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Swim with wild New Zealand fur seals in the shallow bays of the beautiful Kaikoura Peninsula. This is an experience you do not want to miss! No experience necessary.
Seal Swim Kaikoura's base of operation is conveniently located right in the main street of Kaikoura. It is here that you will meet and be introduced to your guides and the other swimmers on the tour. You will be provided with warm, buoyant wet suits and snorkeling equipment before being transported to one of Seal Swim Kaikoura custom seal swimming boats.
Your skipper and guide will then accompany you on a very short boat trip, around the stunning Kaikoura Peninsula, to one of SSK's favorite seal swimming areas. This is a treat in itself. Before entering the water your guides will tell you all about New Zealand fur seals and 'seal swimming etiquette'.
Upon entering the water, time will be allowed for you to familiarize yourself with equipment and instruction will be given on aspects of snorkeling. One to two experienced guides, equipped with large floats will then accompany each group, of max 11 swimmersin the water. This is of great benefit to swimmers who are not so comfortable in the water. Guides are trained to help you and make you feel more comfortable. They've even been know to hold swimmers hands!
Every tour is different but generally 1 to 1 1/2 hours is spent in the water. Seal Swim Kaikoura has a 96% success rate of travellers swimming with 3 metres of seals in the water. If you do not get to swim with seals at close proximity a 50% refund applies.
Many people have told us that there seal swimming experience was one of the highlights of their travel here in New Zealand. For more information visit our website.
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Seal Swim KaikouraCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Paid access/participation The experience costs money to access or take part in. |
Excellent price.
Small group, very good tour guide.
Best equipment and good guide.
Great fun and luckily had perfect weather.
Fantastic !!!!
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 30 |
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56% |
9/10 | 11 |
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20% |
8/10 | 12 |
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22% |
7/10 | 1 |
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2% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5.0/5
I can't begin to describe how amazing this experience was.
The guides were super friendly and informative, the equipment was great and swimming with the seals was one of the best experiences of my life. You can relax and float around while seals swim right up and interact with you. When you turn away from them they are so playful and interested that they follow. There are hundreds of seals on the rocks surrounding you and I even saw some seal pups. I had gone swimming with the dolphins the day prior and if I were to choose between the two this would be my pick. If you can bring an underwater camera I'd absolutely recommend it because you will want to relive this experience over and over again.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Very impressed with every step of the experience!
Reviewed over 4 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
This is a must do.
Such a surreal experience swimming up close and personal with so many beautiful seals. And what made it even better was it being a kiwi family run business, the hosts are fantastic; they're friendly, funny and educational. Loved this!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
We came to Kaikoura specifically to do this seal swim and it was all that we had hoped for!
I highly recommend that even though the road from Kaikoura to Picton is closed, you should still come to Kaikoura and explore the town. It is a quaint ocean town and well worth the visit. I highly recommend the Seal Swim encounter as well! I took my 11 yr old and 13 year old daughters and they won't ever forget this experience!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Unbelievable experience.
Baby seals are so cute! Big eyes!
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
Customer
4.5/5
Very, very cool!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
Customer
4.0/5
To swim with the seals with this company is really good.
Professional and small groups (10 people).
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
Customer
5.0/5
Small groups and a very unique wildlife experience to have in Kaikoura!
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in November 2014
Customer
5.0/5
I Washington on holiday With my friend looking for an ecofriendly activity and looking to swim with the seals .
This company offered us a great experience and a better understanding of the wildlife
We recommend it warmly and hope to go backbone day!
Thanks guys
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in February 2014
Customer
5.0/5
I can't begin to describe how amazing this experience was.
The guides were super friendly and informative, the equipment was great and swimming with the seals was one of the best experiences of my life. You can relax and float around while seals swim right up and interact with you. When you turn away from them they are so playful and interested that they follow. There are hundreds of seals on the rocks surrounding you and I even saw some seal pups. I had gone swimming with the dolphins the day prior and if I were to choose between the two this would be my pick. If you can bring an underwater camera I'd absolutely recommend it because you will want to relive this experience over and over again.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Very impressed with every step of the experience!
Reviewed over 4 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
This is a must do.
Such a surreal experience swimming up close and personal with so many beautiful seals. And what made it even better was it being a kiwi family run business, the hosts are fantastic; they're friendly, funny and educational. Loved this!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
We came to Kaikoura specifically to do this seal swim and it was all that we had hoped for!
I highly recommend that even though the road from Kaikoura to Picton is closed, you should still come to Kaikoura and explore the town. It is a quaint ocean town and well worth the visit. I highly recommend the Seal Swim encounter as well! I took my 11 yr old and 13 year old daughters and they won't ever forget this experience!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
I Washington on holiday With my friend looking for an ecofriendly activity and looking to swim with the seals .
This company offered us a great experience and a better understanding of the wildlife
We recommend it warmly and hope to go backbone day!
Thanks guys
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in February 2014
Customer
5.0/5
Small groups and a very unique wildlife experience to have in Kaikoura!
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in November 2014
Customer
4.5/5
Unbelievable experience.
Baby seals are so cute! Big eyes!
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
Customer
4.0/5
To swim with the seals with this company is really good.
Professional and small groups (10 people).
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
Customer
4.5/5
Very, very cool!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
Customer
5.0/5
Absolutely incredible!
You won't get any closer to wild seals in their native habitat! They are so cute!
Reviewed over 8 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
A professionally run tour business with the best for the animals in mind.
Was a lot of fun. Visibility up to 3 or 4 metres.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in December 2015
Customer
4.5/5
Great family run business - however seems to be slightly abrupt and unwelcoming on booking.
Had a great day and swam with seals darting towards and around me.
Was great to be in the water with them!
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2015
Customer
5.0/5
Perfect organisation, very professional, very friendly and helpful, funny.
Unfortunately we saw the seals just for seconds and only one time but anyway, its nature and its ok. We had a nice trip.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Awesome experience to swim right beside the seals.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
Customer
5.0/5
It was a great experience !
I never tought I could see seals from that close !
Reviewed over 10 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
This is a not to be missed experience in Kaikoura my girlfriend and I were lucky enough to swim with both dolphins and seals in Kaikoura and the seals won hands down for us.
The team at seal swim are friendly and relaxed but they are nothing compared to the seals, happy to hang in the water upside down staring inquisitively into your snorkel mask for hours, before playing hide and seek in and out of the rocks and kelp.
This is not just about the seals it is a complete underwater experience into the marine life around Kaikoura.
I hope you choose to take the trip and enjoy it as much as we did, good luck!
Reviewed over 10 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
A great experince seeing and swimming with seals in their natural environment.
Superbly experienced guides; with natural ability to relate their passion about seals on to you;and to share their knowledge so you feel entirley comfortable through what can only be described as an awesome & delightfully unforgettbale experience.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in December 2012
Customer
5.0/5
Awesome experience!
Saw lots of seals up close even bumped into a few times. Great guides and very playful seals.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
A lot more fun than swimming with dolphins.
If I would have to devicide between these two, I would choose this.
Good organization, good spot, I would do this again.
Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in February 2011
Customer
4.0/5
Very well organised but still relaxed atmosphere.
The captain took an effort to bring us to a nice seal swim spot.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Good day out, great people and just the right amount of time.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Great fun and luckily had perfect weather.
Price also very reasonable, only recommendation is adding the potential choice of tour photos (especially underwater photos) with extra cost of course.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Excellent price.
Great guys that are very helpful.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Wow! I just got back from this and feel compelled to share the experience.
We had a 1:45 check in time, but they knew right way they were running a little behind and advised we return at 2:00. At 2:00 we came in on the conversation that the primary site was rough and had poor visibility and that they would like to change to a secondary site, but that would mean a 30 min delay. Since we had nothing else planned and wanted the best possible experience we opted for the wait.
At 2:30 they got all 5 of us (myself, my wife, my twin 11 year old boys and my 6 year old daughter) suited up in thick wet suits, all of good quality, complete with hoods, good quality snorkels and masks, and fins. We jumped on a custom made bus clearly designed to haul sopping wet passengers.
It was wise to wait for the second site. A short ride in a nice boat to the seal rookery and we were in the cold water, but quickly we warmed up in the wet suits, and there were seals around us within a minute. There were a total of about 12 people on the trip.
We spent a full hour in the water and nearly all of the time was contact time with the seals. We were in their natural environment, in the ocean, but in an area with calm clear water. Around us we saw cormorants, albatrosses, and even little penguins. We'd actually had enough time in the water and got out on our own before they suggested we come back in.
This is a family run business and they really do know their stuff. They clearly care about the seals and giving everyone a good experience. I think this is an opportunity, if you're in the area, that everyone should consider high on their list. The price is reasonable, and it's an opportunity that may not be here forever.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Fantastic !!!!
The Crew are all friendly informative and helpful. They are more interested in you enjoying the experience than the money. My trip was warm water most of the time. The seals came fast and friendly swimming around and playing with you. This is a real must do experience - worth every penny and more !!!! The equipment is good condition and quality and the warm shower at the end a welcome plus.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
A good organization and a great experience even if we have suffered from the cold water.
Reviewed over 14 years ago
Customer