1 Hour 15 Min Dolphin Watch
About 1 hour 15 minutes · Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari
from USD 61.74 per person Check availability →
2-Hour Swim, Dolphins Or Seals
Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari Swim
from USD 132 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Meeting point
- Penneshaw
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari
Overview
This two-hour boat trip out of Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island puts you in the water with wild dolphins or seals, and sometimes the chance to see. You meet at the Kangaroo Island Information Stop on Howard Drive, get fitted with a wetsuit, mask, snorkel and flippers, and receive a safety brief before boarding the vessel. From there the crew searches the coastline for whatever marine life is around that day.
Seals lounge on the rocks and play in the water, and many reviewers describe long, playful snorkels alongside them. Dolphins are resident in these waters too, but swimming with them depends on conditions and the pod's behaviour. If a pod has calves with it, the crew keeps everyone on the boat to watch, a rule several travellers said they appreciated even when it meant staying dry.
It suits confident swimmers and reasonably fit guests comfortable in open, cold water over their head. First-time snorkellers have had good experiences with patient crew, and you can choose to stay on board instead of getting in. A hot water shower on the boat helps after the swim, and commentary on Kangaroo Island and its marine life runs throughout. Bring a towel; food is not included, so eat beforehand.
FromUSD 132 per person
Duration2 hours
Rating4.4 from 137 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Boat trip
- Tour guide
- Snorkeling gear
- Life jackets
- Opportunity to swim with seals or dolphins
- Hot water shower on board
Not Included
- Food
Run byKangaroo Island Ocean Safari
Itinerary
- Meet at PenneshawArrive at the Kangaroo Island Information Stop at 43 Howard Drive, Penneshaw, the check-in point for the tour.
- Gear fitting and briefingGet fitted into a wetsuit, mask, snorkel and flippers, and receive a safety brief from the crew.
- Board the boatJump on board the vessel and head out along the Kangaroo Island coastline in search of marine life.
- Seals and dolphin searchSpot seals lounging on rocks and playing in the water, and search for resident dolphin pods while the guide gives commentary.
- Snorkel swimEnter the water to swim with seals or dolphins, depending on conditions and the wildlife on the day. Staying dry on the boat is also an option.
- Return and showerWarm up with the hot water shower on board and return to Penneshaw at the end of the trip.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points will help you decide whether this trip fits, and how to prepare for cold, open water.
USD 132from, per person
2 hoursduration
4.4across 137 guest reviews
- Bring a towel. A towel is the one item the listing asks you to bring. Wetsuits and all snorkel gear are provided and fitted on site, and several reviewers noted the crew took care to get masks and suits fitting correctly.
- Cold, deep water. The water sits around 14 to 15 degrees and the swim happens in open water over your head. You need reasonable fitness to take part. The hot shower on board is a welcome finish.
- Dolphins are conditional. Swimming is not permitted when a dolphin pod has babies with it, in which case you watch from the boat. Several reviewers had exactly this experience and still rated the day highly thanks to the seal swim.
- First-timers welcome. Reviewers who had never snorkelled before described helpful, non-judgemental crew who coached them through swimming in the ocean. If you prefer, you can stay on the boat rather than enter the water.
- No food provided. Food is not included, so eat before you arrive or plan for afterwards. Pets, smoking, and alcohol or drugs are not allowed on board.
- Seasonal seal numbers. Seal numbers vary through the year, peaking in winter and at their lowest from November to January. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, though the crew works to give you a good swim.
Common issues. The honest catch is that these are wild animals, so neither dolphins nor seals are promised, and the tour may only manage one or the other on the day. When dolphin pods have calves, swimming is off limits for safety, which more than one reviewer ran into. The water is cold and the tour requires reasonable fitness, with no swimming for children under 8. One reviewer mentioned receiving a refund for the dolphin swim portion when it was not possible, but that is not a stated guarantee in the listing, so treat it as a single account rather than policy.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
The boat trip, a tour guide, snorkelling gear, life jackets, the opportunity to swim with seals or dolphins, and a hot water shower on board are all included. Food is not included. You need to bring your own towel.
Where Does The Tour Start?
The meeting point is the Kangaroo Island Information Stop at 43 Howard Drive, Penneshaw, on Kangaroo Island. The listing does not include hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way there.
Can Children Join The Swim?
Children under 8 are not permitted to swim with the dolphins, and all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Children 7 or younger cannot join the swim.
Will I Definitely Swim With Dolphins?
No. The tour swims with dolphins or seals depending on conditions and the wildlife on the day, and the crew tries for both but may only manage one. Swimming is not allowed when a dolphin pod has babies with it, in which case you observe from the boat. Many reviewers ended up swimming with seals and still had a great time.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Any questions about cancellations closer to the departure time are best raised with the operator through the booking page.
Is It Suitable For Weak Swimmers Or First-Time Snorkellers?
The listing asks for reasonable fitness, since the swim is in open, cold water over your head. That said, several first-time snorkellers reported a positive experience with patient crew who taught them the basics. You can also choose to stay dry on the boat and watch from aboard.
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