Tour day-by-day
Your journey commences in Rockingham, boarding the luxury and custom-built Apollo 3, where the friendly crew will fit you out with a wetsuit, mask and snorkel. After an introductory briefing from the skipper, you will depart the jetty for a leisurely cruise through the sheltered bays and islands of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, to seek out some of the 200 local Bottlenose Dolphins in the region that have developed trust with the expert Perth Wildlife Encounters crew.
Usually taking between 20-60 minutes to locate the first group of dolphins, your guides will conduct snorkelling lessons onboard, to ensure you're prepared for the amazing experience to come. Once the skipper locates the silvery-grey dorsal fins emerging within meters of the boat, it's time to zip up your wetsuit, put your mask and snorkel on and head down to the swim deck with your guide.
At this stage, you will enter the water in small groups of up to seven people, with each group led by a guide using an aqua scooter to tow the group amongst the dolphins. The vessel features a huge rear swimming platform with ladders running across the full width of the transom, making access to the water nice and easy.
In an instant, you will find yourself encircled by flashing grey torpedoes, with the sounds of whistles, splashes, and shared laughter. Although the crew have developed an ungoing relationship with the pod, the dolphins' appearance and behaviour is on their terms, and it is this approach that has reflected in an exceptional success rate exceeding 99%.
The professional and welcoming crew provides introductory snorkeling lessons, boasting an outstanding track record of assisting nervous or less experienced swimmers, so no previous snorkelling experience is necessary (just a basic level of swimming). Just bring your sense of adventure and prepare for an unforgettable, exhilarating encounter with these incredible marine mammals.
If you are not comfortable getting in the water, the spectator option is a perfect solution, allowing you to join friends and family on-board the dolphin swim boat. You will still get a fantastic view of the dolphins on-board and get to share the thrill of the experience with loved ones, while enjoying the spectacular waters and scenery across the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.
Tour Pricing in AUD:
Swimmer - $299, Spectator $150
Group Size: Maximum of 4 spectators and 38 swimmers
Child Policy: Children under 6 years are not permitted
Departure Information: Guests meet at Val Street Jetty in Rockingham at 7:50am, with cruise duration approximately 4-6 hours depending on dolphin sightings and behaviours.
Inclusions:
From $3,240 USD
10 days/9 nights
Available months: January to May, October to December.
From $4,180 USD
18 days/17 nights
Available months: March to October.
From $3,370 USD
10 days/9 nights
Available months: January to April, October to December.