Everything you need to know about swimming with dwarf minke whales

Dwarf minke whales are the second smallest baleen whale in existence - that is, whales that filter their food through long sieve-like plates called baleen. Their scientific name, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, actually describes the family minke whales come from. 

While they might be small in the whale world, dwarf minke whales can grow to be six tonnes, 8 metres long and live to around 50 years of age - and that's just the beginning of the fascinating facts scientists have discovered.

Dwarf minke whales love the northern waters of the Coral Sea, visiting Cairns & Great Barrier Reef for just a few weeks every year. June and July is the best time to spot them – after they disappear from Queensland waters, scientists aren’t exactly sure where they go.

Should I book a day tour or longer trip to see dwarf minke whales? 

Want to get up close and personal? Tours are really the only way to see dwarf minke whales - who play in the waters of the outer Great Barrier Reef  - and most tours depart from Cairns or Port Douglas.

A liveaboard experience offers the best chance of seeing and swimming with dwarf minke whales over a number of days. You'll eat, dive and sleep on board for anywhere from three nights up to a week, which keeps you right in the thick of it. The Great Barrier Reef is never a bad view to wake up to each morning, and you'll get to explore this natural world wonder on multiple dives as well as swim with dwarf minke whales when they're located too. 

Local operators offering liveaboard experiences that include swimming with dwarf minke whales are Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Spirit of Freedom, Eye-to-Eye Marine Encounters and Divers Den. 

Shorter on time? There's also the option to try your luck with these fascinating mammals on an action-packed day trip with Silver Series.

If you're staying in Cairns before or after your adventure, use this handy accommodation guide to snag the best pad.

What's it like to go swimming with dwarf minke whales?

Swimming with dwarf minke whales is an exhilarating, soul-touching experience. Their shy nature makes them hard to spot at first, but with a little patience and staying still, they grow accustomed to you and dare to swim closer each time they pass.

Looking at each other eye-to-eye is a connection that just stays with you – that mutual acknowledgement of another living creature transcends all species and language barriers.

When you go out for a swim, there’ll usually be spotters on top of the boat trying to get eyes on a whale. They’re quick creatures – sometimes by the time you focus your gaze they’re gone again, so be sure to have your wetsuit on and camera at the ready to jump in and capture their rare beauty.

Some important things to note: your encounter with these precious creatures is controlled to minimise the impact on the animals. This includes not swimming after them. These whales are curious, so just float around and let them come to you - it's a moment you'll never forget.