Swimming with Dolphins Akaroa New Zealand
Your swimming with dolphins
experience at Akaroa is just 90 minutes from Christchurch. A 'must
do' for all animal lovers with a basic level of swimming ability,
whether as part of a day trip to Akaroa or as part of your
stopover in this scenic haven.
Swimming with Dolphins Akaroa is
a two hour cruise, ½ hour before for a full briefing, about
two hours on the water (of which up to 1 hour is spent with the
dolphins) and ½ hour afterwards for shower and a hot drink.
The Hector’s Dolphin is a native species
and is one of the smallest dolphins in the world. They grow to
about 1.2m (4 feet) roughly the size of a 5-year-old child, less
than half the size of the more common bottle nosed dolphin. They
are located all around the South Island but the harbours of
Lyttelton and Akaroa are where they are seen most often. This is
one of the world’s rarest dolphins with its total population being
around 7,000. This is fewer than any other marine dolphin, and
marks the species as endangered. A marine mammal sanctuary exists
right around Banks Peninsula.
Akaroa Harbour is actually the
flooded crater of an extinct volcano. Apart from the huge and
awe-inspiring volcanic cliffs, this also means that the harbour is
very sheltered. Your swim is not in the open sea, its inside a
sheltered harbour.
There are only 10 swimmers
allowed per vessel, so this means that when you get into the water
there is more chance for you to come face to face with the
dolphins as there are less humans for them to choose from. Wetsuit
masks and snorkel are provided. You only have to bring your
swimming costume and a towel.
All the crew are highly trained.
This means that you’ll get a great briefing on how to interact
with the hectors dolphins and what to expect prior to your
journey. They’ll also give you safety instructions and other
information to allow you to enjoy your experience. If you are new
to snorkelling and use of a wetsuit your crew will be on hand to
help you out.
The office is the only one to be
based on Akaroa's main wharf. This means that once you have got
into your wetsuit you can get straight into your boat. We know
that not everyone is comfortable walking around in a tight wetsuit
in public.
The main boat is a modern,
heated, covered, jet powered catamaran. It’s safer for you and the
dolphins because there are no propellers. It’s also heated so
after your swim you can warm up quickly in the cabin. The 2nd
vessel is not covered however is used during the warmer months
(November to April) only.
Receive a gift pack as a great
souvenir of your swim. The pack includes a black and silver swim
certificate, a dolphin information sheet and a free postcard,
perfect for sending to a friend or relative. And all children get
a free kids dolphin fun book packed with activities designed to
educate and entertain.
Black Cat are now also able to
offer photographs of your swimming with dolphins experience.
Black Cat is the first cruise
boat company in the world to get the coveted Green Globe 21, an
international programme to ensure best environmental practices.
We operate up to 8 cruises per
day from November to March and up to 4 in April and October and 1
per day from May to September.
Of course with only 10 swimmers
allowed per vessel, it does mean that trips are frequently sold
out in advance, which makes it essential for you to book in
advance.
If you see dolphins but for some
reason do not get to swim with them then there is a partial
refund. This might happen if the dolphins have calves with them,
or are feeding or mating.
Home
/ Our Company
