Respectful whale excursion to Tahiti in 4h30

Dear Michelle, Thank you for your feedback and we are very glad you rated the whale encounter itself 10/10. We would however like to respectfully clarify a few points, as some information in your review is not accurate. The boat you were on is not a small zodiac. It is a 12-seater professional diving boat, licensed for 12 passengers. It is specifically designed for this activity, with low sides that are practical for diving and for getting in and out of the water quickly and safely when swimming with whales. This is the standard type of boat used for whale swimming excursions. As clearly mentioned in our excursion description on our website and on TripAdvisor, you do need to be physically fit to get in and out of the boat to participate in swimming with whales. This is how all whale swimming tours operate. Regarding accessibility: if a guest has special requirements or needs assistance, we do provide extra help and adapt as much as possible, but guests must inform us in advance. And for safety reasons, guests still need to be physically able to get in and out of the water by themselves. Regarding safety: all required safety equipment, including flotation devices, are always on board, as per maritime regulations. They are stored in the dedicated compartments. For the snacks and drinks: water, juice and biscuits are provided on board after the swimming part. We are sorry you felt disappointed with the comfort compared to our other boat, but both boats are professional and compliant, and we use them to keep our groups small, which is better for the whales and for our guests. We appreciate your understanding. Kind regards, *The Tahiti By Boat Team*

Dear Susan, Thank you so much for your lovely review! 🫶 We are so happy you enjoyed your respectful whale excursion with us. Our captain and guide will be thrilled to read that they were "the best"! 🌸 Thank you for choosing Tahiti By Boat and for respecting the whales with us. Hope to see you again soon! The Tahiti By Boat Team

Dear Janell, Thank you for your feedback and we are very sorry you didn't get to see whales properly on that day. Our guides do speak both English and French and we always try our best to provide information in both languages. We understand that the disappointment comes mainly from not seeing whales, and we are truly sorry for that, as whale encounters in the wild can never be guaranteed despite all our efforts. Kind regards, The Tahiti By Boat Team

Dear Ziuta, We would like to bring some clarification, as we feel there is some confusion about the tour you booked. *1. About the group size:* Our "Respectful whale excursion" is clearly advertised and sold as *12 people maximum on board*. This is stated on your booking voucher and on our TripAdvisor description. It is not a tour for 6 people maximum. If you are looking for a tour for 6 people maximum, other companies offer it, but at a significantly higher price. There may have been confusion on your side when checking the program description. *2. About the boat:* This was our boat and our crew. We did not transfer you to another operator. We do pick-ups at different docks in the morning, which is our standard procedure. We had already picked up other guests before coming to pick you up, which is why there were already people on board. *3. About swimming with the whales:* This is the most important point. We sell a whale *observation tour, with the possibility* to enter the water if conditions, whale behavior, and government regulations allow it. Swimming is never guaranteed. It is at the discretion of the guide and depends on many factors for the safety of both the whales and our guests. We completely understand the disappointment when swimming is not possible, especially when you have traveled far for this experience. We have noticed that most disappointing reviews we receive are for this exact reason, and while we fully understand the frustration, it is not a reflection of the organization or quality of the tour itself. The regulation is very strict and is there to protect the whales, and we have to respect it. Best regards,

Dear Jessica, Thank you so much for your lovely review and for your understanding. You are absolutely right - swimming with the whales is never guaranteed and always depends on the ocean conditions and the behavior of the animals. Our priority will always be the respect and safety of the whales, and of our guests. We are glad you appreciated our guide's knowledge and our respectful approach. That is exactly what we aim for at Tahiti By Boat. We hope to welcome you again on board! Warm regards, Tahiti By Boat Team

Dear Wander10830846103, Thank you for your feedback regarding our Whale Encounter tour. We would like to clarify what this tour includes, as described on our website and on TripAdvisor. This is a *whale observation excursion*. We do not guarantee a swim with whales. Putting guests in the water is only possible when safety conditions allow it, when the whales are calm, and when our guide judges that it respects the official approach rules for their protection. Regarding the organization on board: we strictly respect the capacity authorized by the government of French Polynesia, which is *12 passengers maximum on the boat, and 6 people maximum in the water at a time with a guide*. We never exceed this limit. On your tour, you were fortunate enough to even get in the water with the whales, which is not always possible. You were able to enjoy 20 minutes of interaction, and there is a reason for this duration: the other group of 6 guests on board also has to get in the water. We have to make it fair for everybody on board and share the encounter time equally between the two rotations. We are glad you found seeing the whales very interesting, and we thank you for your understanding of the regulations that protect them. Kind regards, *The Tahiti By Boat Team*

Bonjour Philippe, Nous souhaitons apporter une précision très importante: *Nous avons vendu une excursion d'observation de baleines respectueuse avec possibilité de se mettre à l'eau.* Nous n'avons pas vendu une excursion pour nager avec les baleines. C'est un point très précis et c'est d'ailleurs ainsi que l'excursion est décrite sur notre site et sur TripAdvisor. La mise à l'eau n'est jamais garantie. Concernant le nombre de participants, nous respectons strictement la réglementation en vigueur en Polynésie française qui autorise *12 passagers maximum à bord, et 6 personnes maximum dans l'eau avec le guide*. Il ne s'agit en aucun cas de sur-booking, c'est la capacité légale autorisée par le gouvernement. Toutes les compagnies autorisées ont la même réglementation. Certaines choisissent de ne prendre que 6 clients à bord, nous choisissons de prendre 12 pour permettre à plus de monde de vivre l'observation, tout en respectant les rotations de 6 dans l'eau. C'est une organisation validée par les autorités. Concernant votre remarque sur le 2ème groupe qui n'aurait aucune chance car les baleines fuient le 1er groupe: ce n'est pas exact. Notre guide est formé pour évaluer le comportement des baleines. Si les baleines montrent des signes de dérangement après le premier groupe, nous ne remettons personne à l'eau, justement pour leur bien-être et pour rester respectueux. Si les conditions le permettent, le 2ème groupe a exactement la même opportunité que le premier. Le but n'est jamais de faire fuir les animaux, qui restent des animaux sauvages et libres dont nous ne pouvons pas contrôler le comportement. Nous ne misons pas uniquement sur l'argent, mais avant tout sur le respect des animaux, la sécurité de nos passagers et le respect de la réglementation. Nous espérons que vous avez tout de même apprécié l'observation depuis le bateau. Bien cordialement, *L'équipe Tahiti By Boat*

Dear Michael, Thank you for your review and for joining our Respectful Whale Excursion. We are glad to hear you had a great experience, saw plenty of whales on the surface, and enjoyed our knowledgeable crew, even though the swimming observation wasn't possible that day. Thank you also for your great suggestion about adding a rope to hold onto while boarding. That is very helpful feedback for the comfort and safety of our guests, and we will share it with our Captain right away. We hope to welcome you back again! Warm regards, *The Tahiti By Boat Team*

Hello, What a wonderful and thoughtful review, thank you so much! We are absolutely honored that you chose Tahiti By Boat for the filming of your travel series DIY Destinations and that your whale watching excursion was nothing short of spectacular. We are delighted that you appreciated our punctual and professional crew, our convenient location in the heart of Papeete, and especially our guide. We will share your kind words with her – her passion for humpback whales and her commitment to respectful and educational encounters is at the heart of what we do. Thank you also for noting the clean gear, the safety briefing, and the light snack. We strive to make marine tourism ethical, professional, and unforgettable, and your last sentence means the world to us: "This is how marine tourism should be done." Mauruuru roa to you, and we wish you great success with DIY Destinations! Warm regards, *The Tahiti By Boat Team*