papergirl thinks it's a magical day.
after reading the other entires,
5 months ago
I’ve decided this is very possible, thx :)
How to swim with the dolphins (in the sea).
It made me
awesome 
"Being in deep water, floating on the waves, and having these animals coming to investigate and play with you is just amazing."
How I did it: I booked the tour with Black Cat Cruises in Akaroa NZ. The company is approved by environmental associations. The setting is unforgetable, being a volcanic crater flooded by the sea. You can check it out on google maps and see for yourself. The dolphins are hector's dolphins which are smaller and more distinctively marked than the bottlenose we are all used to seing. There were only 5 of us in the water.
They put us in twice, once within the harbor, but those dolphins were not that intersted and swam off, so they put us in again just outside the mouth of the harbour in the rolling sea. before long, 3, then 6, then 9 dolphins were playing and circling. You aren't allowed to touch or grab at the dolphins, and you use your snorkels to talk into the water to try to get them to some close.
Lessons & tips: First, I was concerned about being in the open ocean. the idea of the depthless water, and what it could contain, beneath me has always freaked me out somewhat, despite the fact I am a confident swimmer, and spent my childhood swimming in creeks, large ocean fish like the grouper give me the heebeejeebees. But it was absolutely not scary, the water is so blue, and clean, and there are other people in the water with you.
secondly, though you can't touch the dolphins, you can still play with them. use your arms to sink into the water, then push yourself up, and when they swim by you, spin quickly in a circle to follow them, they will follow with you. I was spinning like a top and had 2 dolphins circling me. that was the best thing ever.
Resources: http://www.blackcat.co.nz/dolphins.asp#glance
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
papergirl thinks it's a magical day.
So,
5 months ago
maybe not “in the sea.” I don’t know how realistic that idea is. I think I was inspired to do this when I read the book “A Ring of Endless Light” as a young girl. Good book by the way!
Anyway, I just want to interact with dolphins in some way. I’ve always thought they were such magical animals…
My experience.
3 years ago
I’m a commercial diver so I see them often. But one time a dolphin swam right up to me and looked at me, spun around then looked at me again. Went down, rolled over, then looked at me again. I was stunned. It then swam away. I’ve always wanted to freedive with them like Umberto Pelizzari does in the Imax “OceanMen”! I love freediving! Anyone care to join me? ΓΌ
Swim with wild dolphins-on their terms
3 years ago
Please use a responsible company who know the animals and the local area such as Wild Side Specialty Tours who have been interacting with the resident pod of spinner dolphins, turtles, whales and other marine life on Oahu, Hawaii for over 15 years. Check out their guidelines for swimming with wild dolphins in Hawaii.
As more and more people want to reconnect with nature, there are more and more companies exploiting this. There are those not as responsible, as well as those that are. Do your research please, and choose companies who are as concerned about the safety and well=being of the dolphins as they are about you.
Join us and NOAA in protecting these areas, the dolphins there
and your right to encounter them responsibly. Sign our petition.
The Wild Dolphin FoundationHawaii ,
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4 years ago
This is amazing – I went swimming with dolphins this summer and words can’t describe how brilliant it was….Can’t wait til I get another opportunity to do this again!
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4 years ago
my father goes to the beach to swim everyday. He had some experience of swimming with dolphins which i find very exciting. the beach is in eastern part of hong kong and i hope that the next time i go there. i got the chance to swim with dolphins.
unfortunately, as my father told me, they don’t see dolphins often in the last few years. perhaps because of the pollution?
