What time and where should I check in for my tour?

Please arrive at 8.30am for your Dolphin Encounter which will depart at 9am promptly. The traffic can be heavy in Tauranga during the summer months, please make sure you plan accordingly.

Our tours leave from and return to Tauranga Bridge Marina. At the marina, please come see us at Berth D1 where our vessel Guardian is berthed.

There is plenty of free all day parking at Tauranga Bridge Marina.

Do you guarantee we will see Dolphins?

Yes we do! However, it is a totally wild encounter in the Pacific Ocean. Our guarantee is that if we do not find any dolphins for you, we will give you a return trip out with us, absolutely free. This return trip has no expiration date, but can only be used by you and you will need to call to pre-book your tour.

Can I always swim with the Dolphins?

We cannot guarantee an in-water experience as we will only encounter dolphins on their terms. Our interaction is as unobtrusive as possible and we do not want to alter their natural behaviour. This means that if they are in feeding mode, travel mode, sleeping or have juveniles in the pod, morally and ethically we will not put people in the water. We are regulated by the Department of Conservation and as per our Marine Mammal Permit our encounters are as ethical as possible.

Please note that the in water encounter requires physical strength. You will need to know your own limitations as getting in and out of the water can be difficult for some passengers with limited physical capabilities. You will need to be able to pull your own body weight out of the water by climbing up a vertical swim ladder.

Do you get your money back if we don’t find Dolphins?

On the rare occasion when we do not see any dolphin species, we give you the option to come back out with us for free. The return trip has no expiration date, but can only be used by you and you will need to pre-book in advance.

Are there sharks?

Yes, there are sharks in the ocean.  However, we rarely see them in the same area as the dolphins.  They feed on different food and do not hang out together. 

What should I bring?

Please bring a towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, something warm to wear, and wear your swimwear under your clothes if wanting to swim. Please also bring with you a packed lunch. We do serve hot drinks throughout the trip.

What forms of payment do you use? 

We are set up to handle Efptos, Mastercard, Visa and cash.  

Do you have minimum numbers?

Yes we do. We require a minimum of 15 full-fare adults to cover costs. If we do not have enough passengers to run our tours, we hold the right to cancel. We will e-mail you the afternoon before your tour if the trip needs to be cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met. We will give you the option to reschedule your tour for another day, or request a full refund.

From what age can children swim with dolphins? 

The minimum age is 7 years old to swim, but it all depends on the level of confidence in the water and snorkelling ability. If they are comfortable in the water with a snorkel and mask, and have no issue holding on to the swim bar, it may be possible with a parent right beside the child. If the child is not confident, they will still have an awesome experience watching the amazing dolphins from the bow of the boat. 

Please note: Adverse sea conditions may result in these age limits being changed by the skipper during the tour to ensure the safety of all swimmers.

What if I get sea sick? 

This trip is an ocean experience and we cannot guarantee that you will not get seasick. We provide natural remedies on the boat, such as ginger nut biscuits, ginger tea, and peppermint oil to try and ease your upset stomach. However if you are prone to seasickness or motion sickness, or if you have a suspicion that you might please take appropriate medication before the trip (read the label carefully, some require that you take the medication the night before). Please note sea sickness is not a reason to seek a refund for the tour. 

Can I use a drone on the tour?

No you cannot. Drone use over wild marine animals is only permitted by applying for a special permit from the Department of Conservation. Our tours are not suited for drone usages.

What if the trip gets cancelled due to the weather? 

We will e-mail you the afternoon before your scheduled trip between to confirm if the weather and sea conditions will allow for the trip to go ahead the following day. We will give you the option to book on another day, depending on availability.  If you are unable to make another day we will offer a full refund if the tour is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. 

What happens if I have booked but I can't make it? 

If for some reason you are unable to make your tour with us, please give us 48 hours notice to receive a full refund. If you do not give us 48 hours notice, you will be charged the full price. We will not give a refund if you do not show up for the trip.