Seal Swim Kaikoura
Reviews
Erica Muir
Ranking: 10/10
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.
Peter Leschev
Ranking: 10/10
Very impressed with every step of the experience!
Mietta Feery
Ranking: 10/10
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!
Susie Dietz
Ranking: 10/10
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!
Nica Georgiana
Ranking: 10/10
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
Amanda Williams
Ranking: 10/10
Small groups and a very unique wildlife experience to have in Kaikoura!
Valentine de Beer
Ranking: 9/10
Unbelievable experience. Baby seals are so cute! Big eyes!
Cecile Seramis
Ranking: 8/10
To swim with the seals with this company is really good. Professional and small groups (10 people).
Stephan Kirchenbaur
Ranking: 9/10
Very, very cool!
Hannes Puediger
Ranking: 10/10
Absolutely incredible! You won't get any closer to wild seals in their native habitat! They are so cute!
Virgil Spruit
Ranking: 8/10
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.
Emma
Ranking: 9/10
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!
Manuela Opprecht
Ranking: 10/10
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.
Robert Geissler
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome experience to swim right beside the seals.
sebastien gairaud
Ranking: 10/10
It was a great experience ! I never tought I could see seals from that close !
Ali Mitchell
Ranking: 10/10
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!
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Nigel&Annette Greaves
Ranking: 10/10
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.
Rolf Zwahlen
Ranking: 10/10
Best equipment and good guide.
Ken
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome experience! Saw lots of seals up close even bumped into a few times. Great guides and very playful seals.
Mark
Ranking: 10/10
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.
joke
Ranking: 8/10
Very well organised but still relaxed atmosphere. The captain took an effort to bring us to a nice seal swim spot.
Veronica Warren
Ranking: 9/10
Good day out, great people and just the right amount of time.
Michael Howat
Ranking: 10/10
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.
Nicolas
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent and friendly.
Tyson Burnett
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent price. Great guys that are very helpful.
Seifert
Ranking: 10/10
Grandios, exciting.
Christine Wirth
Ranking: 9/10
Small group, very good tour guide.
efusco
Ranking: 10/10
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.
stowie
Ranking: 10/10
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.
Ulric
Ranking: 8/10
A good organization and a great experience even if we have suffered from the cold water.
Jenny Davies
Ranking: 8/10
Staff helpful.
Kimberly Skyes
Ranking: 8/10
Also very interesting and well run.
janden
Ranking: 10/10
Very friendly staff. Excellent trip. Go for the trip with the boat ride.
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purplekat99
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic morning out! I dove right in with the seals as I wanted to make the most of my expirence instead of holding onto the board the boat provided. Fantastic facitilies and great staff.
Jane
Ranking: 9/10
Only booked day before, friendly staff. very clear that you are interacting with wild animals so no promises made but we had a great time, loads of seals all around us. Water cold so my 9 yr old given 3 wetsuits to wear, couldn't ask for more!
LucyT
Ranking: 9/10
Another excellently run company, very honest about whether we'd see any seals due to the weather + offered refunds and turned out we were lucky. Right length tour, + great, friendly staff.
Greg18
Ranking: 10/10
This was a great time, and though the water was cold, we were impressed by how close we got to the seal colony. We enjoyed swimming around with the seals and took some good photos. Great value, especially when compared to the dolphin swims.
JeremyE
Ranking: 8/10
Excellent, loved it. Good value for money.
MichaelS1
Ranking: 9/10
Got very close to fur seals in the water at their breeding colony at Kaikoura.
SebastianGermany1
Ranking: 8/10
Good guided tour in a small group.
Lynn White
Ranking: 9/10
Very good value. glad i had waterproof camera with me. great photo chance with seals!
John
Ranking: 7/10
Too cold!!
Prentner
Ranking: 10/10
Less people (7), good equipment (only operator who provides gloves and boots) plus a long time with the seals.
Anke
Ranking: 8/10
$60 was worth it, especially compared to Whale Watch.
Richard Anthony
Ranking: 9/10
Very well run. No complaints.
Claire Masling
Ranking: 9/10
Very good value, good fun. Friendly staff.
Carrie Cook
Ranking: 10/10
Top marks! Loads of seals, really friendly - swam right up to you. Value for money, only $80.
Stephanie
Ranking: 10/10
Family operated - very friendly. Spent about an hour among the seals - amazing!
Tanya
Ranking: 10/10
Great, awesome!
Malena
Ranking: 8/10
Something different. Good guides