Swimming with DolphinsA rare and life changing experience!Swimming with dolphins is a rare privilege, you can experience in New Zealand. These beautiful animals love to play, often following boats. Found in our coastal waters there are tours offering swimming with dolphins experiences based at Paihia, in the Bay of Islands,Auckland, Whakatane,Tauranga,Marlborough Sounds, Kaikoura and Akaroa.
We have had our own dolphin legends, Opo, being perhaps the most famous. He came to stay and play up north at Opononi in the 1950’s. As word got out, people flocked to see him. Sadly he died within a year or two, but children’s books have been written about him, and he is a New Zealand icon. The dusky dolphin, about 2 metres in length, is also only found in the Southern hemisphere. They are very social, and swim in big pods. You may see them in Marlborough Sounds , Kaikoura, and Akaroa. You are also likely to see other interesting marine life – penguins, albatross and other sea birds.It will depend where you are what varieties you see. Some of the more southern areas only operate between October to May. You will need to check when you book. There are also combination tours with whale watching or sailing. Another way to interact with dolphins if you are fortunate, is when kayaking.One of my most memorable kayaks was in Northland. A group of us were paddling around the rocky coast and all of a sudden a pod of 4 dolphins popped up right in amongst the kayaks. They really are the friendliest creatures. But still need to be treated as the wild animals they are.
What will a Tour Provide?Each company has a slightly different variation. They will have skilled, trained staff. New Zealand has stringent regulations these tour companies must adhere to. The skipper will each day make the decision as to whether it is suitable to actually get in the water and swim with the dolphins. It will depend on a range of conditions and how the dolphins themselves are reacting.
If you do not see any, you will usually be offered anything from a free return trip to a percentage of your tour fee returned. The conditions should be clearly set out in the terms. If they are not, I suggest you ask before you do the tour, to avoid disappointment. These are wild creatures and there can be no guarantees they will show.
Who Can Swim With Dolphins?• Adults must have a reasonable level of swimming skills and fitness as they will need to swim to and from the boat.
• Children must be 7 or 8 years old – it varies for each company, and of course they also must be competent swimmers.
• Childen, including with some companies preschoolers, can however go in the boat and view from there. • You will be provided with wetsuits, flippers, snorkel and mask. • You will firstly be trained in how to handle yourself and behave with the dolphins. The boat will then take you out to areas where they know they are likely to find dolphins. If the skipper accesses it as suitable to swim with the dolphins this day you will be in the water usually for about an hour( again variable) - for a memory of a lifetime experience!
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