Dusky Dolphin Encounter: Kaikoura, NZ

Fun fact about me: My studies in zoology led me towards a deep love for cetaceans. I see them and I am instantly happy and overwhelmed with emotions. That being said, you can understand my excitement upon being in Kaikoura, a south island coastal town known for the abundance of marine mammal activity.

And I was even more excited when I was surprised with the opportunity to partake in one of the beloved marine mammal excursions the town has to offer: swimming with dusky dolphins!

Among the various cetaceans that visit the area, the coast along Kaikoura is populated with high densities of dusky dolphin pods. And with ecotourism being so prominent in the town, one of the most popular experiences is to partake in swimming with wild dolphins. If you share my love of dolphins, I strongly recommend you look into this experience. You will not regret it, and there are few other places in the world that would be able to give you a similar experience.

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When you first arrive you will be fitted into a wetsuit and snorkeling gear, followed by a short introductory film that goes through the ins-and-outs of the snorkeling adventure Soon enough you'll be loaded onto the buses to be driven down to the dock, hopping onto the boats, and heading out into the bay! Throughout the excursion, you have multiple opportunities to get in the water with the dolphins, as well as opportunities to watch them from the boat. There was no shortage of dolphins no matter what direction I looked. They were swimming in the wake of the boat, doing their signature flips, and jumping out of the water. It felt like a show was being put on just for us. Dusky dolphins are known for their playful antics, which is part of what makes interacting with them such a memorable experience.

It was very overwhelming for me emotionally, as I had been impatiently waiting to see a cetacean for the month and a half that I had already been in New Zealand. Needless to say, this experience was more than I ever imagined. Being able to swim alongside wild dolphins was an experience like no other, and made me feel beyond connected to the creatures in a way I never had before. Looking these dolphins in the eyes as you swim beside them brings about a new level of appreciation for these intelligent animals.

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As much as it is enticing to always jump on the opportunity to interact with wildlife at close proximity, it can often be detrimental to the species or the individuals. And as a zoologist, I take animal welfare very seriously, and this includes ecotourism. Businesses are not always as ethical as they may appear on the outside, so I urge everyone to do their own research into companies and the effects of their business before partaking. In this specific case, I was surprised by the experience, being given little room to judge the sustainability and ethics behind the business.

However, I had the pleasure of speaking with the business owner and asking him questions regarding the sustainability and ethics that they aimed to achieve with their wildlife-centered business. It was very pleasing to hear all of the regulations implemented for the company to achieve the minimum impact possible on the wild dolphins. It was very clear that all staff was knowledgeable on all topics regarding the dolphins, regulations, etc. as they answered every question I had. Thus, leading me to feel as if they are true in their mission to affect wildlife as minimally as possible. I certainly feel this is a reputable and sustainable ecotourism business and would recommend the experience to anyone looking to experience wildlife in a new light.