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Akaroa - Dolphin Swim - Black Cat Cruises

The only place on the planet, where you can get close to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hector's Dolphin. Simply rare and unique.

 

100% WEATHER REFUND GUARANTEE..

SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS – AKAROA

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Akaroa Harbour is the only place on the planet where you can get close to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hector's Dolphin!

These magnificent creatures have made their home base in Akaroa, a stunning French inspired sea-side village just a 90 minute scenic drive from Christchurch. The name Akaroa means "long harbour".

Join Black Cat Cruises for an unforgettable journey where you’ll get the once in a lifetime opportunity to swim with these dolphins inside the naturally protected harbour, not out in the open seas.

Black Cat Cruises are a supreme tourism award winning company with an excellent safety track record and a portion of every ticket sold goes towards the conservation of the Hector's dolphin.

We only allow 12 swimmers in the water at one time allowing greater opportunity for one on one interaction with the dolphins.

 

Success Rate:

  • We have a high success rate for swimming with these dolphins, but they are wild dolphins, so seeing them is a great privilege.
  • The great thing about viewing or swimming with dolphins is that you are doing it in their natural habitat completely on their terms, and so of course we cannot absolutely "guarantee" dolphins on every single trip, and nor can any other operator.
  • Sometimes dolphins may have calves with them, or are feeding, mating or just resting. It's important for us not to interact with dolphins when they don't want to.
  • But you may be interested to know that in the last 12 months we saw dolphins on 98% of our cruises and had successful swims on 81% of our swim trips. So you have to be a bit unlucky to miss out!
  • In the unlikely event you don’t see any dolphins (average 3% of cruises) then we give you a refund of 50%. If the dolphins don’t want to interact with swimmers (average 17% of cruises) then we give you a 25% refund.
  •  

    Adult $185.00
    Child $155.00

    What's included

    • All equipment
    • Excellent quality wetsuits
    • Snorkels and goggles
    • Hot showers are available back on the wharf
    • Hot chocolate and biscuits on board
    • Free souvenir postcard

    Notes

    • Children 8-12 years must be supervised by adult swimmer in the water

    Available Bookings from December 19 to December 25

    Change Dates

    All prices are shown in NZD ($)

    Thu 19 Dec
    Fri 20 Dec
    Sat 21 Dec
    Sun 22 Dec
    Mon 23 Dec
    Tue 24 Dec
    Wed 25 Dec

    1spaces priced from:

    • Adult$185.00
    • Child$155.00

    2spaces priced from:

    • Adult$185.00
    • Child$155.00

    1spaces priced from:

    • Adult$185.00
    • Child$155.00

    2spaces priced from:

    • Adult$175.00
    • Child$155.00

    1spaces priced from:

    • Adult$185.00
    • Child$155.00

    Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

    Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

    4.6

    140 reviews

    Showing all 140 authenticated Bookme reviews

    Pierre from France wrote on 14 December 2019

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    Hyper déçus

    Pas de chance, impossible de nager avec les dauphins le jour où nous l’avons fait. Nous avons juste aperçu quelques dauphins à travers les bâches du bateau... hyper déçus... conscients que cela dépend des dauphins et on ne peut pas les forcer (et fort heureusement !!!) mais j’estime que nous aurions dû obtenir un remboursement de 50% du montant comme précisé lors de la réservation, car je n’ai, à mon sens, pas « vu » les dauphins... Dommage...

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    Sophie Chenavier from France wrote on 08 January 2019

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    Pas a la hauteur

    Nous avons réservé 4 jours à l'avance et ils ont oublié de nous noter pour le tour.. Ils nous ont dit qu'on avait de la chance qu'ils nous accepte alors qu'ils étaient plein ! Alors qu'ils avaient bien pensé à prendre l'argent par contre. On a vu des dauphins mais on a pas nager avec car ils ont séparé notre groupe en 2 bateau et l'autre à nager avec les dauphins 2 fois mais nous ne pouvions pas rester au même endroit... En positif la skipper Kate était vraiment adorable !

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    Juliane Tapin from France wrote on 26 November 2018

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    Un rêve pour beaucoup !

    Excellent rapport qualité/prix Les dauphins auront été au rendez-vous malgré le temps. Un super souvenir à jamais gravé dans ma mémoire. On redevient enfant le temps d'une journée à s'émerveiller de voir ces superbes mammifères nager tout autour de soi ! Encore la tête dans les étoiles !!!!

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    Marine from France wrote on 08 August 2018

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    Fantastique

    Une expérience fantastique que je conseille vivement! Nous étions seulement trois à bord du bateau et dans l'eau! Les dauphins étaient vraiment très proches (parfois moins de 30 cm! Attention de ne pas les toucher car leur peau est trop sensible!) L'équipe est très amicale. Au retour sur le bateau pour ne pas avoir froid nous avons eu droit a la douche chaude, aux chaufferettes pour les mains, au chocolat chaud ainsi qu'à des biscuits! Ayant vu des phoques près des falaises ils ont même fait un détour pour nous les montrer. Le soir même nous avons eu les photos que nous avons pu montrer a notre entourage. Je conseille vivement cette expérience qui n'est pas "attrape touriste" comme on pourrait le croire! Encore merci aux deux skippers!

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    Dam's from France wrote on 26 October 2017

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    Une matinée super!

    Tous c'est très bien passé cette matinée, nous avons pu nager avec les dauphins ! J'ai juste un petit regret bsur le matériel prêté ( masque et tuba), le guide dis qu'il sont d'aucune utilité car l'eau est trop troubles je ne suis pas de cette avis car on voyait à au moins 5 mètres. Par contre ils sont presque d'aucune utilité vue la qualité, le masque est constamment plein de buée ( j'aurai vraiment du prendre le miens). Sinon c'était génial !!!

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    10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July

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