Well this was it, the day we had been looking forward to all holiday - swimming with the dolphins. The weather was glorious, lovely sunshine and nice and warm. We headed down into town for our 8:30 meeting at the Dolphin Encounter shop. After getting kitted out with our wet suits (including hood - hmmm) and watching an amusing briefing video we got on the coach and headed to the south side of the bay. We were split into three groups and put on three different boats (we got the smallest, fastest one). The sea conditions were near prefect and as a result a large pod of dolphins were hanging 15 minutes off the coast which made for a quick journey to catch them (good job as I get sea sick!) We were told to prepare ourselves and wait for the klaxon that meant we could enter the water. After straining to see any dolphins, it was amazing when we suddenly spotted the pod - apparently there were about 300 of them! The dolphins found in this part of the sea are predominantly dusky dolphins (these are only ever found in the southern hemisphere). They are a little smaller than bottlenose dolphins ('Flipper') at about 1.8m and are very attractive dark grey and white in appearance. Anyway the klaxon went off and we all clambered off the back of the boat (after some faffing with equipment). Wow, the water is cold in Kaikoura (especially when it reaches those special parts). But after the initial shock of the cold and adjusting to swimming with fins we managed to catch up to a group of dolphins and it was the most magical experience. These dolphins are completely wild, they are not enticed or fed in any way to attract them. In fact it is a large canyon in the sea bed (we found out that the water we were swimming in was 800m deep afterwards) that draws so much marine life because a great upwelling of nutrients occurs at the canyon face. So it is really a matter of keeping the dolphins amused to keep them interested in humans otherwise they just swim off. Luckily they are inquisitive and playful and although they don't like to be touched they do get close enough to you so that you could reach out and feel them. This is definitely one experience that I will be repeating when I get the chance. A couple of our photos taken with a cheap waterproof camera (no zoom honest):
After swimming with the dolphins three times (the boat is moved periodically to keep up with the main pod) we watched them for a while from the boat to get more photos. I had never thought of the sound that a large number of dolphins would make. Karen heard them whistling and clicking underwater (as she decided not to wear a hood) but when they are swimming there is a constant puffing sound as they break the water and clear their blowholes. It is most relaxing. On the trip back we had time to go and see a colony of fur seals nearby (and I also saw one in the water whilst swimming earlier). There were a number of this year's pups playing around the rocks at the base of the colony. Very cute.
We got back into Kaikoura and went straight to the Kodak shop to get the photos developed and then spent the rest of the afternoon chilling over a beer or two in the sunshine. A very nice meal of cray fish with potatoes and venison pizza (!) was then had in a restaurant called The Olive Branch after doing some washing in the motor park.