Swim with Blue Whales in Timor-Leste

Timor Leste is a 3rd-world country and ruled by a military government. The country suffered enormously during the earthquake and tsunami that hit many South East Asian countries on 26 December 2004, They are still rebuilding the infra-structure. More airlines are servicing Timor Leste as its is becoming known for scuba-diving  & wonderful marine life. To join your WhaleSwim Adventure, you need to fly internationally to either, Denpasar, Bali, Singapore or Darwin, Australia to  Dili, the capital of Timor Leste. Airport code is: 

Cheap flight sites to try are: www.expedia.com  www.webjet.com   www.skyscanner.com or www.iwantthatflight.com

From UK, Europe and USA
There are many international airlines servicing Singapore, Denpasar, Bali (Indonesia) or via Darwin in Australia.

From New Zealand  Via Bali or Darwin to Dili.  I found cheaper flights via Bali to Dili than via Darwin Australia. Check the cheap airfares sites first! 

From Australia –  fly via Darwin onto Dili, Timor Leste. 
If you are looking for cheap fares, check out Air North flights, (Air Asia have a fabulously cheap. I have recently flown 3 sectors with Air Asia and was very impressed!)

IMPORTANT! All flights have to have the cabins sprayed prior to landing in Dili. Contact your airline, if this concerns you. 

Dili is a small international airport, just 6kms from the centre of Dili. It’s busy and sometimes chaotic as the systems going through immigration and customs are managed manually. I suggest that you relax and go with the flow. 
We advise you purchase a local SIM card during  your stay in Dili, as the internet services are weaker that we are used to. If your phone takes 2 SIM cards, you are good to go, if not we suggest if you have an old phone (or borrow one from family/friends) for the days you are in Dili you will be able to stay in contact with your business, friends and family at home. This is why we ask you to have WhatsApp and make sure your family, friends and your business managers, also have WhatsApp, then it’s not so important to get a SIM card. 

As there is very little extra space on the boats, you need to keep your boat gear to a minimum.

We suggest:

• a small dry bag to keep your gear dry
• sunblock & lip balm
• hat
• your favourite snacks (bring with you to Timor Leste)
• mask-defogger
• glass or stainless steel re-fillable water bottle
• camera gear: Topside cameras in waterproof bag & UW cameras/housing – (keep camera gear to a minimum)
• mask and snorkel (please make sure you have your mask fitted for the size of your face – this makes a huge difference to your in-water experiences) DO NOT bring a full-face mask, most fog up and/or leak. We do not advise the ‘dry’ snorkels as that can jam if there is any wave action in the water and block air coming into your mouth.
• Full-footed fins ONLY (NO dive fins and booties please!) We will send to a Trip Preparation Bulletin, once you have paid your deposit with descriptions and more photos of suitable fins. If you are a qualified and experienced free-diver, you are welcome to bring your free-diving fins.
• short cotton or lycra socks (NOT neoprene) in case your fins are tight fitting and causing blisters.
• long sleeved Rashie (is all that is required to swim with the whales + protection from the sun) Zipped rashies/tops may be useful to remove easily on a very hot day.
• a 1.5 or 2mm shortie or full wetsuit or long sleeved 1.5 or 2mm top for a little warmth in the water (any thicker and you will be far too hot on the boat!)
• dive leggings (protection from stingers and the sun)

Towels will be supplied.

Please note: this is an ocean adventure holiday and you will need to be very fit, flexible, confident in the water and be able to snorkel well and fast.
We are often getting in and out of the boat into the ocean, sometimes snorkelling quickly for up to 40m and occasionally with the whales in choppy seas.

Although Pygmy Blue whales are 28m (93 ft) and weigh up to 175 tons, they are gentle animals and are very aware of us in the water and are very shy. The thought of being so close to them may be frightening ­but after your first encounter you will understand why they are known as the giants of the ocean.
Once spotted by the skipper, he will position the boat ahead but to the side of its path and then you need to slide off the boat very quickly and very quietly and snorkel to the area indicated by our guide or skipper.  If you are slow, you may only get a glimpse for the whale.

It is very important for you to know that all of the in-the-water encounters with Blue whales will be in very deep water and up to 4 or 5 km from land. If you feel that your swimming and snorkelling skills could be improved, or that you are a little unfit, we suggest that you enrol in snorkelling lessons and improve your swimming skills and fitness levels prior to joining your tour to insure the best encounters possible.

Terms & Conditions of Booking with WhaleSwim Adventures:

1. Online ‘Book your Tour’ reservations will be held for 14 days. The non-refundable deposit of USD$2,000.00 per person is required within 14 days to confirm a reservation.
2. All payments to be paid in US Dollars only, payment in full is to be paid by 1 February 2024.  Payments are non-refundable. (Payment options are sent to you after you have booked your tour)
3. A Liability Waiver must be signed by each guest & uploaded to the Aqua Abilities page in their online booking within 14 days of confirming their booking with WhaleSwim Adventures Ltd.
4. Re-scheduling and substitution of guests is permitted with approval of WhaleSwim Adventures.
5. Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for all our WhaleSwim Adventures guests and should be taken out at the time of booking your tour and airfares.  Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US$200,000 for each of the categories of cover. It must also cover trip and flight cancellation. We also strongly recommend it also covers curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide WhaleSwim Adventures with proof of your travel insurance within 14 days of booking your tour. You will not be able to join the tour without it.
6. All rates and conditions are subject to change.
7. If payments are not received at the designated times WhaleSwim Adventures reserves the right to sell those spaces in question with forfeiture of all monies to date.
8. The booking is binding and all payments are non-refundable unless the cancelled space is filled.
9. Prices may change due to; * currency fluctuations or increase of rates by suppliers after the tours have been published on the whaleswim.com website, even after payment is made in full, clients will have to pay the additional cost. * schedule or content changes * circumstances beyond the control of WhaleSwim Adventures
10. These are ecological holidays, WhaleSwim Adventures reserves the right to ask any participants to leave the group should he/she behave in a way that is insensitive to the whales, the environment, local people, our staff, management, crew or other group members or continually not follow the whaleswim Guides directions in the water with the whales. WhaleSwim Adventures staff and management also reserve the right to move those guests to other accommodation and boat charter at the guests expense. No refund will be given.
11. Please read Aquatic Abilities (Experience Required section): Timor Leste : https://www.whaleswim.com/swim-with-blue-w…s-in-timor-leste/ 
12. Drones are not permitted on these tours without the permission of the boat skipper.
13. Smoking is NOT permitted on the whale-watching vessels.
14. In the event of cancellation of a whale-watching due to bad weather, no refunds will given by WhaleSwim Adventures.
15. Children/teenagers under 18 years old are not accepted on our tours.
16. If the minimum bookings of 6 people on tours is not reached 40 days prior to departure of each expedition, then WhaleSwim has the right to cancel the expedition or transfer guests to another expedition or give a full refund to the guest. Any airfares booked/changed and paid for by the guest should be covered by their travel insurance.
17. WhaleSwim Adventures tours cannot be booked via a Travel agent, they can only be booked directly with WhaleSwim Adventures. The travel agent may charge their commission at their own discretion.