
“We had a wonderful week on Rurutu! The whale encounters were simply amazing and always felt respectful and very special.
All of our guides were fantastic, but Elias as our camp leader was especially great! Our captain Igor and local guide Manutea were amazing at spotting the whales and positioning the boat for maximum safety and comfort.
The family hosting us was so welcoming and the food was superb! They really went above and beyond to make our food restrictions work as well. The land activities were also a great addition and made the whole experience even more special.”
“Just as magical as the mother whale.”
“I signed up for the One with Whales Program to fulfill a soul purpose since childhood…
Yes, we spent 8 days together in ideally hued blue seas swimming with majestic whales and forging our own connections with these special higher-level beings, but the human connection and community that was built during this process was so special.
The incredible Tavita family outstretched their hearts and wisdom to us and believe me - locking eyes in a tender moment with Mama (Gisele) is just as magical as when it happened for me with the mother whale on Day 6. The guides were excellent, knowledgeable, and now are people I would call my friends.”
“Not tons of other boats around.”
“We just had the most amazing time! Fabulous encounters w/the humpback whales… We especially liked how there were not tons of other boats around.
The afternoon activities as well were heaps of fun. The house staff were warm and welcoming, delicious food. We’d repeat in a nanosecond!”
Also in the water with us
Sperm whales in Dominica
“5/5 days!”
“We had a fabulous trip in Dominica swimming with sperm whales. We swam with whales 5/5 days! What fabulous creatures. Elias was a fantastic guide. We appreciated his enthusiasm and knowledge base. Elias gave us two powerpoint presentations on whales which were fun and informative. Great job!”
“Above and beyond.”
“I had an incredible time in Dominica swimming with Sperm Whales. Elias, our guide, was so kind and helpful and I felt very taken care of. Elias and the entire crew went above and beyond to make sure we saw sperm whales…”
“The animals are respected throughout.”
“I went on the Dominica trip to swim with sperm whales… It was truly an amazing experience. They go out of their way to make sure everyone has a great time and that the animals are respected throughout the process…”
Every excerpt links to the guest’s original, unedited review on Tripadvisor or Google. Ellipses mark where we’ve trimmed for length.