We have long known that dolphins are friendly creatures that spend their lifetime, usually in groups known as pods, in the open ocean. Dolphin Encounter®, the pioneers of dolphin swimming in New Zealand, have developed their tours for those wishing to enhance their understanding of dolphins in their natural environment, a truly unique experience. Our tours have two options, watching (viewing) or swimming. Both these options occur on the same boats, they are not separate tours.
The opportunity to go out and watch the dusky dolphins from our boats, gives visitors wonderful views of these spectacular and acrobatic dolphins. As well as this, there is the opportunity to witness any interaction between the dolphins and swimmers, who are also on the same boat.
The dusky dolphins inhabit the coastal waters off Kaikoura all year round, making Kaikoura a unique place in the world where wild dolphins can be encountered every day, weather permitting. It is this fact that sets our operation apart; our success rate of swimming with dolphins is second to none.
Summer Season - November to April
Tours operate three times per day, weather permitting, at 5.30am, 8.30am and 12.30pm.
***Due to the extension of Daylight Savings, tour times will be adjusted to 6.00am, 9.00am and 1.00pm for the period 21 March - 4 April 2010
Winter Season - May to October
Tours operate two times per day, weather permitting, at 8.30am and 12.30pm.
***ENCOUNTER KAIKOURA WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY ON 25TH DECEMBER.
All commercial activities involving the taking of passengers to view or swim with marine mammals in New Zealand must have Department of Conservation permits. These permits determine the number of trips per day permissible, the times and duration of tours and the particular marine mammal species allowed to be viewed. In reference to swimming with marine mammals, these permits also determine the number of swimmers allowed in the water at any one time.
All operations with the marine mammals come under the regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 1992. These regulations govern the behaviour of vessels around marine mammals in New Zealand and cover such things as; no more than 3 vessels within 300 metres of any whale, pod of whales or pod of dolphins; the speed and direction which vessels may approach marine mammals, as well as many other operating conditions. For further information see visit this web url: Regulations
Naturally all tours are dependent on suitable sea and weather conditions. Please visit the the New Zealand Metservice website to check for the latest updates.
Translation in Japanese