by Donatella Malfitano
July 16, 2010
When I first booked my tour to experience a swim with Dusky dolphins, I was not sure what to expect—but I knew what I was hoping for and what I wanted. I wanted, finally, to experience a genuine, intimate encounter with these special mammals. Something that was, above all, natural.
After entering the cold water I found myself literally surrounded by hundreds of wild dusky dolphins. I was in open ocean, playing and frolicking with them, witnessing their spectacular leaps within metres.
This experience exceeded all my expectations. Similar to what I experienced during the seal swim, we entered their private and sacred world with respect. The dolphins were not enticed or tempted closer to the boat by artificial means. They simply came freely and wildly, their instincts guiding them.
Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) are one of the most energetic, acrobatic and spectacular of the dolphin species. Being such a close and intimate witness to their magnificent leaps, side slaps, back flips and somersaults, is an experience that any fortunate spectator would never forget.
The preparation before the swim is simple. We put on thick wetsuits to protect us from the cold ocean waters around New Zealand, and we watch an information video before departing. The video explains once more the philosophy around the tour, emphasising the fact that it would not be the "dolphin touching" experience that the average tourist might hope for. That is perfect for me, as I am not a "tourist" in any way or form, and the general philosophy of the tour would be my gate through which I would experience something incredible and unique.
The boat leaves the shores of Kaikoura, pointed directly toward the waiting and open ocean. The spectacular view of the mountains, so closely meeting the sea as we move away from the shoreline, continues to fascinate me. Time seems to pass in a flash and, in no time at all, it is time to enter the water. Within a few seconds, hundreds of dusky dolphins pass in the water, their dark forms surrounding us, swimming often in pairs as they dive underwater just before making their acrobatic leaps into the air. They are incredibly powerful and fast swimmers, and at times even reach speeds of up to 20 knots!
One of the most spectacular leaps is the trademark somersault, which they often repeat time and again. It is a fascinating spectacle! They seem to play, jumping and diving, a few centimetres from me. They often get curious about the squeals and sounds I intentionally make and they start playing in circles with me, in and under water. I can then admire even more closely their beauty and their perfect colours, dark-blue gray on their backs and white on their bellies.
| My dolphin swim was organized by Dolphin Encounter of Kaikoura, New Zealand. |
It is not clear why dolphins jump. But it seems that this is just an expression of their exuberant personalities.
Duskies are highly intelligent and very inquisitive, and seem to enjoy the presence of people and boats, which makes them easy to approach.
It is quite special to see such a large number (pod) of dolphins (and especially to swim with them!), but this is common in this area. Gregarious and highly social, Dusky dolphins live in pods that, in the Kaikoura region alone, can number between 100 and 800 individuals—even up to thousand in autumn and winter. They also seem to enjoy and welcome the presence and company of other species, like other cetaceans or seabirds.
Duskies in this area are nocturnal hunters and mostly feed on fish and squid.
The dolphins keep moving rapidly in their chosen original direction, too fast for us to keep up! So we make a few other stops with the boat to meet them for our last swims. Before finally leaving, we spend some time observing and enjoying these fantastic animals and admiring once more their joyful leaps.
Dusky dolphins seem to have quite an easy life in this area. They are protected by law and only have one predator and natural enemy—the Orca, or killer whale. Despite this, conservation efforts are still necessary here, as well as in the other regions where Dusky dolphins live (the South Atlantic coastal regions, including Africa, and the west coast of South America).
About the author:Donatella Malfitano is an international worker for the United Nations and other organisations on democratic governance and humanitarian affairs. During her travels and missions, mostly in post-war or third-world countries, she also looks at the way animals are affected by armed conflict and other threats.
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