I don’t even know where to begin! When we swam above the whale, it was pure bliss. Magnificent probably is a better way to describe this snorkeling experience! In summer of 2019, we went to Alaska for whale watching, and now we see them in Okinawa. I wondered if I saw the same whale family. All I can say is this was THE BEST SNORKELING EXPERIENCE EVER!

We booked this swimming with whales trip last year, and even then, many of the spots for this season have already been reserved by those who have gone before. Thankfully we got a reservation. My friend E was the VIP, she watched the whales from the boat and made sure our GoPros had enough battery, that we were well-fed and hydrated. She was our photographer/translator. I’m so glad UN pushed me to get my Open Water diving certificate when we first came to Okinawa, without which I wouldn’t be able to swim with whales. When UN’s arm is fully healed, we will return!

Prior to the Trip:

Get Aneron (アネロン) from Japanese drug store for motion sickness (it works like magic)
Put hot water in a Thermos the day before to help you stay warm
Prepare extra camera batteries
Wear swimsuit underneath before you leave, it’s easier to change on the boat

What to Bring:

Motion sickness Medication
Lunch (I brought onigiri, tamago, and vitamin jello)
Snorkeling gears (mask, dry snorkel, fins, boots)
5mm Wetsuit
GoPro and extra batteries
Toiletries and personal items
Hat and sunglasses

Essential Tips:

You can rent all the equipments from Hong Star Dive
PADI license required
Mandatory orientation a week before to learn guidelines
Take Aneron the day before and early morning day of the trip
Shower, toilet, and changing area are available on the boat
Have a snug yet tight fit fins
Short lunch time (or maybe I ate too slow)

The experience is quite exhausting. We got on and off the boat at least 20 times. Our guide encouraged us to rest but we didn’t want to miss any opportunity to swim with whales and see them from a stone’s throw distance. The boat prepares weights and defogging solutions for your mask. Our guide was very thoughtful, made sure that we don’t look like crazy people in the water, and checked our gears before we got off. Getting off the boat requires speed and minimizes splashing. The most difficult task is climbing the ladders in fins. Many fins were lost in the deep blue sea. Once you’re in the water it’s actually quite easy. Look for the guide waving a red flag, swim towards them, and listen for commands (or just follow what everyone else is doing). Doing so will maximize your chance of seeing whales.

I thought I was going to be swallowed by a whale like Pinnochio or Jonah from the Bible during our last swim. They were swimming around us in circles, so close that it felt like I was watching them on an 80 inch 8K OLED TV. When we got back to the port, we were still in awe and disbelief of our experience that day. So close, yet felt so surreal.

Information

Company: Hong Star Dive
Website: www.facebook.com/Hongstardive or http://hongstardive.com
Price: 20000 yen, included boat and instructor

Chinese Translation

該從哪裡說起呢？第一場下水，立刻看到鯨魚在我們下面游泳，感覺像是你見到心儀已久的人突然出現在你面前，我興奮到不知道如何表達！現在想起還是意猶未盡，好想再一次和鯨魚游泳。2019年時，我和UN一起到阿拉斯加看鯨魚，現在鯨魚遷移到沖繩，很好奇我有沒有看到同戶家族。這次的賞鯨浮潛是我史上最棒的浮潛經驗，感官全被震撼到！（大推！）

這次的浮潛行程我們去年底就報名了（感謝朋友A&W立刻訂位），許多位置已經被去年參加過的人先報名，但好險我們還是搶到很棒的時間。非常謝謝朋友E在船上身兼多職，準備下水時他幫我們確認相機夠電、我們不脫水不餓，當我們下水時他是攝影師幫我們拍攝海面上活動，還兼職翻譯官這個重要角色，幫我們翻譯船長的指令。還要謝謝UN當時我們剛來沖繩時，立刻幫我報名潛水執照課，讓我能和鯨魚游泳。等UN手傷好後，一定要再一起去！

事前準備：

買日本超有名白兔暈船藥（很有效）
前一天將保溫瓶裡放熱水，當天從海裡起來時能只接喝水保暖
準備相機備用電池
事先穿好泳衣，方便在船上更換

必帶用品：

暈船藥
午餐（便利商店買的御飯糰、玉子燒、運動飲料）
浮潛配備（蛙鏡、呼吸管、蛙鞋、潛水鞋）
5mm 潛水衣（船上有保暖外套）
GoPro和備用電池
保養品和個人物品
帽子和太陽眼鏡

重要事項：

潛店能租浮潛配備
必須有潛水或自由潛水執照
需要上orientation，學習海上規則
出海前晚和出海當天早上一定要吃暈船藥（教練會一再強調）
船上有淋浴的地方、廁所、更衣區（船上乾燥區和浴巾）
下水前確定蛙鞋有穿緊，防止爬梯時蛙鞋掉進海裡
吃午餐時間非常短（可能我吃飯慢）

非常耗體力的行程，我們大概上下船至少超過20次，但還是甘之如飴。教練幾度叫我們休息，但我們不想錯過任何能看到鯨魚的機會，深怕錯失最棒的畫面。就像許多船潛一樣，船上有配防霧肥皂水和配重。教練很貼心，會確保你下水時長得不像瘋子，等下海時也會幫你注意配備都齊全。整個過程最困難的則是穿蛙鞋爬梯子，下船時要快狠準又不濺水，上船時需要用非常外八的方式爬梯子。過程蛙鞋非常容易卡到而掉進大海裡（親眼看到團員的蛙鞋救不回來），但在海裡時非常輕鬆。帶頭教練會帶著紅旗，只要跟著教練游，且仔細聽好指令（或盲從跟著大家的方向）就有很大的機率看到鯨魚。

那天最後一次下水，一度認為自己即將變成木偶奇遇記或是聖經裡的約拿，一張口我們就被吞進嘴裡。鯨魚在我們周圍來回環繞，近到吐出來的氣都成為鯨魚游泳的一部份。船到港時，大夥把裝備拿上車，但我們依然意猶未盡的討論，好近，好不真實。