
SWIM WITH WHALES ON AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST
Enjoy an awe-filled weekend packed with whale swimming, salty hair, laughing bellies, great people and full cups.
Every winter, thousands of humpback whales pass through the waters off Australia’s East Coast. And every winter, for the past three years, we’ve been quietly guiding people into the water alongside them.
This is a full-sensory weekend designed to whisk you away from the daily grind and help you feel present and humble in nature. Think early mornings on the water, appreciating the rare beauty of the humpback whale, building new friendships over shared meals. The perfect weekend away if you’re love on annual leave and want to make the most of your time!
We’ll be based near Kingscliff in a gorgeous private villa with creek access for paddleboarding, plenty of bikes, and outdoor games to round out the fun. Expect laughter. Expect freedom. Expect a little salt in your hair.
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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- 2 mornings of Watching and Swimming with humpback whales
- The opportunity to swim with other marine species such green sea turtles
- Gorgeous waterfront villa in Kingscliff with a pool
- Group SUP adventures (weather permitting)
- Ocean Inspired Meditation and Breathwork Workshop
- Games and group bonding activities
To see what’s included, scroll to the Expedition Details
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DATES
We’re delighted to offer this trip for the third year running!
Here are our upcoming 2025 dates:
- 8-10 Aug 2025 - SOLD OUT
- 12-14 Aug 2025 - 3 SPOTS LEFT
- 15-17 Aug 2025 - SOLD OUT
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INVESTMENT
Shared Room (per person):
A$1450
Private Room (per person):
A$1650
Couples/Friends Suite (per person):
A$1650
$150 discount on mid-week trip!
Scroll to Trip Details to check out the Packages!
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TRAVEL STYLE
Small-group weekend adventure travel experience.
Shared peaceful villa accommodation with a pool, SUPs, and bikes.
Eat out or BYO food and cook in the kitchen, the choice is yours!
Keep scrolling to read the Expedition details!
TRIP DETAILS
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Not your average freediving operator.
At Immersia, freediving is about joy, awe, and feeling truly alive. Our trips are built around unforgettable marine wildlife encounters — the kind of moments you'll remember forever.
We’re picky. About destinations, suppliers, and especially our team. Every choice we make reflects our values: safety, respect for nature, and real human connection.
Why choose us?
Expert-led: This is our third year running whale swimming retreats in Australia. Our team is highly qualified, insured, and deeply experienced — no trainees or unvetted volunteers here.
Ethical by design: We never force encounters. We respect wildlife and will always step in if something feels off. And yes, that care extends to our guests too.
Trusted partnerships: We’ve teamed up with one of Australia’s most experienced whale swim operators to ensure we’re bringing the best of the best.
Guest-first approach: From secure bookings to constant communication, we make your experience smooth and stress-free.
Fun is a feature: Games, dancing, and plenty of laughs are part of the journey.
Professionalism: We treat guests with respect, stick by our word and take our role seriously.
We don’t cut corners — we raise the bar. This might sound like the bare minimum, but sadly, it’s not. That’s why we’re proud to run one of the safest, most legit freediving operations in the world.
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Shared Room (per person):
Twin room with open-plan ensuite. Please be prepared to collaborate with your roommate as rooms are open-plan and communication is necessary for bathroom privacy.
Weekend
$1450
Weekday
$1300
Private Room (per person):
Large king room with open-plan ensuite including private balcony and Smart TV..
Weekend
$1650
Weekday
$1500
Group Discount
Book in a group of 3+ and save 10%. Email us at info@immersiafreediving.com with your group details.
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2025 Trips:
8-10 August 2025 - SOLD OUT
12-14 August - 3 SPOTS LEFT (mid-week option)
15-17 August 2025 - SOLD OUT
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2 x Whale Swim Adventures
2 x nights stay in a Gorgeous Private Villa on the water
2 x breakfasts (before our dive!)
Meditation & Breathwork workshops
24/7 access to Paddleboards and Bikes
Expedition T-Shirt!
NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Meals (excluding breakfast)
Freediving Equipment (Freediving wetsuit, mask, and snorkel fins available to rent. Not weight belts.)
Weights: We will have a few spare weights but not enough for everyone to rely on. Please note: weights may only be worn by certified freedivers.
Ocean-related or Freediving Certifications
Transport to and from accommodation and dive site - lift sharing will be supported via Whatsapp
Alcohol
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We’re looking for nature-lovers, awe-seekers, and good people looking to be part of a wholesome and unforgettable group vibe.
You’ll also get a lot more out of this trip if you’re with us on these points:
you’re looking for raw, wild interactions over manufactured, forced situations
you’re ready to bring your best self to a warm and supportive group vibe
you know nature’s ways and you’re prepared for a range of conditions!
Everyone's welcome - both snorkelers and freedivers! If you're new to freediving, fret not; snorkelling encounters with wildlife are equally mesmerising.
Important: All participants must be competent and CONFIDENT swimmers, and complete a medical questionnaire prior to booking confirmation. Guests are also required to come familiar with their equipment and able to put it on quickly.
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There are so many freediving retreat options out there. Let's make sure we are a good fit!
We pride ourselves on having the best customer experience in the freediving industry, so you can expect a smooth booking process, lots of communication, and dedicated 24h engagement from the team on retreat.
We’re a value-led company and everything we do reflects these values; please check them out!
We won’t force animal interactions for photos.
We rise early, dive a lot, have a lot of fun, and go to bed pretty early. It's probably not the one if you want to party hard.
The majority of our guests are in the 25-45 age range, but we host all ages 18+, so please expect variety!
Our customer base is primarily Australian, but we love hosting guests from all over the world.
We’re LGBTQIA+ friendly.
We really, really, really value great group dynamics and we are grateful for respectful, tolerant, drama-free people!
The atmosphere is often playful and silly - dancing, games, human pyramids, sports, dirty jokes. If this isn’t your vibe, there may be a better fit for you…
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, supportive, and super friendly place. Our guests are all treated equally. However, if you feel you may need additional levels of personal support, please contact us first for an honest discussion about how we can facilitate this.
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We get it, life is unpredictable. Here is our policy if something happens or you change your mind. Please think carefully before booking as we cannot make exceptions to this policy.
Deposit: Non-Refundable.
Cancellation of trip up to 4 weeks before: Refund or Credit less Deposit.
Cancellation within 4 weeks of start date: No Refunds or Credits. Name change may be available.
Please read our Terms and Conditions here.
All guests are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover them in the event of sickness, travel interruptions or weather cancellations.
IN THE EVENT OF WEATHER RESCHEDULES OR CANCELLATIONS
Credit vouchers will be provided to guests for the partial components of the trip that are missed, so that the guest may return and use those vouchers in the future.
Due to the fact that many guests will be booking independent flights to the area we will avoid as much as possible rescheduling the entire trip. Where an activity cannot proceed, we will provide alternative group activities.
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No. Wildlife interactions can NEVER be guaranteed, at least not ethically.
Here’s an idea of the likelihood of whale interactions, bearing in mind that we work on nature’s terms and we won’t be forcing interactions:-
95%+ possibility of seeing whales on the surface from the boat.
approx 60% possibility of seeing a whale underwater (we can never predict the nature of the interaction)
NOTE: The ocean is unpreditable! If you’re looking for a manufactured +. guaranteed interaction it might not be the trip for you!
Unfortunately we cannot offer credits or refunds if we’re unlucky with the whales. However, we have 2 swims over the trip which doubles our chances!
Who Are We?
from our founder, Bella
For me, ocean travel is about feeling alive, connected, and totally in awe of the ocean.
That’s what I want to share — wild, bucket-list marine moments you’ll still be talking about when you’re 100. But I also believe we can do it better than what’s out there: safer, more respectful, and with far more care for our guests and our environment.
I’ve been the guest on trips where things felt a little weird — unqualified staff, chaotic planning, zero respect for nature, even inappropriate behaviour from facilitators. I don’t think it’s good enough.
So I built something different.
At Immersia, we’re super intentional about where we go, who we work with, and how we run things. Every trip reflects our values.
We're not the cheapest option — and we’re proud of that. We’re not here for low-effort meetups, or to get a free vacay from our paying guests. We’re here to give you something real with our whole hearts.
FAQs
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Only when we sell out a trip do we add more dates.
If you want to see different dates, please help us by:
dropping us a note to tell us which dates you’d like to see!
sharing the trip with your friends! Help us spread the word so we can fill it up and add more dates!
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No. Wildlife interactions can NEVER be guaranteed, at least not ethically.
Here’s an idea of the likelihood of whale interactions, bearing in mind that we work on nature’s terms and we won’t be forcing interactions:-
95%+ possibility of seeing whales on the surface from the boat.
approx 60% possibility of seeing a whale underwater (we can never predict the nature of the interaction)
NOTE: The ocean is unpreditable! If you’re looking for a manufactured +. guaranteed interaction it might not be the trip for you!
Unfortunately we cannot offer credits or refunds if we’re unlucky with the whales. However, we have 2 swims over the trip which doubles our chances!
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One of our core values is "Don't sh*t where you eat". We are very serious about Marine Conservation and Animal Welfare.
We partner with a licensed, very experienced and respected local whale swim operator who has been running whale watching tours for many years.
We comply with all permit limitations and ethical standards of whale interaction, including minimum distances for boats AND swimmers.
When we interact with wildlife on any of our trips, we do so in a way that does not negatively impact the animals. Everything takes place on the whale's terms. If it chooses to interact with us, we will be stoked. However, we will never chase or force the interaction
Many believe that we should 'leave wildlife alone', and for good reason. However we sadly live in a world where coastal nations will continue to exploit the oceans for economic gain regardless. Ecotourism, such as whale swimming, provides an avenue for communities to benefit from the ocean in way that:
inspires the public to protect the ocean
doesn't harm any animal or ecosystem
creates strong ocean advocates in our guests
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Adults (18+) with confidence and experience in the ocean.
You don’t need to be a certified freediver to attend! However, you must be a competent swimmer or snorkeller.
The conditions can be unpredictable so you may need to be prepared for choppiness and current.
We also require all guests to complete a medical history form before attending. Certain medical conditions may require doctor’s permission before diving.
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Option 1 - Drive. There is parking available at the accommodation.
Option 2 - Fly. The closest airport is Coolangatta. As transport is not included we aren't offering airport pickup but we recommend to organise a rental car share with other guests.
Note: We will create a Whatsapp group 2 weeks before the trip so that everyone can organise car sharing.
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Yes!
With advance notice we can arrange for rental of:
Wetsuits,
masks, and snorkel
snorkelling fins
Not available to rent:
weight belts
weights (we will have a few spare but not enough for everyone!
Please note, only certified freedivers may wear weight belts.
Please reach out to us at info@immersiafreediving.com with your needs!
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At the moment we are not offering this package but hold tight - we may add an option for this once places are sold out!
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Yes! groups of 3+ people may be eligible for a discount. Simply reach out to us at info@immersiafreediving.com .
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No. We've tried to keep this trip as affordable as possible !
Once we have guest numbers confirmed we will create a Whatsapp group to organise car sharing, renting, etc.