Tonga 2011: If you really want to see what a trip with Douglas Hoffman can be like, watch this Whale Discoveries video in the Kingdom of Tonga, filmed by Sam Cambell
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Travel Dates 1012
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D1-Limited Edition 2, Indonesia, July 30-Aug 9, 2012
July 30-Aug 9, 2012 Damai I liveabaord Raja Ampat, Manakwari, and Chendreawasih Indonesia.

Click to view more of the vessel, Damai I
In the early 90's I had the good fortune to travel to Manado, North Sulawesi Indonesia to scuba dive. I made friends with the Batuna family and found a home at Murex Dive Center. I helped out with logistics, dive briefings, dive training and their liveaboard dive boats. The contacts made enabled me to spend a lot of time in Ambon and take part in the original survey dives in the Lembeh Strait before Kungungan Bay Resort was built.
Indonesia is a very special place for scuba diving and it's time to go back. A few years ago I started hearing about this boutique liveabaord that had great food, and took small groups to wonderfully rich and remote areas like Raja Ampat, Manakwari and Chendreawasih. When I checked out the boat I knew I wanted to go on it but the problem was it was sold out 2-3 years in advance. So I had kind of given up on the idea.
A few days ago I decided to contact the owner and see if there were any last minute changes that would allow me to come and possibly bring some people. I was so excited to receive an email from Alberto that a trip had just opened up July 30-Aug 9, 2012. To my added excitement the destinations were exactly the ones I wanted to visit. The trip is called D1-Limited Edition 2.
Check it out on the Damai web site here.
Raja Ampat. There are sites that are so pristine and packed with growth, that a photographer is hard-pressed to find a spot to place a steadying finger. Exotic sea life and macro critters abound of course, and photo opportunities border on overwhelming.The incredible experience of drifting along miles of exquisite reef brimming with hues and activity the likes of which few have ever experienced.
Cendrawasih. The only place on earth where whale sharks are being hand fed!! This is the largest maritime national park in Indonesia and offers great diving. The wrecks in Manokwari are the best in the Indo-pacific. The reefs in the part are virtually untouched and teaming with life. New species are being discovered every month and it is a paradise for scientists and experienced divers.
There are different styles of cabins on the boat and the price varies from $475-$575 per person per day. This is a boutique boat and everything including Nitrox, and spa treatments are included. That's right, they have a massage person on the boat. You can book direct on their web site. www.divedamai.com
Whale Discoveries 8 Day Liveaboard Expedition Ha’apai, Tonga, Sept 12-19th 2012
This cruise is dedicated to Photographing Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales above and below the surface with special host Douglas J Hoffman
Whale Discoveries
Dave and Tris Sheen, owners of Whale Discoveries have over 180,000 miles of sailing behind them and more than 28 years whale watching and swimming experience. Their goal is to provide guests an amazing experience that helps them appreciate all life in the sea and become advocates for sustaining our environment. The boat while having all the comforts travelers require will utilize solar power, and do everything possible to minimize their footprint in the environment.
Special host Douglas J Hoffman is a seasoned diver with over 10,000 hours in the water, and has been leading photography dedicated trips specializing in Humpback whales since 2005. Douglas has become one of the most sought out professional guides by photographers at every level. In addition to his experience in the water, in January of 2012 Douglas received the Master of Photography Degree from the PPA.
This expedition is limited to a maximum of 8 guests so each person will get the most out of the experience. A small group also enables us to be flexible and move with the weather conditions as well as the marine life itself.
Sept 12-19th 2012
Departing and returning to Pangai Harbour in the Ha'apai group of Tonga this incredible expedition will take us all through the pristine & untouched extremities of Ha'apai.
Onboard you will find all the comforts you will require in an eco friendly way. Our social and business priorities include reducing our overall footprint to ensure we do our best to support our delicate ocean and its inhabitants. Please refer to vessel details at www.whalediscoveries.com for more information.
Day 1 11/09/2012
1400 Step aboard and meet our friendly and professional staff who will introduce you to the safety and comforts of our vessel. Then its time to go sailing & whale watching.
In the late afternoon we will settle down at the nights anchorage and enjoy the first of many beautiful dinners over Tongan sunsets. Afterwards will be a presentation on whale photography. The tips and techniques covered will help participants get set up for the days ahead.
Days 2-7
An early start will find us sailing among the multitude of islands and reefs of the Ha’apai island group. Humpback whales congregate in this area and with very few inhabited islands we are able to fully explore this virtually untouched area.
These days are dedicated to getting everybody in the water with humpback whales. Our professional staff will maximize your opportunities to swim with and photograph a large variety of different whale behaviors. At night we anchor at different island locations according to weather conditions and whale activity.
Day 8 19/09/2012
We will look for whales as we sail back towards Pangai harbour for the final night of expedition. Guests will depart between 7:00 - 8:00 the next morning
Please note that this itinerary is subject to weather and safety conditions and may be changed accordingly. This Voyage covers some 200 nautical miles and guests must be aware that there is a possibility of encountering rough ocean conditions.
8 day trip cost is $5280 AUD
Interisland flights
Please visit www.chathamspacific.com
See also the Kingdom Pass: www.chathamspacific.com/kingdom-pass
Tongatapu to Pa’anga or Vava’u
Departs and returns twice daily except Sundays
Whale Discoveries 9 Day Liveaboard Expedition in Tonga, Sept 21st-29th, 2012
This adventure is dedicated to Photographing Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales with special host Douglas J Hoffman
9 days Ha’apai / Vava’u
Sept 21st to Sept 29th, 2012
Whale Discoveries
Dave and Tris Sheen, owners of Whale Discoveries have over 180,000 miles of sailing behind them and more than 28 years whale watching and swimming experience. Their goal is to provide guests an amazing experience that helps them appreciate all life in the sea and become advocates for sustaining our environment. The boat while having all the comforts travelers require will utilize solar power, and do everything possible to minimize their footprint in the environment.
Special host Douglas J Hoffman is a seasoned diver with over 10,000 hours in the water, and has been leading photography dedicated trips specializing in Humpback whales since 2005. Douglas has become one of the most sought out professional guides by photographers at every level. In addition to his experience in the water, in January of 2012 Douglas received the Master of Photography Degree from the PPA.
This expedition is limited to a maximum of 8 guests so each person will get the most out of the experience. A small group also enables us to be flexible and move with the weather conditions as well as the marine life itself.
9 days Ha’apai / Vava’u - Sept 21st to Sept 29th, 2012
Guests will fly into the Ha’apai island group in order to meet the boat in Pangai Harbour. This expedition will sail through the myriad of islands making up the Ha’apai island group, and end in the Vava’u island group allowing participants to the best of both island groups in one trip.
For the most part our days will be spent sailing around looking for cooperative whales. At night, the captain and crew will anchor at different island locations according to whale activity & weather conditions.
The Ha’apai group consists of a series of islands and seamounts that are known to be a popular area for Humpback Whales. Seldom visited by tourist boats, the whales here are often curious about people.
The Vavau island group is the most developed in terms of tourism and has a lot of whale swimming charter boats, dive operators, fishing boats, restaurants, and sailboats. The islands and town here here are picturesque and fun to visit but not of concern in terms of competition whale swimming as we intend to go to places well out of range of most day boats.
Day 1 - 3
0900 Step aboard and meet our friendly and professional staff who will introduce you to the safety and comforts of the vessel. Afterwards will be a presentation on whale photography. The tips and techniques covered will help participants get set up for the days ahead.
As we sail from Pangai, we enter the whale playgrounds of the Ha’apai islands. Dave and Tris Keen know of some islands in this area that always seem to produce wonderful Humpback whale encounters.
Day 4 25/09/2012
This day is spent sailing north we head for the Vava’u island group. During the passage we will encounter a series of sea mounts known to have large numbers Humpback whales. Whale sharks, sunfish, and billfish are amongst the marine megafauna that have also been sighted in these waters.
Day 5- 8
From Vavau, we will sail 40-50 miles further north to Toku and Fonualei. These isolated islands are where the Blue Planet got their famous humpback whale footage. False Killer whales, Pilot whales Spinner Dolphins and Oceanic White Tip sharks are just a few of the diverse marine life that have also been spotted in these waters.
Day 9
We will look for whales all day while working our way south to Vavau' for our final night.
Please note that this itinerary is subject to weather and safety conditions and may be changed accordingly. This Voyage covers some 250 nautical miles and guests must be aware that there is a possibility of encountering rough ocean conditions. In the case of sustained winds of 20-25 knots or more some anchorages may not be possible, and this will alter the schedule.
All participants should be comfortable snorkeling in deep water. Trip insurance is mandatory.
9 days $5,940 AUD. Airport or hotel pick up and drop off provided.
Clients from the United states, Canada, and Europe can book with Douglas J Hoffman & Maui Photography in Hawaii. Clients from Australia can book with Whale Discoveries. Contact Douglas for information via email, at Dhimages@maui.net, phone 808 879 0260, or skype DouglasHoffman1
Domestic flights are needed.
Once in Tonga participants will need a domestic ticket to get to Ha’apai or Vavau’.
Interisland flights
Please visit www.chathamspacific.com
See also the Kingdom Pass: www.chathamspacific.com/kingdom-pass
Trip two you will need a domestic flight schedule that takes you from Tongatapu to Ha’apai and returns from Vavau to Tongatapu.
Whale Discoveries 10 Day Liveaboard Expedition in Tonga, Oct 2nd-11th 2012
This expedition is dedicated to Photographing Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales with special host Douglas J Hoffman

Whale Discoveries
Dave and Tris Sheen, owners of Whale Discoveries have over 180,000 miles of sailing behind them and more than 28 years whale watching and swimming experience. Their goal is to provide guests an amazing experience that helps them appreciate all life in the sea and become advocates for sustaining our environment. The boat while having all the comforts travelers require will utilize solar power, and do everything possible to minimize their footprint in the environment.
Special host Douglas J Hoffman is a seasoned diver with over 10,000 hours in the water, and has been leading photography dedicated trips specializing in Humpback whales since 2005. Douglas has become one of the most sought out professional guides by photographers at every level. In addition to his experience in the water, in January of 2012 Douglas received the Master of Photography Degree from the PPA.
Oct 2nd to Oct 11th, 2012
Departing from the Port of Refuge Neiafu in Vava'u this incredible expedition will take us through the myriad of islands, seamounts and reefs that make up the Vava'u and Ha’apai island groups of the Kingdom of Tonga.
This expedition is limited to a maximum of 8 guests so each person will get the most out of the experience. A small group also enables us to be flexible and move with the weather conditions as well as the marine life itself.
Onboard you will find all the comforts you will require presented in an eco friendly way thus reducing our overall footprint. Our goal is simple provide a quality expedition while ensuring we do our best to support our delicate ocean and its inhabitants. Refer to vessel details www.whalediscoveries.com for more information on the boat.
Day 1-3 02/10/2012
0900 Step aboard and meet our friendly and professional staff who will introduce you to the safety and comforts of the vessel. We will sail north of the Vava'u island group to the magical and remote Toku and Fonualei islands.
These islands are where the Blue Planet got their humpback whale footage. Located 40-50 miles North, Toku island, is too far for the day trip boats to travel so we generally find ourselves alone here. In addition to Humpback Whales, False killer whales, Pilot whales, Spinner Dolphins, and oceanic white tip sharks are just a few of the diverse marine life that have been spotted in these waters.
Day 4-5 05/10/2012
Sailing south we head for the southern extremities of the Vava’u Island group in order to explore the seamounts on our way to the Ha’apai Island group. While sailing we should encounter many Humpback Whales that want to play. Sailing south during the afternoon of the 6th we will arrive in the northern Ha’apai islands.
Day 6-8
Known as Friendly Ha’apai, this group of islands is worthy of many days exploration. Made up of a long chain of islands and seamounts, the waters here very popular for Humpback Whales. Very seldom visited by tourist boats the whale interactions here are extremely productive.
Day 9
More marine life interaction this morning and the afternoon spent sailing to Pangai Ha'apai for our final night.
Day 10
Guests depart after breakfast. Transportation will be arranged to airport or accommodation as needed for each guest. We understand that some people may want to stay a few extra days on Ha'apai, and others may want to fly to Fiji or New Zealand.
Please note that when making domestic flight reservations guests will fly into Neiafu Vavau, and depart from Pangai airport in Ha’apai.
Please note that this itinerary is subject to weather and safety conditions and may be changed accordingly. This Voyage covers some 250 nautical miles of open ocean and guests must be aware that there is a possibility of encountering rough ocean conditions at times.
Clients must get trip insurance.
Ten day adventure costs $6,600 AUD per person.
Looking ahead to 2013 we have three adventures started.
Travel Dates 1013
Fiji Shark Diving, Land Based - March 3-11, 2013
Fiji Shark Diving
Land Based
March 3-11, 2013
Join me for 5 days of shark diving and a day of shipwrecks and soft coral in Fiji. Includes 8 nights accommodation and 6 days of diving.
Cost is $2,795 Meals are not included but round trip transport from Nadi to Pacific Harbor in a private taxi is.
This will be a high voltage week that provides opportunties to see tiger, lemon, bull, silvertip, tawny nurse, black tip, white tip and gray reef sharks in the wild. We will go out with Beqa Adventure Divers and Aqua Trek to maximize our shark encounters and see two different styles of shark feeding. We will enjoy five days of shark diving doing two tanks each day. We will also spend a day doing wreck and soft coral dives. Package includes 12 dives, accommodation, private portfolio review, tips on shark photography, round table photography discussions, critiques plus take home one 12 x 18 canvas portrait with your favorite image of the week. Your image or mine it doesn't matter.
Accommodations will be at the Uprising Hotel which features a great restaurant, beautiful surroundings and swimming pool.
Whale Discoveries 10 days Ha’apai / Vava’u Sept 20th to Sept 30th, 2013
This expedition is dedicated to Photographing Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales with special host Douglas J Hoffman
Whale Discoveries
Dave and Tris Sheen, owners of Whale Discoveries have over 190,000 miles of sailing behind them and more than 28 years whale watching and swimming experience. Their goal is to provide guests an amazing experience that helps them appreciate all life in the sea and become advocates for sustaining our environment. The boat while having all the comforts travelers require will do everything possible to minimize their footprint in the environment. The company goal is to provide a quality expedition while ensuring we do our best to support our delicate ocean and its inhabitants. Refer to vessel details www.whalediscoveries.com for more information on the boat.
Special host Douglas J Hoffman has traveled and dived extensively through Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Mexico, Fiji, Palau, Yap, and Tonga. With over 10,000 hours in the water, he has gained valuable experience. Douglas has been leading photography dedicated trips since 1995, and specialized in Humpback whales since 2005. Hoffman has become one of the most sought out professionals by photographers at every level that are interested in photographing whales. In addition to his experience in the water, in 2012, Douglas received the Master of Photography Degree from the PPA. In 2010 he received the Kodak Award of Photographic Excellence. When not with the whales Douglas is based in Maui Hawaii, teaching photography workshops, and creating portraits on the beach.
This expedition is limited to a maximum of 8 guests so each person will get the most out of the experience. A small group also enables us to be flexible and move with the weather conditions as well as the marine life itself.
10 days Ha’apai / Vava’u Sept 20st to Sept 30th, 2013
Guests will fly into the Ha’apai island group in order to meet the boat in Pangai Harbour. This expedition will sail through the myriad of islands making up the Ha’apai island group, and end in the Vava’u island group allowing participants to the best of both island groups in one trip.
For the most part our days will be spent sailing amongst pretty islands looking for cooperative whales. At night, the captain and crew will anchor at different island locations according to whale activity & weather conditions. The Ha’apai group consists of a series of islands and seamounts that are known to be a popular area for Humpback Whales. Seldom visited by tourist boats, the whales here are often curious about people.
The Vavau island group is the most developed in terms of tourism and has a lot of whale swimming charter boats, dive operators, fishing boats, restaurants, and sailboats. The islands and town here here are picturesque and fun to visit but not of concern in terms of competition whale swimming as we intend to go to places well out of range of most day boats.
Day 1 - 3
0900 Step aboard and meet our friendly and professional staff who will introduce you to the safety and comforts of the vessel. Afterwards will be a presentation on whale photography. The tips and techniques covered will help participants get set up for the days ahead.
As we sail from Pangai, we enter the whale playgrounds of the Ha’apai islands. Dave and Tris Keen know of some islands in this area that always seem to produce wonderful Humpback whale encounters.
Day 4
This day is spent sailing north we head for the Vava’u island group. During the passage we will encounter a series of sea mounts known to have large numbers Humpback whales. Whale sharks, sunfish, and billfish are amongst the marine megafauna that have also been sighted in these waters.
Day 5- 8
From Vavau, we will sail 40-50 miles further north to Toku and Fonualei. These isolated islands are where the Blue Planet got their famous humpback whale footage. False Killer whales, Pilot whales Spinner Dolphins and Oceanic White Tip sharks are just a few of the diverse marine life that have also been spotted in these waters.
Day 9
We will look for whales all day while working our way south to Vavau' for our final night.
Day 10 - Guests will depart around 8:00 AM
Please note that this itinerary is subject to weather and safety conditions and may be changed accordingly. This Voyage covers some 250 nautical miles and guests must be aware that there is a possibility of encountering rough ocean conditions. In the case of sustained winds of 20-25 knots or more some anchorages may not be possible, and this will alter the schedule. All participants should be comfortable snorkeling in deep water. Trip insurance is mandatory.
10 days $6,600 AUD. Airport or hotel pick up and drop off provided.
Once in Tonga participants will need a domestic ticket to get to Ha’apai or Vavau’.
Interisland flights
Please visit www.chathamspacific.com
Whale Discoveries 10 days Vava’u / Ha'apai Oct 2 - 11th, 2013
This expedition is dedicated to Photographing Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales with special host Douglas J Hoffman
Whale Discoveries
Dave and Tris Sheen, owners of Whale Discoveries have over 190,000 miles of sailing behind them and more than 28 years whale watching and swimming experience. Their goal is to provide guests an amazing experience that helps them appreciate all life in the sea and become advocates for sustaining our environment. The boat while having all the comforts travelers require will do everything possible to minimize their footprint in the environment. The company goal is to provide a quality expedition while ensuring we do our best to support our delicate ocean and its inhabitants. Refer to vessel details www.whalediscoveries.com for more information on the boat.
Special host Douglas J Hoffman has traveled and dived extensively through Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Mexico, Fiji, Palau, Yap, and Tonga. With over 10,000 hours in the water, he has gained valuable experience. Douglas has been leading photography dedicated trips since 1995, and specialized in Humpback whales since 2005. Hoffman has become one of the most sought out professionals by photographers at every level that are interested in photographing whales. In addition to his experience in the water, in 2012, Douglas received the Master of Photography Degree from the PPA. In 2010 he received the Kodak Award of Photographic Excellence. When not with the whales Douglas is based in Maui Hawaii, teaching photography workshops, and creating portraits on the beach.
Oct 2nd to Oct 11th,
Departing from the Port of Refuge Neiafu in Vava'u this incredible expedition will take us through the myriad of islands, seamounts and reefs that make up the Vava'u and Ha’apai island groups of the Kingdom of Tonga.
This expedition is limited to a maximum of 8 guests so each person will get the most out of the experience. A small group also enables us to be flexible and move with the weather conditions as well as the marine life itself.
Day 1-3
0900 Step aboard and meet our friendly and professional staff who will introduce you to the safety and comforts of the vessel. We will sail north of the Vava'u island group to the magical and remote Toku and Fonualei islands.
These islands are where the Blue Planet got their humpback whale footage. Located 40-50 miles North, Toku island, is too far for the day trip boats to travel so we generally find ourselves alone here. In addition to Humpback Whales, False killer whales, Pilot whales, Spinner Dolphins, and oceanic white tip sharks are just a few of the diverse marine life that have been spotted in these waters.
Day 4-5
Sailing south we head for the southern extremities of the Vava’u Island group in order to explore the seamounts on our way to the Ha’apai Island group. While sailing we should encounter many Humpback Whales that want to play. Sailing south during the afternoon of the 6th we will arrive in the northern Ha’apai islands.
Day 6-8
Known as Friendly Ha’apai, this group of islands is worthy of many days exploration. Made up of a long chain of islands and seamounts, the waters here very popular for Humpback Whales. Very seldom visited by tourist boats the whale interactions here are extremely productive.
Day 9
More marine life interaction this morning and the afternoon spent sailing to Pangai Ha'apai for our final night.
Day 10
Guests depart after breakfast. Transportation will be arranged to airport or accommodation as needed for each guest. We understand that some people may want to stay a few extra days on Ha'apai, and others may want to fly to Fiji or New Zealand.
Note that when making domestic flight reservations guests will fly into Neiafu Vavau, and depart from Pangai airport in Ha’apai.
Also be advised this itinerary is subject to weather and safety conditions and may be changed accordingly. This Voyage covers some 250 nautical miles of open ocean and guests must be aware that there is a possibility of encountering rough ocean conditions at times. The boat must have 6 participants in order to sail. All clients must have trip insurance.
Ten day adventure costs $6,600 AUD per person.
Once in Tonga participants will need a domestic ticket to get to Ha’apai or Vavau’.
Interisland flights
Please visit www.chathamspacific.com
Email questions to Douglas at Dhimages@maui.net