25th Anniversary – Swimming with whales in Tonga

This year marks our 25th Anniversary taking people to swim with humpback whales in the South Pacific. After more than 2 decades and over 1000 days in the water with these amazing creatures, I think we have learned a lot about Humpback whales. Through education, research programs, ethical practice and conservation efforts, we support the protection of this unique environment and its inhabitants.

What makes us different is we are looking for that quality experience, not just a chance encounter but something that connects you with these amazing creatures and the ocean. We run several citizen science programs for reef health surveys, whale identification, beach clean ups, as well as Marine biologist lecturers and photography workshops.

No one does it like us and we have 25 years of experience that ensures you are in the best hands.

Wild Planet Expeditions – Launch

As we bring in the new year we are excited to announce the ultimate photo tour series to showcase some of the most remote locations on the planet, epic adventures and exclusive wildlife experiences. This series is like no other! join Scott Portelli & Matty Smith Photo on our ‘Wild Planet Expeditions’ in 2025/26/27 and into 2028. If you are serious about getting the best opportunities in these rarely visited parts of the world, then we are certain we can give you the best chance to achieve your goals.

Scott Portelli 2nd Place, Siena Awards 2024

I was honoured to be awarded 2nd place in the “Animals in their Environment” category of the Siena Awards this year. My image shows the intelligent teamwork of humpback whales as they create a curtain of bubbles to trap krill. They then lunge, mouths open, through the centre of the bubble-net to capture their prey.

We visited the stunning city of Siena to attend the awards festival. It felt like a trip back in time as we wandered through the ancient streets, enjoying local foods & the unique culture of Siena. The crescendo was the last night, when hundreds gathered in the Piazza, including a choir of Sienese who performed local songs before the awards ceremony.

Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 Overall winner

Excited to be awarded the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the year 2024. This is the 2nd time I have been awarded overall winner of this iconic Australian competition, in 2021 and 2024. This is truly an honour and a privilege to be among such a high calibre of photographers. The launch of the exhibition showcases 90 pieces of work from an eclectic group of photographers across several genres.