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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Pacific

Pacific

American Samoa

A remote US island territory with a large marine sanctuary where humpback whales come to calve.

Humpback whale
Humpback whale, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash
Story only

Story only, for now. We love this place and its whales, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Protected species, NOAA American Samoa; National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, NOAA.

Why: Federal law and the sanctuary protect the whales and turtles here, and we completely agree. Humpback mums come here to calve, so we want to give them all the space they need. We watch from a respectful distance and never swim with them. For now this island stays a story we love sharing.

WhalesTurtles

Why American Samoa

People go to American Samoa for culture, the National Park and the beach on Ofu, and whales are a winter extra. Humpback whales come to breed and calve from about July to October. The marine sanctuary covers 13,581 square miles in six units, and sanctuary materials list 13 marine mammal species. It is a different place from independent Samoa.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

FijiFagatele Bay and the sanctuary, American SamoaOfu and the National Park, American Samoa

When to go

Jul-Oct. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Story only

We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.

Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
The story

Where in American Samoa

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Fagatele Bay and the sanctuary

Story only

A steep bay on Tutuila inside the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Also seen: Humpback whales (seasonal, from the boat, never certain), Green turtles, Hawksbill turtles

When: Jul-Oct. Whales come here to calve, and calves are in the water, so we stay out. Rules say 100 yards from whales and 50 yards from dolphins and turtles, with no swimming, touching or feeding.

Ofu and the National Park

Story only

A quiet island in the Manua group with a famous beach and nearshore park waters.

Animals

Animals recorded in American Samoa

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredTwo blacktip reef sharks swimming over sunlit sand in turquoise waterBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhitetip reef sharks resting stacked in a reef creviceWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLarge school of chevron barracuda in deep blue waterChevron barracudaSphyraena qenieSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSchool of bigeye trevally swirling near the seabed at AmedBigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatusSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo spinner dolphins swimming over sand in clear waterSpinner dolphinStenella longirostrisSeen in 66 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHumphead wrasse swimming over a coral reef in Raja AmpatHumphead wrasse (Napoleon wrasse)Cheilinus undulatusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasEndangeredWall of grey reef sharks cruising in blue waterGrey reef sharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite-spotted eagle rays gliding over coral at Heron Island, Great Barrier ReefSpotted eagle ray (ocellated eagle ray)Aetobatus ocellatusSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBluestreak cleaner wrasse with black stripe and blue tailBluestreak cleaner wrasseLabroides dimidiatusSeen in 51 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo rough-toothed dolphins leaping together, blotchy grey skin visibleRough-toothed dolphinSteno bredanensisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClown triggerfish with big white spots over reef in the Coral SeaClown triggerfishBalistoides conspicillumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTitan triggerfish swimming over a reef slope in blue waterTitan triggerfishBalistoides viridescensSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPicasso triggerfish with painted pattern over sand in the MaldivesPicasso triggerfish (lagoon triggerfish)Rhinecanthus aculeatusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWedge-tailed shearwaters resting togetherWedge-tailed shearwaterArdenna pacificaSeen in 46 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMasked booby on Ascension IslandMasked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlack noddy perched in a shrub on Tern Island, French Frigate ShoalsBlack noddyAnous minutusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGiant trevally swimming close to a coral head, with small reef fish in blue water behind itGiant trevallyCaranx ignobilisSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat frigatebird in flight, with long angled wings and a forked tailGreat frigatebirdFregata minorSeen in 44 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLesser frigatebird soaring against a blue sky with its wings spread and tail forkedLesser frigatebirdFregata arielSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask RocíoBack to the Ocean Atlas

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AustraliaCook IslandsFijiFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall IslandsNauruNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsPapua New GuineaPitcairn IslandsSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuvaluVanuatuWallis and Futuna

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