Swim with Whales in Gold Coast

AWESOME WHALE ADVENTURE

So Awesome Great people! Great experience! Had a blast and so did my buddies. Whales everywhere. WHALES!!!

Great Experience!

Whale swimming was fantastic! Amazing guides who got us some amazing views both in and out of water.

Swimming with whales!

A fabulous day on the water today with lots of whale spotting and three swims with whales. Thanks for an amazing day Aqua Adventures!

Didn't swim with whales but paid the price.

Bought this experience for my partner and I for his birthday and ended up being a frustrated (and expensive) birthday experience. We saw maybe 2 whales on the day, which was nice, but we did not get to jump in the water with them - however we still paid $249p.p instead of the $79 they charge for a whale "watching" experience. Afterwards, I tried speaking to the team multiple times (in person, via email and phone calls) but they refused to listen and said they couldn't do anything to help apart from giving me a discount on a future booking (that would only be valid for 2023) - even after I explained to them that we would not be on the GC anymore. I contacted them multiple times (Fiona was the person I ended up speaking to the most, and she is not very big on customer service) trying to explain that I didn't want a refund, I just wanted to pay the fair price for the experience we had, which was "whale watching" and not "swimming with whales" but had no luck with that. I feel exploited and 110% do not recommend this company!

Swimming with whales

Fantastic experience swimming with the whales, a small boat which made it much more personal, highly experienced staff who were very respectful to these amazing creatures. Loved every minute, would highly recommend

Incredible experience

A couple of friends joined me yesterday on a whale swim with Leon and Fiona from Aqua Adventures! We were amazed by the incredible experience! We hopped in the water twice, both times seeing a mother and calf floating towards us! It was truely the best experience ever! A bucket list that I will continue ticking off every whale season! Informative session with an incredible team! Thank you for making this one of my top life experiences!

Swimming with a whale and her baby calf

Incredible moment- swimming with humpback whales, mother and her calf. Great captain and guides! Respectful of the animals and great to spot them fro far away. A must-do!

Swimming with whales

This trip was absolutely incredible! The crew was amazing. I would 1000% recommend this tour to anyone. It will never be forgotten!

Can’t recommend enough!

Amazing time! Our tour guides were fun and I felt safe. Saw a pod of whales and overall was an incredible experience. This was definitely the highlight of my trip.

Must-do experience

This is a must-do if you’re visiting the Gold Coast. Tons of whale sightings, and though we didn’t see any when we were in the water, we heard them, which was incredible.

Very nice experience

This was a very pleasant experience, with a that was friendly and helpful when needed. They do their utmost to get you as close as possible to the whales. The boat is small and bumpy on the ocean waves but the seats are pretty comfortable. And friendly to your back. We spotted a whale within 5 mins on the Ocean but we could not get very close to it. After a few more encounters we found 2 whales that seemed to interested in us. We went in the water but visibility was very poor and even though they were very close ( 10 mtr ) we could not see them. In the water. We were on the water for almost 2.5 hrs and regularly spotted whales, we could get as close as about 10-15 meter. At return you can take a nice warm shower. Tips: - When sensitive for seasickness take a pill If it’s windy, ocean waves are big! - Bring a towel

An amazing experience

Having the opportunity to swim alongside whales (plural!) was absolutely magical! On top of that we witnessed two pods of dolphins gathering around the boat. The tour was a fun and informative experience, and I highly recommend it🙌

Awesome day!

Great experience going in smaller boat to swim with whales. The captain was able to quickly move locations to where whales were spotted unlike the large whalewatching boat. Great staff and crew. Provided very interesting facts about the whales and were very knowledgable about their habits. Able to wait while the whales surfaced and swam very close to the boat. Also saw dolphin pods up close. Great experience for any age. Very safe. Just do it! You won't regret it!

Hope for the best, whales are awesome.

Very pleasant experience. Great staff that were lovely, knowledgeable and superb guides, we were well taken care of. The experience left us wishing for even more whales and closer experience, which of course is the case when you’ve seen posters or YouTube videos, but it’s still a unique and wonderful experience that I can recommend to anyone.

Enjoyed the experience!

Adam and the captain were very knowledgeable and kept us safe our whole trip. My cousin and I aren’t the best swimmers and they ensured our safety throughout the whole experience

Premium payment does not equal premium service

The boat ride was good fun, but I am not sure how structured the program is in relation to providing a premium service over the standard whale watching experience. I paid nearly 4 x the price and feel that it was not worth the investment. As an experienced skipper and diver, I have an understanding of boat positioning and none of that was applied. We saw two pods of whales and it would have been easy to place the boat in an approximate position of their heading, to give swimmers a fighting chance to have the whales swim past them. Instead the boat was placed 50m to the side of the whales and they just kept swimming as you might expect, meaning we didn’t actually stand a chance of seeing them. The odds of seeing these amazing animals are tough enough, without a premium service that isn’t thought out or executed well. Sorry, that’s how I see it.

Best experience ever - worth every penny!!!

Swiming with whales has always been one of my biggest dreams and I got to do that through Aqua Adventures swiming experience. I had never even tempted going snorkling before, so that was my first experience diving and I can say I felt safe at all times. Instructions were clear and their personel were prepared at all times. It was such an amazing experience. Recommend it to y'all. It's also important to say that Aqua had the best price in the Gold Coast for this experience :)

Swimming with whales

So many whales, saw dolphins, and even got an air snow! getting close up with the opportunity to get into the water and see them swim below us. Boat crew was engaging and entertaining- really wanted us to have a good time

Just amazing

We had the most amazing encounters with the whales bot in the water and on the boat. They were so curious and spent the better part of an hour coming right up to us and poking their heads out. I got some of the best photos of my life. My wife spent more time in the water with them and had some incredible experiences. My 11yo son found the time in the water a bit mush as the drift from the boat was a little faster than we expected but we hopped back on board and just enjoyed the spectacular show from there.

You won't be disappointed

The team went above and beyond to give us an unforgettable experience. Plenty of action on our tour!

Trip of a lifetime swimming with the whales with Aqua Adventures

We had the trip of a lifetime swimming with the whales with Aqua Adventures. We were super lucky with the weather and the whales, we came upon a group of 6 whales within about 20 min. We jumped in and it took about 20 min of gripping on for dear life and being towed via rope, a couple in our group found it too tough and jumped back in the boat at that stage. Luckily we soon got into perfect position, with the whales swimming right around and under us. We spent about an hour in the water before getting back in the boat. But the whales hung around our boat for another hour, as fascinated with us as we were with them. Being on a smaller boat we felt right amongst them and got some amazing photos and videos. Our guides Adam and Captain Pineapple were great and just as excited as we were, we stayed as long as the whales wanted to play so we had an extra long trip! It was such a special day, and one our family will never forget 🐳❤️

Great trip and we swam with four humpback whales.

I feel so lucky that I ignored the 1-star review and took the trip. It turns out that the trip is outstanding. We saw 4 groups of humpback whales. We managed to swim with a group consisting of four whales and I even took videos with all four. The staff were friendly. They tried hard to find whales and chose the right moment for us to get into the water. I would highly recommend the trip.

Amazing day out. Whales were spectacular!

Although the weather was challenging, the team ensured we had a fantastic experience. Can’t recommend them enough. Cheers to all.

Loved it!

Loved it loved it loved it! The crew were amazing and went above and beyond to help us see and swim with whales! 100% recommend it.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Great morning out with Leon and his team. They dis a lot of effort to get us into the water at the right position to see the whales without intervering with their normal activities. Once in a lifetime experience!

Swim with wales

Once in a lifetime adventure. It was such a great experiance. The crew was so great and they know a lot about wildlife. It is a small boat for more fun. If you vistit the Gold Coast - do this tour.

An absolute must do!

Wow, just WOW! We had the most amazing time with Aqua Adventures on their whale watching tour! We even got to swim with these amazing creatures. The humpbacks were totally showing off with their jumps and tail slaps. Dolphins joined the party too! The guides were super cool and knew everything about the whales. They made it fun and educational. You could feel their love for the ocean and its creatures. What we loved most was how much they cared about the whales. They kept a safe distance, respecting their space. It was all about the whales' happiness. We got awesome photos. Booking was easy, and they gave us helpful tips. Aqua Adventures rocks! We’ll definitely come back for more whale-tastic adventures! 🐋🌊

Swimming with Whales

What an unbelievable once in a lifetime experience I had yesterday. Our group got up close swimming with two magnificent playful humpback whales. Unreal!!! Thank you aqua adventures!!!

Didn’t swim with whales.

We saw lots of whales which was awesome, but the reason I did this tour was to swim with them. We were told often that it is up to the whales whether we swim with them or not. However. There was barely any effort to swim with them, they mentioned it maybe twice? We came cross a mother and calf (which you can’t swim with) and then followed them for agessss. They did nothing new after the first 1-2 mins, and due to the baby, the mother was docile and didn’t do any cool shows. We then found another Mother baby, and the same thing happened again, we followed them for ages and just saw a whale swim in a straight line. After this nearing the end of the tour, we saw an adult and they did some cool shows, then we headed back. The entire day was set around the family of 7? Who were there To see whales, with very little effort for us to swim with them. I’m so disappointed. I will not be going with this company again on my next trip. If you want to see whales pick a tour company that will,prioritise you going into the water with them :( Only reason I’m giving 3 stars is because the whale sighting was good. Please also note no money was offered back or a second go wasn’t offered either. I don’t have 200 bucks to throw at a company that makes very little effort to get us in the water every single time :( everyone else paid 70 bucks and got the exact same experience.

*One of the best days of my life *

I boarded this boat knowing I would be cold (it's winter and they migrate in winter so this is my choice) but you are provided a wetsuit which is thick and warmish 🤗 I signed up for this knowing whales can't be forced to swim close to me but I was willing to pay and try. The skipper was brilliant/sharp/alert/in contact with other boats and folks to locate whales efficiently and I was also alert the entire time, searching the waters always for signs of whales nearby (you gotta work too, many eyes searching the vast waters helps!) Cindy (diving expert, support crew, educator on all things 🐋) was so easy to get along with ....what a woman ! Loved her knowledge and experience. .....and so, WE DID IT ! Skipper pulled up and whales engaged and I had the moment I have dreamed of, Humpbacks whales visualised by my eyes so closely under the water, swimming a mere 2 meters from me !! Bucket list moment *tick* but wait, I'll be back to do this again!

Great swim with the whales tour

My wife & I thoroughly enjoyed our swim with the whales tour and will definitely be going again. From the easy parking and access, for the morning cruise - when we returned the carpark was well and truly full, to the hot shower afterwards all went well. The boat is the ideal size to get up close and personal with the whales whilst still being comfortable to travel in. Being July we thought the water would have been much colder but it was far warmer in than out. Maybe take a beanie for the return trip though as the air whilst travelling is cold on the wet head. We were lucky enough to see many whales from the boat and even a couple that swam beneath us whilst in the water. The staff were all really great and are a real credit to the company. If you are looking for a memorable experience this is something you will remember for a long time.

Amazing whales

We saw lots of whales. The people from aqua adventures were always concerned that we could see them in the best conditions, far from the rest of the boats. The swim is very fast, you just see them underwater for a couple of seconds, you have to keep that in mind.

Swimming with whales

Crew were very lovely and helpful. I was expecting one opportunity (once’s confirmed we could go in) to get in the water with the whales but we got to go three times. They were going to go a fourth bc they thought I alone hadn’t seen them under water. Great amount of time watching from the boat and in the water (which was so warm). 1000% worth the money and will highly recommend. Thank you!!

Amazing experience.

Was an amazing morning out, watching the whales swimming, multiple times seeing the whales. Got close to the whales while in the water too. Would highly recommend this adventure.

Awesome time swimming w whales

We swam with whales!! Our captain Leon and assistant swimmers Oriana and Augusta were really friendly and knowledgable! We managed to catch 2 whales swimming right by us and the experience was phenomenal! the assistant swimmers also captured videos for us which she shared afterwards! I got slightly seasick but the crew was really helpful as well! Overall great experience and definitely recommended

Fantastic.

Fantastic trip!! Great crew, great facility. Bucket list experience. Can’t recommend highly enough - well worth the money (a bargain, actually!)

No discount for failed swimming with whales

While the ride on the speed boat and watching the whales from the boat was fantastic, we unfortunately did not get to swim with any whales! You can't force the whales to swim with you which is totally understandable, however I would have liked a refund or a discount for the next time. Would totally use the discount and try again but not if I have to pay the full amount again :(

Whale Swim

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Something I will endeavour to do every year from now on! What a memory! Truly exhilarating!

The serenity of whales

this was a wonderful experience that I recommend everyone do. the only reason I didn't give a 5/5 is because we unfortunately didn't see the whales while we were in the water, however, we saw lots from the boat and they were very close to us including swimming under the boat at one stage. being in a small boat you feel so much closer to the whales, yet also feel very safe. we just got unlucky with the swimming with whales part and thats something no one can predict. the next time the boat went out the whales were all around - so I guess we'll just go again!

Exciting Whale Swim on the Gold Coast

Knowledgeable and friendly onboard staff who managed a small group attendees on the boat. Understandably swimming with whales is not guaranteed, but I was lucky enough to swim with two, as well as see several others from the boat. Would highly recommend.

Amazing whale experience

Really enjoyed the Swim with the Whales experience and we certainly got to see many whales up close from the boat and in the water. It was great having only 8 of us on the boat rather than packing on one of the very large sight seeing vessels . Jumping in the ocean with the whales is exciting and we got close enough to see them above the water. The team stayed out longer than what was scheduled to provide the best experience possible and to try and see them from below which was much appreciated.

Fantastic tour and crew!

It took a while before we saw some whales, but the crew was really entertaining and informative during the trip. When we got to the whales they really got out of their way to give us the best experience we could get! The whales was a bit shy this day, but we got in the water near the whales and they swam under us, just a bit to deep to see though. We even got to be out for a bit longer than 3 hours just so we could experience some more whales! Loved it, and it really showed how mutch heart and love the crew has for the animals and how much they love to share their love! 10/10! would really recommend

Small boat whale swim

No fuss preparation. Lovely and well informed guide and skipper. Very enjoyable small boat ride to the first whales. Easy access to the water when required. I am not a super strong swimmer but felt very safe with the guide rope experience . The small boat was able to access whales quickly if spotted and the Skipper was very patient, ensuring a good viewing of the whales. Very fun and enjoyable time on the boat.

Amazing to see

The passion and energy of our guides was infectious! Seeing a mum and calf- whale breaching again and again was awe inspiring! We weren't able to see the whales from under water, but the close up experience was worth it!

Unforgettable experience

Amazing experience even if the water was to thick to see under water. The guide was amazing he made everything to make us an unbelievable experience. We saw at least 6 différents whales and could jump in water for 3 or 4. Very lucky day for us I will recommend it 100% !

Expensive, cold and wet boat trip.

This turned out to be an expensive, wet and cold, boat trip. The skipper was more interested in making personal phone calls throughout the trip than try to find whales. Everybody got soaked through (luckily we were in wet suits but the others were in their normal clothes) and we were all freezing. The skipper didn't have any equipment to find the whales (something we have not experienced before) and seemed to just chase after other boats then sit for 15- 20 minutes while on his phone. We did finally get to see a whale with her calve so wasn't able to swim with them (we totally understand that) then we were rushed back to the base. No reply from an email when we asked if it was possible for a partial refund as we had paid much more (nearly double) than the spectators for the same experience. Very, very disappointing when we had saved up and looked forward to this trip for so long.

Gentle Giants of the Ocean

Whales breaching, observing a mother and calf relaxing together and watching 2 whales swim towards us while we were in the water were all highlights of the tour. It was very special to experience this with a family member who had never seen whales before.

Whale Watching

My family and I had a wonderful experience on the Game Changer boat this morning. We saw heaps of whales and have memories that will last a lifetime. The boat is new and is lovely and the crew were all experienced and knowledgeable. Thank you Aqua Adventures for an amazing morning of Whale watching.

Décevant

Quelle déception 1 seule plongée de 5 mn alors qu'il n'y avait même pas de baleines à proximité, c'était juste l'histoire de dire que nous avions plongé... Tellement déçu Pour 219 dollars On a vu des baleines Je me sens e.scroqué