Accessibility
Helping You Decide if a Whale Swim Safari Is Right for You
At Whale Swim Safaris, we want everyone considering a tour with us to have clear and honest information about what our experience involves.
We believe accessibility starts with providing accurate information before you book, so you can make an informed decision about whether our tour is safe, comfortable and suitable for you.
Whale Swim Safaris are active marine adventures conducted aboard small vessels and include the opportunity to enter open water with humpback whales. Because of the physical nature of the experience and the design of our vessels, our tours unfortunately cannot accommodate all accessibility needs.
We would rather be upfront about these limitations than have you arrive on the day and discover that the experience isn’t suitable for you.
Physical Accessibility
Our vessels are small boats designed for operating on Hervey Bay and accessing the water for whale swimming. Unfortunately, our vessels are not wheelchair accessible.
Boarding requires guests to step onto and move around a small vessel, which may move unexpectedly with waves, wakes and changing sea conditions. During the tour, guests need to be capable of:
- Boarding and disembarking the vessel
- Moving around a small boat safely
- Maintaining balance while the vessel is moving
- Holding on when required
- Sitting securely while travelling at speed
- Following crew instructions in changing marine conditions
Guests with limited mobility should contact us before booking so we can discuss the experience and determine whether it may be suitable.
Entering the Water
Participating in a whale swim requires a greater level of physical ability than simply travelling aboard the vessel. Guests entering the water must be confident swimmers and comfortable in open water. You must also be physically capable of entering the water from the vessel and getting yourself back aboard.
Our crew will provide instructions and assistance with equipment, but guests must be capable of supporting their own body weight and participating safely. For this reason, our whale swims are generally not suitable for guests with significant mobility limitations.
Pregnancy, Back & Neck Conditions
Travel aboard a small vessel can involve sudden movement, impact and vibration, even when Hervey Bay appears relatively calm. For safety reasons, our tours are not suitable during pregnancy.
Our tours may also be unsuitable for guests with existing back, neck, hip, knee or other musculoskeletal conditions that could be aggravated by travelling aboard a small boat or entering and exiting the water.
If you have an existing injury or condition and are unsure whether you can safely participate, please contact us before booking.
Age Requirements
Whale Swim Safaris are strictly for guests aged 16 years and over. This minimum age applies to all passengers, including guests who do not intend to enter the water. Our age restriction reflects the active nature of the experience, our small vessels and the physical requirements associated with our whale swim operations.
Vision & Hearing
Having a vision or hearing impairment does not automatically prevent you from joining a Whale Swim Safari. However, guests must be able to understand and respond to important safety instructions from our skipper and crew.
If you have a hearing or vision impairment, please contact us before booking. We can discuss your individual requirements and determine what reasonable adjustments may be possible. Where practical, our crew can provide additional verbal explanation, demonstration or assistance with orientation around the vessel and equipment.
Neurodiversity & Sensory Considerations
We understand that guests may experience environments differently.
A Whale Swim Safari can include:
- Engine noise and vibration
- Wind and water spray
- Sudden vessel movements
- Close proximity to other guests
- Bright sunlight and glare
- Wearing a wetsuit, mask and snorkel
- Entering deep open water
- Unpredictable wildlife encounters
Our tours are limited to a maximum of 10 guests per boat, which provides a much smaller-group environment than traditional large-vessel whale watching.
If you have sensory requirements, are neurodivergent, experience anxiety in unfamiliar environments or would benefit from knowing more about what happens during the tour, please contact us. We’re happy to explain the experience in more detail before you decide whether to book.
Assistance Animals
Our tours operate within protected marine and national park environments around Hervey Bay and K’gari, where restrictions apply to bringing domestic animals into protected areas.
Due to these environmental requirements, wildlife considerations, the small size and configuration of our vessels, and the nature of our in-water activities, we are unable to accommodate dogs or other animals aboard our Whale Swim Safari vessels.
If you rely on an accredited assistance animal, please contact us before booking so we can discuss your circumstances and provide clear information about the limitations of our tour.
Toilets & Facilities
Our vessels are equipped with small marine toilets for guest use during the tour. Due to the compact design of our boats, these facilities are located in a small, confined space and are not wheelchair accessible. Guests need to be able to access and use the facilities independently while aboard a moving vessel.
Larger public toilet facilities are also available at the marina before departure, and we recommend guests use these before boarding. If access to toilet facilities is an important consideration for you, please contact us before booking and we’re happy to explain the onboard facilities in more detail.
Medical Conditions
All guests are required to complete a participation waiver and medical declaration before boarding. If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to safely travel aboard a small vessel, swim in open water or enter and exit the water, please contact us before booking.
Having a medical condition does not necessarily mean you cannot participate. However, there may be circumstances where we recommend that the experience is not suitable for you, or where medical clearance may be appropriate.
The skipper has final responsibility for safety aboard the vessel and may prevent a guest from entering the water where there are reasonable safety concerns.
What We Can Do
Although there are physical limitations to our experience, we’ll make reasonable adjustments where practical and safe.
Depending on your individual requirements, this might include:
- Taking additional time to explain equipment and procedures
- Providing clear verbal instructions and demonstrations
- Helping orient you around the vessel
- Discussing seating arrangements before departure
- Explaining the tour environment in detail before you book
- Discussing individual sensory or communication requirements with our crew
- Allowing a support person or companion to book alongside you
Any adjustment must be compatible with the safe operation of the vessel, marine park requirements, wildlife regulations and the safety of all guests and crew.
Not Sure? Talk to Us Before Booking
Accessibility isn’t the same for everyone. Two people with the same disability or medical condition may have completely different abilities and requirements, so we don’t want to make assumptions about what you can or can’t do.
If you’re interested in joining us but aren’t sure whether a Whale Swim Safari is suitable, please get in touch before booking. Tell us what you need and what you’re concerned about.
We’ll explain the physical environment and requirements of the tour as clearly as we can, discuss any reasonable adjustments we may be able to make, and help you decide whether the experience is appropriate for you.
If our Whale Swim Safari isn’t suitable, we’ll be honest about that too. Our priority is for every guest to have the information they need to make a safe and informed choice before booking.