Swim With Dolphins
Ticked off in February 2010
Slip into open water as a wild pod swings round to check you out, clicking and whistling all around your mask.
The adventure
The skipper cuts the engine, the signal comes, and you slide off the back of the boat into cold, clear water. For a second there's nothing but blue. Then the sound arrives before the dolphins do: clicks, buzzes and whistles, coming from every direction at once.
Wild dolphins choose whether to stay, which is what makes it feel so special when they do. In Kaikōura, dusky dolphins sweep past in groups, spinning, leaping clear of the surface and circling back to look you in the eye if you dive down or hum through your snorkel. In the Red Sea, spinner dolphins drift through sheltered reef lagoons in calm, turquoise water. The best encounters last only minutes, but you'll replay them for years: a dolphin turning on its side to watch you, close enough to see the scars on its skin.
Why it’s epic
- Kaikōura's dusky dolphins travel in pods that can number in the hundreds and are famous for acrobatic leaps.
- Near Marsa Alam in Egypt, spinner dolphins rest in the sheltered lagoon of Samadai Reef.
- More than 20 species of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the Azores.
- Hearing their clicks and whistles underwater is often what stays with people most.
What it is
Swimming with wild dolphins in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience.
How to do it
Choose responsible operators that don't feed or chase the dolphins, such as in Kaikōura (New Zealand), the Azores or the Red Sea.
Top tip
Avoid captive dolphin attractions.
Need to know
- Pick operators who let the dolphins approach, limit swimmers in the water and never feed or chase the pod.
- You need to be a confident snorkeller in open water; in Kaikōura the sea is cold even in summer, so thick wetsuits are supplied.
- Wild encounters are never guaranteed, so book early in your trip and leave a spare day in case the sea is too rough.
Do it yourself
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
Over to you
Is “Swim With Dolphins” on your bucket list, or have you already done it? Tell me in the comments, and if you've got a question about it, ask away and I'll answer.