tonga

January 13, 2020  by

Swimming with Gentle Giants appearing at the 2020 Ocean Film Festival

I’m excited to announce that my film Swimming with Gentle Giants will be featured as part of the 2020 Ocean Film Festival!

Produced and directed by Stefan Andrews from Ocean Imaging, Swimming with Gentle Giants explores my close connection to humpback whales and showcases some of the unique behaviours I’ve experienced while swimming with them in the pristine waters of Tonga.

Australian & New Zealand ocean lovers will be able to immerse themselves in the wonders of the ocean without getting their feet wet this coming February to April as the Ocean Film Festival World Tour makes a splash in cinemas across both countries. The festival, which features a carefully curated selection of the world’s most captivating ocean-themed will light up silver screens in 35 towns and cities. 

Tickets and screening times are available here

 

A big shout out to my amazing skipper Sione Fifita, expert local guide Vili Takau and Whales in the Wild who have supported and guided my adventures in Tonga for many years and who have helped make this film possible.

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July 24, 2019  by

Swim with Whales in Tonga 2020

Just released our new dates for 2020, we still have spaces available for next year, so if this has been a life long dream, come join Swimming With Gentle Giants for the experience of a lifetime.

Tour 1 – 11th -22nd July (7 Days) – Vavau – 4 spaces available
Tour 2A – 23rd – 30th (7 Days) – Vavau – 4 spaces available
Tour 2 – 23rd July – 1st Aug (7 Days) – Vavau – Fully booked
Tour 3A – 1st -12th August (7 Days) – Vavau – 3 spaces available
Tour 3 – 1st -12th August (7 Days) – Vavau – 1 space available
Tour 4A – 11th – 19th August (7 Days) – Vavau – Fully Booked
Tour 4 – 12th – 20th August (7 Days) – Vavau – Fully Booked
Tour 5 – 22nd Aug -2ndSept (7 Days) – Vavau – Fully Booked
Tour 6 – 4th Sept – 13th Sept (7 Days) – Vavau – Fully Booked
Tour 6H – 1st -12th Sept (7 Days) – Haapai – Call for availability
Tour 7 – 14th – 25th September (7 Days) – Vavau – Call for availability
Tour 7H – 12th – 22nd September (6 Days) – Haapai – Call for availability
Tour 8 – 25h Sept – 3rd Oct (7 Days) – Vavau – 2 spaces available
Tour 8H – 22nd – 30th Sept (7 Days)- Haapai – 3 spaces available
Tour 8A – 29h Sept – 3rd Oct (7 Days) – Vavau – Call for availability
Tour 9 – 5th – 13th October (7 Days) – Vavau- Call for availability
Tour 9A – 7th – 13th October (7 Days) – Vavau- Call for availability
Tour 10 – 14th – 23rd October (8 Days) – Vavau – Fully Booked

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July 9, 2019  by

The Pod Podcast – feature

Marc West interviews Scott Portelli about whales, the ocean, marine life and all things underwater in his Ocean Swimming Podcast series:

Synopsis:
Scott Portelli is an acclaimed wildlife and underwater photographer, and has swum with whales and other magnificent creatures of the deep in some of the world’s most exotic locations, like Antarctica, Tonga, the Falkland Islands and Norway. Among many other awards, Scott was awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2016, and he runs tours that you can join up with around the world to swim with whales.


Photo by Joanna Lentini

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February 28, 2019  by

Ignite Sydney Talk – 1000 Days underwater with whales

Late last year I was asked to speak at an event called ignite Sydney. The idea of Ignite is simple – make the presenters stick to a rigid format of 20 slides, each of which changes automatically after 15 seconds, giving a guaranteed 5 minute presentation. this is not as easy as you might think and 15 seconds is really not a lot of time, but it was a great experience and a well organised event which I had the privilege of being a part of. I look forward to seeing the next installment of this long standing Sydney event. below is my talk about my life spent with humpback whales.

 

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