Gold Coast whale watching operators to monitor tours allowing people to swim with the mammals

WANT to swim with humpbacks? Soon you might be able to on the Gold Coast.

Whales play off Coolangatta. Photo by Richard Gosling

GOLD Coast whale watching operators will watch closely as a Queensland diving company is poised to launch tours allowing people to swim with humpback whales for the first time in Australia.

Mooloolaba-based Sunreef Diving will launch its “swim with the humpbacks” tours over the school holidays, allowing keen whale watchers to get closer to the ocean’s gentle giants than ever before.

After dropping the tour boat into neutral 100m or more from whales, according to state government-imposed approach restrictions, swimmers will be allowed out in the water to swim with whales, holding on to a floating line attached to the boat.

Whales launch off Coolangatta. Picture: Richard Gosling

Gold Coast based Whales in Paradise operator Anthony Arden was a dive instructor before starting up whale watching tours a decade ago and said he had considered branching out into whale-diving for tourists.

“Places like Tonga are renowned for being able to swim with the whales and when done properly it’s an absolutely fantastic experience, but there are a number of challenges in doing it here and that’s why we never have,” he said.

IN PICTURES: WHALES FROLIC AT COOLIE

Aside from approach restrictions, which Sunreef diving have been able to overcome by obtaining a permit that allows them to guide divers closer to the whales, Mr Arden said he would be interested to see how good an experience the Sunshine Coast company would be able to offer while whales passed quickly through the area.

Whales play off Coolangatta. Photo by Richard Gosling

“In places like Tonga, the whales have reached their destination and they’re there resting throughout the season, but around here they are constantly on the move,” he said. “I can’t see the longevity of it happening.”

Owner of Scuba Diving Australia, Mark Salter, echoed Mr Arden’s concerns.

“We’d love to do it but here on the Gold Coast the whales don’t stop,” he said.

“We think it’s a great idea but I can’t see it working.

Whales play off Coolangatta. Photo by Richard Gosling

“If there’s a whale hanging around for more than 10 ­minutes, I’d go in and swim with them.”

Spirit of the Gold Coast whale watching tours operator Emmy-Rose Curtis was more optimistic.

“It would be an incredible experience for tourists, and we’ll be keen to see how it works and if it’s something we can offer,” she said.

Aside from approach restrictions and the speed of passing whales, local operators said they would be hesitant to offer the experience when they couldn’t guarantee there would be whales who would hang around long enough and be happy to have people swim with them.

Sunreef manager Dan Hart addressed this, offering whale watchers the opportunity to rebook at a 50 per cent discount if they miss out on swimming with humpbacks the first time.