Dolphin Encounter has a number of full time skippers and guides who share a wealth of experience and passion for the marine environment and wildlife here in Kaikoura. These are some of the characters that you may meet during a Dolphin Encounter:
Pete is a Kaikoura local who has fished around Kaikoura, Australia and the Chatham Islands for 25 years.Easily confused with identical twin brother Ian who is one of the Encounter Kaikoura partners.
With his love of the sea, Pete spends his free time scuba diving, fishing and enjoying the isolation of the Marlborough Sounds and the Clarence Reserve.
Another ex-fisherman, Mick has spent many years fishing around Kaikoura and the Chatham Islands. He started working for Dolphin Encounter 3 years ago at South Bay with the busy task of maintaining all our boats. With his wealth of experience, he is now a full-time skipper. He is an active hunter/gatherer spending his time hunting in the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains and fishing recreationally for crayfish and paua.
Al comes from Ashburton and is now in his 7th year here. He has experience in many aspects of the business including South Bay maintenance, guiding and now skippering on both the Dolphin and Albatross Encounters.
He enjoys utilising Kaikoura’s local resources and regularly spends his evenings searching for crayfish/paua or spearfishing. Al also likes the Kaikoura coastline taking walks along the beach and enjoying sunset BBQ’s.
Jess is a New Zealander from Timaru and has a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. She is in her 2nd season as a guide and came to us with previous guiding experience with Hector’s dolphins at Akaroa.
When she’s not busy at work, she occupies her time as a volunteer ambulance officer for St. John’s Ambulance. Jess enjoys walking her Jack Russell puppy called “Moo” along the beach and takes time out to explore the local area on camping trips.
Malaina is originally from Nelson and is in her 3rd season at Dolphin Encounter.Mal is a real water baby and has many years experience working as a PADI dive instructor at the local dive centre in Kaikoura.
On her days off she enjoys submersing herself in the Pacific Ocean.
Jonni is Kaikoura born and bred and has been with Dolphin Encounter intermittently since 2005. He has also many years experience as a seal swimming guide.
Jonni is an active surfer and snowboarder and always always has his eye on the swell. He is president of the Kaikoura Board Riders surf club and has competed in national snow and surfing competitions winning the Ripcurl Snow and Surf on 2 occasions.
Tracy is in her 5th season at Dolphin Encounter. She has a degree in Environmental Science and has worked on research projects around the world including the Falkland Islands, Borneo and Hong Kong.
During her free time she likes the challenges of exploring the outdoors with weekends away spent climbing mountains and tramping. Tracy also enjoys travelling and has hitch-hiked through the Amazon with Antarctica standing out as her favourite place.
Translation in Japanese