This was the activity I was most excited about doing in Mauritius. Swimming with wild dolphins can be a truly magical experience, but it can also turn into a complete nightmare if the tour operator doesn’t follow proper ethical and safety guidelines.
I didn’t personally know anyone who had traveled to Mauritius and done this excursion, so I turned to fellow travelers online for recommendations and reviews. That’s how I found Dolphin Warrior (Dolphin and Whale Excursion), and I’m so glad I chose them.
This was, without a doubt, one of the most magical experiences of my life.
The Dolphin Excursion
The excursion starts very early in the morning, and for us, it started even earlier because the boat departs from La Gaulette, on the southwest coast of Mauritius, while we were staying at the northern tip of the island.
The boat was small, with only eight tourists in total, including us. I really appreciated this because I wouldn’t want to approach wild dolphins from a large boat packed with tourists.
The experience is quite simple. The dolphins spend part of their morning in one area before moving toward another area where they feed. The captain knows their usual route and positions the boat nearby.
Once we reached the area, the boat’s engine was turned off. Then came the moment I was both excited and nervous about:
“Jump!”
We jumped into the water and looked down to see a pod of dolphins swimming right beneath us.
You jump in and out of the boat several times as the dolphins move through the area. I have to give a special shoutout to Navin, our captain. I’m not a strong swimmer and was nervous about jumping into the open water, so he grabbed my hand and jumped in with me. He was determined to make sure everyone on the boat had the opportunity to experience this moment.
Ethical Dolphin Watching
One of the things I appreciated most about the experience was the emphasis on responsible wildlife tourism.
We were not allowed to touch, feed, chase, or otherwise disturb the dolphins. We were there simply to observe them and enjoy the experience without interfering with their natural behavior.
And I think this is incredibly important when choosing a dolphin excursion in Mauritius. The experience should be about seeing these animals in their natural environment, and not about turning them into an attraction.
Snorkeling & Beach BBQ
The excursion isn’t just about dolphins. It also includes a snorkeling stop and lunch at a secluded beach.
And the food? AMAZING.
Everything was freshly prepared by our captain’s wife, and after an early morning in the water, that barbecue tasted even better.
A Mauritius Experience I’ll Never Forget
Swimming with dolphins in Mauritius was one of those travel experiences I’ll never forget. Seeing a pod of wild dolphins swimming beneath me was surreal, and it’s a memory I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
If you’re considering a dolphin tour in Mauritius, regardless of which provider you choose, please do your research. Look for a small boat, responsible wildlife practices, and an operator that follows local rules designed to minimize disturbance to the animals.
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