Kaikoura Dolphin Encounter - Watching

This is an open water activity. Guests who want to swim with dolphins must have an intermediate or higher swimming ability to ensure that they can swim comfortably in open water. Please note: the crew will not enter the water with passengers.
Children who swim with dolphins must be over 8 years old and accompanied by an adult. Children who watch dolphins should not be younger than 5 years old in principle, but children aged 3 to 5 years old who meet the travel requirements can also join the trip.
This trip is a sea trip and is prone to seasickness. Passengers who are prone to seasickness must purchase seasickness medicine and take it. Even with the help of seasickness medicine, passengers may still get seasick. Please note that this does not constitute a reason for a refund.

Q: How long do we swim with dolphins?
A: The total swimming time will depend on several factors: 1) the behavior of the dolphins at the time; 2) the time of the encounter and the sea conditions. Generally speaking, if the dolphins are willing to cooperate, the swimming time can be 20-40 minutes
Q: How close do you really get to the dolphins?
A: Very close, usually an arm's length. Dolphins are very good at judging distances in the water and will get very close to you but will not touch you.
Q: Can I touch dolphins?
A: We advise swimmers not to try to touch dolphins, as doing so will usually cause them to leave you.
Q: Is there a recommended time to go? Does leaving in the morning or afternoon affect the number of dolphins you encounter?
A: Generally speaking, we recommend going in the morning (5:30 & 8:30) because the ocean conditions are better and the dolphins are more interactive. There is no difference in the number of dolphins between the morning and afternoon.
Q: Can we see whales during the activity?
A: On this trip, the boat is not allowed to go to the waters where there are whales. If you want to see whales, you can book the Kaikoura Whale Watching series.
Q: Will we encounter sharks?
A: Our trip is conducted in the open sea, which means you can encounter any marine life. Sharks may appear in any open sea. But fortunately, Kaikoura is not a place where shark attacks are common.
Q: Is it guaranteed to see dolphins?
A: We cannot guarantee that we can see dolphins, but the probability of seeing them is high. If you do not see dolphins due to weather conditions, etc., we will refund part of the activity fee, but not the full amount. We will charge the basic cost of going out to sea.
Q: What if the dolphins are unwilling to interact with us?
A: The behavior of dolphins depends on their mood. Like all wild animals, their behavior is unpredictable and guaranteed. Sometimes, we even have to withdraw to the boat to maintain respect for the dolphins, but we can still continue to watch dolphins on the boat. In this case, all passengers who booked to swim together will only be charged for watching.
Q: Is there a seasonal restriction for watching dolphins?
A: Dolphins can be seen all year round in Kaikoura, but the sea temperature will change seasonally, around 18℃ in summer and will drop to 8℃ in winter.
Q: Do I need to bring my own wetsuit?
A: No, we provide you with a wetsuit and a full snorkeling kit, including: two 5mm wetsuits, masks and snorkels, swim fins (fins) and hoods. In winter, we also provide gloves and boots. Of course, you can also bring all your own equipment or wetsuits.
Q: Can I wear glasses when swimming?
A: You can wear contact lenses, or we can provide diving masks with corrective lenses for myopia (degrees from -2.00 to -7.00)