There’s an old saying in the Pacific that there’s actually more chance of being injured by a falling coconut while sitting on the beach than being attacked by a shark out at sea!  While it is never possible to guarantee or predict the behaviour of any wild animal with 100% certainty, sharks are really very benign, and do not seek out people to attack.  While it is a myth that wherever you find dolphins you won’t find sharks, you can be very confident that any sharks you might occasionally see will be as wary of you as you might be of them.   They will leave you to go about your business as they go about theirs! 

Can I touch the dolphins or whales?

No, this is something that is not encouraged.  Lunging and reaching out towards dolphins or whales often frightens them, and they are always swift to move out of the way when people try to do this – bringing to an end what could have been a great encounter.  What’s more, cetacean skin is very sensitive, and it is easy to pass on infections and diseases by engaging in physical contact – something that could prove fatal to the dolphins or whales.

Will the dolphins give me a ride on their back?

No!  Although this features in Greek and Roman myths like ‘Arion and the Dolphin’, it is very rare to see in the wild (it is, after all, totally unnatural behaviour for the dolphin).  When it does happen, it’s normally with lone ’ambassador’ dolphins who have built up a special relationship with a certain person – this takes a lot of time, patience and mutual respect! 

Is a sighting or interaction guaranteed?

No, it is never possible to guarantee a particular sighting on a particular day or time.  That said, there are many places where dolphins are seen with great frequency, and any trips that The POD is involved in are to locations that have an established record of cetacean sightings – occurring at least 7 days out of every 10.

Am I in any danger?

Your safety is paramount.  Only limited numbers of people are allowed in the water at any time, and there is always someone on the boat watching those in the water.  All trip participants are given a full orientation session at the start of a trip, so they can become familiar and comfortable with snorkel equipment and the sensations of swimming in the ocean (which, unlike a swimming pool, often doesn’t have a visible bottom!). 

Do I need a snorkel?  Scuba gear?

Snorkel equipment (a mask, snorkel and even fins) is essential to really see the dolphins, and to enjoy the snorkelling opportunities that each trip offers.  Bringing your own equipment is preferable, as it will be perfectly suited to you and you will be comfortable with it, but it is also possible to use borrowed snorkel equipment on most trips.  Scuba diving is not conducted with whales or dolphins, as it generally acts as a deterrent to cetaceans, and is both slow and clumsy in the presence of agile dolphins and fast-swimming whales.

Will the water be warm?

Naturally, this depends where you go!  Always check beforehand what the average temperature will be, and find out your personal tolerance for water temperature, so that you will know if it’s worth bringing a wetsuit.  Different people have different ideas of ‘warm’, though generally all dolphin-swim trips are to locations with a minimum water temperature of around 22ºC, and in some locations the maximum can be around 29ºC - which is rather like jumping into a warm bath!

What will the dolphins and whales actually do?

Cetaceans are very unpredictable, which is a natural part of their charm.  Common behaviours for dolphins include riding the bow of the boat and, depending on the type of dolphins, either leaping or spinning out of the water at times.  It is common to find them becoming very boisterous on occasion, normally when making love (entering the water is not permitted at these times), and also when feeding. It can be quite spectacular to watch when a feeding frenzy happens!  Occasionally it is possible to see dolphins fighting, or play-fighting, and sometimes just chasing each other with amazing bursts of speed. 

Common behvaiours for whales include leaping out of the water ('breaching'), diving (with the tale often popping above the surface) and - in the case of humpbacks - singing!

Can I feed the dolphins or whales?

No, absolutely not.  With the only exception of Monkey Mia in Australia (where wild dolphins are fed a small percentage of their daily-required food intake), it is not allowed to feed wild dolphins or whales in most parts of the world.   To do so would be to directly interfere with their natural food intake (wild dolphins never eat dead fish!), hunting instincts/behaviour and their naturally balanced diet.

How smart are dolphins and whales?

This is a very difficult question to answer! Perhaps the only reasonable response is to say that dolphins have a very highly developed but ultimately alien intelligence to ours.  They live a totally different lifestyle in a totally different element, an entirely different world from our own, where things we could never imagine are of paramount importance, and things that would affect us are of no concern to a dolphin.  While it is possible to hear some researchers categorically state that ‘…dolphins can’t be as smart as humans because they don’t have VCRs, do they?’ (an actual comment from one pioneer of dolphin-assisted therapy!), the plain fact is that we don’t know how smart a dolphin is because we’re not smart enough to accurately measure a dolphin’s IQ!

How long is an interaction?

How long is a piece of string?!  Interactions, whether in the water or from a boat, can last anything from seconds to hours.  The average, though, is probably between 5 and 15 minutes in any one location with a particular pod.

Will the experience be ‘mystical’ or ‘healing’?

A lot depends on your initial attitude, although it would be unwise to expect something to be mystical, for fear of it falling short of expectations.  One common characteristic with dolphins and whales is that they are unpredictable, and people often experience sightings and interactions in ways they had not expected beforehand.  It is unwise to go out on boat or into the water with a fixed image of what will happen and how it will feel; the best way is to approach any cetacean interaction with an open mind, and an open heart.

Why are dolphins and whales interested in us?

Almost certainly because they are as curious about us as we are about them.  After all, we are not natural inhabitants of their oceanic home, and must seem strange, even clumsy, as we float on the surface looking down on the their graceful movements.

Is it legal?  Are there any restrictions?

Different countries have different rules and regulations surrounding dolphin/whale encounters, invariably with the cetaceans’ welfare and long-term eco-tourism sustainability in mind.  The POD strictly adheres to the rules in effect at any given location, as well as self-regulating any trips (over and above the local regulations) with its own set of guidelines designed to keep both cetaceans and people happy! 

Can I swim with whales?

In most locations in the world, swimming with whales is not allowed or encouraged, as the whales are not accustomed to people in the water, and may unintentionally harm swimmers with sudden movements or flicks of their tails.  In certain locations (such as Tong) there is an established history of entering the water with whales, which is always very closely supervised and conducted with just one or two people at a time in the water.  A safe distance is maintained from the whale, and the in-water encounter consists more of floating rather than active swimming. 

Can anyone swim with dolphins?  Does age matter?

Anyone can enter the water with dolphins around – the only pre-requisite is that you are comfortable in the water and can float, whether you’re 5 or 95!  All children under 12 are to be directly supervised by an adult, and life vests are available to act as buoyancy devices for those who simply want to ‘hang around’ without swimming.  The question of who the dolphins will interact with, if anyone, is an entirely different matter – that’s up to the dolphins! 

Do I need to be an expert swimmer?

No – in fact, most in-water encounters with dolphins or whales serve to demonstrate just how inept even the most agile of human swimmers looks alongside a sleek aqua-dynamic body!  Simply being able to float and feel comfortable in the water is all that is required.

Are dolphins or whales more attracted to some people than to others?

Surprisingly, yes!  On the whole, most pods of dolphins seem to find children and pregnant women most interesting, as well as those who make high-pitched noises and/or swim in unusual ways.  They generally swim away from people displaying aggressive behaviour, or who swim straight towards them in a ‘charged’ way. 

Whales tend to prefer quieter, unobtrusive people in the water - they are easily deterred by noise or frantic activity.

When is the best time to go?

Regarding the time of year, it obviously depends on the location of the trip in terms of optimal (weather) conditions, though dolphins tend to be resident in most places year-round.   Some whales are migratory, though, so the seasonal timing becomes crucially important.  All trips in which The POD is involved are timed to ensure the best possible opportunities for cetacean encounters.   Individual trips out on the water are also timed to fit in with the known daily schedule of dolphins in a particular area, taking into account their feeding, resting and play patterns. 

What’s the difference between swimming with and watching cetaceans?

This is subjective, and while there are some people who are strong proponents of in-water encounters, the fact of the matter is that every encounter (and every person) is different.  Some people prefer to hang over the side of the boat and see dolphins playing below, others prefer to get wet!  What’s more, sometimes the dolphins will remain in an area seeming to invite swimmers into the water, other times they disappear as soon as a person places a single foot in the water, making their mood very apparent to everyone!