By

Scott Portelli received a Merit of Excellence award in the Colour Print Photographic category at the 10th Celebrate the Sea Underwater Festival 2011

I have been coming back to Tonga every year for the past 10 years and have been lucky enough to see some amazing behaviour and have some remarkable encounters. This book commemorates my ten years visiting Tonga, I hope I can continue to do this for another 10 years. Please email me if you would like a limited edition signed copy of the book.

We have had some amazing encounters with the Humpbacks and had some fun snorkelling around the islands reefs and caves. It is only half way through the season and the whales are still arriving in numbers. stay tuned as we keep you up to date with what is happening in Tonga.

Scott Portelli was awarded 2nd place in the wide angle category of the ADEX 2011 photographer of the year competition. Along with his video of the Azores which also received second place in the underwater video of the year.

This image taken under a special permit granted by the Regiao Autonoma Dos Acores, Secretaria Regional Do Ambiente E Do Mar, Dreccao Regional do Ambiente.

During the month of April some of largest Balleen whales can be seen migrating past the Azores and often feeding in the area.

This image taken under a special permit granted by the Regiao Autonoma Dos Acores, Secretaria Regional Do Ambiente E Do Mar, Dreccao Regional do Ambiente.

Sperm whales are amazing creatures to be in the water with and every encounter was unique, I can’t wait to be back with these whales again in the mazing Azorean waters off Portugal.

This image taken under a special permit granted by the Regiao Autonoma Dos Acores, Secretaria Regional Do Ambiente E Do Mar, Dreccao Regional do Ambiente.

Annouced at the 2010 BUIF awards in London, this Humpback whale photograph was Highly commended in the wide angle category, Iwas also luck enough to have my video of the Azores Highly commended. I feel so lucky to be celebrating 10 years with these amazing Humpbacks in Tonga.

This photo taken on my last day in the Azores is one of the most amazing experiences I had in the water with a Sperm Whale. I have spent the past 10 years taking people to swim with whales and I do feel privileged each and every time but there is always a moment that surprises even me. Look forward to seeing these amazing creatures again this June.

This image taken under a special permit granted by the Regiao Autonoma Dos Acores, Secretaria Regional Do Ambiente E Do Mar, Dreccao Regional do Ambiente.

Scott was named runner up in the Our Impact category of the 2010 ANZANG Nature Photography competition for a shot of a Blue Marlin taken in Tonga in 2009. The Marlin had been tagged and released and was gasping and showing multiple wounds to its eye and body. This was a sad sight to see but a good reminder of how we have an impact on the ocean.

The season has drawn to an end and it is hard to describe all the amazing things we have seen, so hopefully pictures tell a thousand words. check out this years photos at flickr or on Facebook. We have met lots of interesting people along the way and had some memorable moments with the whales. I can only imagine what 2011 has in store for us. But hopefully a lot more of what we had this year. Stay tuned for updates for the 2011 season.