Swim with the Dolphins and whale watching in Mauritius
Experience with us the dolphins in the wild and not as in many other countries in captivity, fed or in closed areas of the sea. This tour is our main excursion throughout the year here in Mauritius. Depending on the season, we start with our motorboat from 04.45 am - 06.00 am in the morning and your transfer must then usually be done very early. Just to experience the sunrise behind the mountains in good weather is worth getting up early for many guests.
Our boats can accommodate 6 guests (exceptionally 8) plus crew, 26/28 feet, Legend with 2x150 hp / 2x140 hp, complete bedding. Fin, snorkels and masks are available on board. In exceptional cases, such as inspection / service or other circumstances, it is possible that we have to use another boat. If you want to swim with the dolphins, please come with your swimsuit. We board at the La Balise Yacht Center in Black River, where you will be able to come on board. Please charge your phone batteries and wear light and comfortable clothing. Toilets are available.
You should be familiar with the use of masks and fins as there will be no time to learn on the spot. Swimming with a life jacket is awkward and also indicates that you are not a good swimmer. We expect you to be reasonably fit physically and for your own safety, we reserve the right to approve or forbid a jump into the water should we detect any sign of insecurity. This is for your own safety.
An open word:
During the sunrise tour we try to find the dolphins as fast as possible and with a few other boats. However, this is not always feasible because various factors influence this. The best start time in summer is as from 0445 am, unfortunately in winter we can only start at 0600 am.
Another factor is the holiday periods when the island is full of visitors. The conditions vary daily and we ask you to take note of this and there is always a risk that we don’t find the dolphins. Families with children under the age of 2 can only rent the boat exclusively and privately.
Sperm whales can be observed all year round. About 30 - 40 animals live in the waters off the west coast. Humpback whales usually arrive in Mauritius from June and come here to calve. We follow their breath, which we can observe from a distance, or use a hydrophone to locate them, for example, for sperm whales. Patience is needed to spot whales. Often, we stay at a spot for up to an hour to take advantage of a good opportunity to observe. We will never harass or disturb the animals. Sometimes, however, they deliberately approach a boat out of curiosity.
Information about whales that live or occur in Mauritius:
Sperm Whale: In the deep sea off Mauritius, sperm whales dive to find their food (giant squid). These can weigh up to 500 kg. Females with calves and young males live together. When the males mature and become adults, they roam the waters alone. A mature male can easily reach 15 meters, rarely larger, but in rare cases up to 18 meters in length and weigh more than 45 tons. The sperm whale is known as the largest toothed whale on earth and is the largest predator. They easily dive more than 1500 meters deep and can stay there for over an hour. The International Whaling Commission has now placed sperm whales under protection.
Humpback Whales: Humpback whales come to Mauritius' warm waters to mate and give birth to their young. The males are known for their unique songs, especially during the breeding season. They seek the proximity of the coast where the females find shelter with their babies. Humpback whales travel several thousand kilometers over the course of a year. They have no teeth and filter their food from small crustaceans and fish. In Mauritius, they can only be found from about June to October. Humpback whales have been hunted for a long time, and their population has declined significantly. After several conservation agreements, scientists estimated in 2020 that about 75,000 individuals exist on our planet.
Pilot Whale: The pilot whale in the Indian Ocean off Mauritius has a shorter pectoral fin than the common pilot whale. It was long believed that this whale species is led by one individual, hence the name "pilot whale." Moreover, "whale" is not entirely correct as they belong to the dolphin family, second only to the orca. The older females usually lead the groups.
The females and males weigh between 2.5 and 4.5 tons, diving 10 to 15 minutes almost 800 meters deep to find squid and fish. They have far fewer teeth than dolphins and essentially suck in their food. We often see them together with other dolphins or near them.
| Duration |  |
from / to La Balise 3 to 3.5 hours |
| Price |  |
100,00 € individual seat 490,00 € Private charter (1-5 guests) Each additional guest for 100,00 € |
| Food |  |
Drinks and sandwich |
| Fitness |  |
good swimmers for those who want to swim with the dolphins |
| Language |  |
English |
| Climate |  |
sun protection is mandatory |
| Hygiene |  |
toilets before and after the trips and on Board |
| Pictures |  |
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| Booking | Book now |