Swimming with Dolphins

Swimming with Dolphins - Black Cat Cruises

Swimming with Dolphins

Black Cat Cruises

60 Rankers Reviews

53 Face-to-Face

15 Marine Animals

13 Dolphin Watching

11 Akaroa

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Encounters

Maps

Video

Photos

Up close with Hector's dolphins
Cruise in sheltered Akaroa Harbour.

Information

Swimming with Dolphins

Swim in a sheltered harbour with the rare and friendly Hector's Dolphin, just 90 minutes from Christchurch in picturesque Akaroa, a quaint French inspired sea-side village.

With Black Cat Cruises you will enjoy a once in a lifetime experience, supported by experienced local crew with world class facilities. Our experience and dedication to our local environment delivers a New Zealand must do activity here in Akaroa.

It’s the ultimate dolphin experience as you will be swimming with the endangered Hector’s Dolphin, the world’s rarest and smallest oceanic dolphin.

Hector’s dolphins are protected in Akaroa Harbour by a marine mammal sanctuary and our dolphin cruise gives you the chance to see and swim with these beautiful marine mammals close up in the wild in their natural habitat.

Hector’s dolphins are endemic to New Zealand, meaning that you will not find them anywhere else in the world, and Akaroa is the only place you can take a trip out to swim with them.

An encounter with a Hector’s dolphin in the wild is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Black Cat Cruises donate a portion of all ticket sales back to the education and research of the endangered Hector’s dolphin, and we offer a fantastic dolphin guarantee policy due to our high swim success rate. This is possibly why Black Cat Cruises dolphin swim experience is listed in the Lonely Planet guide as on of the ‘Top 10 Marine Mammal Experiences in The World’!

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Black Cat Cruises

Commercial organisation

Location

South IslandCanterburyAkaroa

Categories

  • Activity__marine_animalsMarine Animals
  • Activity__dolphin_watchingDolphin Watching

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-43.81108

172.959909

Latitude
-43.81108
Longitude
172.959909

Websites

Reviews

    • Absolutely amazing.
    • It was beautiful!!
    • Very professional - highly recommended.
    • Went on tour to swim with dolphins.
    • It was a small boat, we were only there with 10.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 23
    38%
    9/10 12
    20%
    8/10 12
    20%
    7/10 10
    17%
    6/10 2
    3%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 1
    2%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    It was a small boat, we were only there with 10.

    We saw and swam with a lot of dolphins, IN-CRE-DI-BLE!!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    FRANCE
    Alix's avatar

    Alix

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    FRANCE
    Claire's avatar

    Claire

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice place, cordial and well prepared staff.

    Little bit expensive $150, for what it is. If you want to stay and really enjoy the dolphins, just rent a kayak.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    ITALY
    Stefano's avatar

    Stefano

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Take the morning tour, it is a higher chance to see the dolphins.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Lena's avatar

    Lena

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    The water is really cold, but we swam with dolphins so we forgot the cold really fast!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    FRANCE
    Ivan Dupont's avatar

    Ivan Dupont

    Customer

  • 2.0/5

    A bit disappointing.

    The view under the water was really bad, so it was hard to see the dolphins. Not many dolphins at all.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in April 2016

    GERMANY
    Isabel's avatar

    Isabel

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Dolphin watching and swimming cruise in Akaroa - beautiful place!

    Unfortunately the dolphin did not decide to swim with us but the company gave us a refund. Nice!

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    FRANCE
    Marie Toulemonde's avatar

    Marie Toulemonde

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Nice trip with amazing landscape.  Quite expensive.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    FRANCE
    Max Backelandt's avatar

    Max Backelandt

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Did not find that many dolphins, but it was good.

    The only bad things was $140.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    GERMANY
    Annika Marz's avatar

    Annika Marz

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    It was nice to swim with the dolphins but we searched a long time for them.

    The tour guide did not do any good photos.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    GERMANY
    Julian Zeissler's avatar

    Julian Zeissler

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    FRANCE
    Claire's avatar

    Claire

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    It was a small boat, we were only there with 10.

    We saw and swam with a lot of dolphins, IN-CRE-DI-BLE!!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    FRANCE
    Alix's avatar

    Alix

    Customer

  • 2.0/5

    A bit disappointing.

    The view under the water was really bad, so it was hard to see the dolphins. Not many dolphins at all.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in April 2016

    GERMANY
    Isabel's avatar

    Isabel

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    The water is really cold, but we swam with dolphins so we forgot the cold really fast!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    FRANCE
    Ivan Dupont's avatar

    Ivan Dupont

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice place, cordial and well prepared staff.

    Little bit expensive $150, for what it is. If you want to stay and really enjoy the dolphins, just rent a kayak.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    ITALY
    Stefano's avatar

    Stefano

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Take the morning tour, it is a higher chance to see the dolphins.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Lena's avatar

    Lena

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    It was nice to swim with the dolphins but we searched a long time for them.

    The tour guide did not do any good photos.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    GERMANY
    Julian Zeissler's avatar

    Julian Zeissler

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Did not find that many dolphins, but it was good.

    The only bad things was $140.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    GERMANY
    Annika Marz's avatar

    Annika Marz

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Dolphin watching and swimming cruise in Akaroa - beautiful place!

    Unfortunately the dolphin did not decide to swim with us but the company gave us a refund. Nice!

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    FRANCE
    Marie Toulemonde's avatar

    Marie Toulemonde

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Nice trip with amazing landscape.  Quite expensive.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    FRANCE
    Max Backelandt's avatar

    Max Backelandt

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Awesome experience, the hot chocolate after the swim was really a good idea.

    The only thing I don't like is that they put 'fake' dolphins in the picture.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    GERMANY
    Lena Hanhart's avatar

    Lena Hanhart

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    It was beautiful!!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    SWITZERLAND
    Barbara's avatar

    Barbara

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Go swim with the dolphins!

    Friendly staff who try to make the most of the trip. Hot chocolate on board! Hot showers afterwards!

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Mark and Eefie's avatar

    Mark and Eefie

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing experience of a lifetime.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Nigel Leighton's avatar

    Nigel Leighton

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice guides, well organised, got a refund for not being able to swim with the dolphins ($140pp).

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Stam's avatar

    Stam

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Water was very cold (14c), even in summer, organisation was very good.

    Dolphins were not overly interested in swimming with us and black cat gave us a refund even when we did feel we swam with the dolphins.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Laura Diepeveen's avatar

    Laura Diepeveen

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    great trip with the guys and had a wonderful experience swimming with hectors dolphins off akaroa Chris pope

    Reviewed almost 13 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    cpope's avatar

    cpope

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Swimming with the Hector Dolphin.

    They get really close.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Naomi Kosteaman's avatar

    Naomi Kosteaman

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Great fun.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Good organisation, swimsuit snorkel and mask are provided.

    Staff were nice and funny. Water was really really cold. Once we saw dolphins cruising around us we forgot the cold water and enjoyed the Hector dolphins.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Samuel Prechel's avatar

    Samuel Prechel

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    The Trip was outstanding.

    Tyhere was myself my husband and our niece from the UK on the trip yes we were the only ones and it was awesome. We swam with 2 pods of Dolphins with about 7 in each pod which apparently is unusual and in total we were in the water for 1 hour. I highly recommend this trip to any one.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    salsnz's avatar

    salsnz

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Swimming with dolphins.

    It's a pity that a dolphin were lazy and did not want to swim with us. If we had swim with the dolphins the ranking would of been higher.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jvjm Family's avatar

    Jvjm Family

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Absolutely amazing.

    Wicked spot nice sea and the dolphins came again and again... but... check the weather, if sensitive to coldness, it can be too cold.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    ISRAEL
    Rachel & Barak's avatar

    Rachel & Barak

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Didn't get the opportunity to actually swim with the dolphins, but saw a lot, trip was cool too.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    GERMANY
    Sinjc Grude's avatar

    Sinjc Grude

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very professional - highly recommended.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Short trip only 2 hours Dolphins came very close, super!!

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago and experienced in November 2009

    SWITZERLAND
    Andreas  Sterki's avatar

    Andreas Sterki

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Great Value.

    Lots of Hector Dolphins. Good safety.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago and experienced in November 2009

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Gina Swindells's avatar

    Gina Swindells

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    two words ...

    dry suits!! AWESOME!!! such cute animals, found relatively quickly, whilst seeing a whole range of other animals! Swam with about 9 or 10 of the little dolphins, crew gave excellent advice on how to attract them - clapping stones underwater, singing through your snorkle etc!

    Reviewed over 15 years ago and experienced in September 2008

    Zoe Summers's avatar

    Zoe Summers

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    We were disappointed with this as we had a rough trip on the boat out to the dolphins and felt that we were thrown into the water at the last minute to avoid deserving a refund.

    In the end, we were somewhat satisfied as we were given a discount after requesting one, though this took a while.

    Reviewed over 15 years ago and experienced in April 2009

    UNITED STATES
    Greg18's avatar

    Greg18

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very good.

    Although we swam with dolphins, they gave us a refund as they thought it wasn't good enough. Excellent.

    Reviewed over 15 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    bogaard's avatar

    bogaard

    Customer