Swim with Blue Whales

Your first glimpse may have been the ‘tail-end’ of a breach, but now as you look at this amazing creature, the largest animal ever known to have existed on earth, in the eye, you couldn't be closer. Swimming alongside these gigantic, yet elusive mammals is a real once in a lifetime experience that few get to ever experience and you are right there.
 
The sun beams down on the Indian Ocean as you float gleefully on its glistening surface, cool water lapping your limbs as you hover above these huge mammals. Readying yourself to delve a little deeper and swim alongside them, in one swift motion you take a deep breath and dive down into the blue. The peace you feel whilst swimming with the blue whales is unfathomable and you feel totally safe, despite swimming alongside an animal that is about the same size as a bus!

Swimming with Bue Whales safari

Seeing blue whales is an experience that tops many travellers’ lists, but swimming with them takes it just that bit further into the extraordinary. This unique safari takes you to out to the depths of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Sri Lanka, with a small team of specialists to not only swim with them, but photograph them too.

Where and when

If you look up the migration patterns of the blue whale, you will find that they travel extreme distances throughout the year, however much of the population of the south coast of Sri Lanka stay in the area year round. This population is actually compiled of pygmy blue whales, but from looking at their massive 25 metre long bodies, you wouldn’t know it.

This may be the largest concentration of blue whales anywhere on earth, but their exact movements and or migrations are not fully understood yet. Despite this, after years of research, our guide has discovered March and April are the best times to see the blue whales due to a number of factors, including weather and water visibility.

Why

During the civil war there were restrictions on boat traffic which has actually benefitted and helped protect the blue whales around the Weligama Bay area of Sri Lanka, in fact this population off the south coast is one of the least studied groups as well as being one of the healthiest. Our guide, Patrick, was one of the first team of photographers to find and photograph these whales.

How can I see the blue whales

At the moment we run one or two blue whale safaris per year with the aim of swimming with the blue whales and photographing them. These trips are for just four people at a time and stay at the Weligama Bay Resort, which is in the perfect location to board your small boat and venture out into the ocean. From here, you will scour for the blue whales, as well as other marine animals including sperm whales, pilot whales, risso dolphins, spinner dolphins, marlin, sea turtles and more. Not only will you look for them, but you will hopefully have the chance to swim with and photograph them in their natural environment.

Best time to go

April