Code of conduct for swimming with wild dolphins

1. Let the dolphin or pod approach you. Don’t get too excited; try to focus on your breathing to calm down. Let the dolphins initiate any interaction between you. If the dolphin approaches you, you know that it wants to be in your company. Don’t try and chase the dolphins, as you may run the risk of disturbing important activities such as feeding, courtship or nursing.

2. Try to keep still in the water as much as possible. Don’t wave your arms around quickly. You can swim alongside the dolphin, but allow them space.

3. Don’t reach out to grab a dolphin. If they want to touch you, they will. Wild dolphins have a very acute sense of touch, and rarely tolerate physical contact from humans. They do not like to be grabbed. Doing this will most likely scare them away.

4. Never touch a dolphin’s blowhole.

5. Be aware of the dolphin’s behaviour. Use your commonsense to work out how the dolphin responds to you through their body language, distance and depth.

6. Dolphins have emotional moods just like we do and it is important to respect this. Most of the time they like to be sociable, but other times they do not want to be disturbed. Dolphins will not want to socialise when they are feeding for example.

7. Make sure you can be seen from the surface and have sufficient surface cover.

8. If a dolphin becomes boisterous, try not to panic. The more still you remain, the more they are likely to calm down.

9. If a dolphin bumps or nips you, keep your arms by your side and swim gently away. A dolphin gives clear warming signs such as shaking the head or snapping the jaws before resorting to aggression. Be aware and respect them.