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Swimming with wild dolphins

June 8, 2022

My dream since I was little, I’m lucky to have had the chance to swim with dolphins in the wild TWICE. Once in The Bahamas, and once in Mauritius, but it was the second one, in Mauritius that was truly special, since I was almost alone. I’ve spent hours researching swimming with dolphins, and I’ve read about places in every corner of the world. In case any one has been living under a rock, it’s not okay to swim with them in captivity, ever. But in the wild, that’s a different story. Dolphins are by nature playful, curious and enjoy interacting with humans. The important thing is to find a company that respects them, and allows you to swim with them but on their terms. Companies that don’t ever chase the dolphins, that stick to strict rules, and above all, love them as much as you do, are what you want.

My first time I ever saw dolphins in the wild was off the coast of Zanzibar. We had planned an excursion to swim with them, but when we saw all the boats chasing them and tourists plunging into the water in a chaotic mess we decided to just enjoy watching from the boat. Then a few years later, I came across a place in The Bahamas where you spend a week at a retreat and went out on their boat each day for a chance to swim with the dolphins. This was a lot better, since they were very respectful of the dolphins, but the problem was that there were LOTS of us in the water at the same time so it got chaotic, again. Fast forward another few years, and I was still looking for that experience as I had dreamed it; just me, the big blue sea, and a pod of wild dolphins. And finally, last October, I experienced just that, in Mauritius. I found that there are a lot of dolphins to be found along the coast there, and that it was possible to swim with them. And after a lot more research, I chanced upon Vitamin Sea, a local company who seemed to do this respectfully.

Mauritius is a truly beautiful and magical island, and I wrote about our adventures there in detail, if you missed it. Maya and I had to drive to the other end of the island to get there on time for the 6am departure. So we were off at 4:30, figuring out the roads in the dark, but luckily in Mauritius they are all pretty well maintained. We got to Rivière Noire in good time and then met the crew of Vitamin Sea. It’s a family business, and the co-owner, Cedric, and his skipper were waiting. The boat was modern and comfortable, and soon we were setting off. We had barely been out on the water a few minutes when we had already spotted fins! There is a resident pod of spinner dolphins who come into the bays to feed every morning, and seem to enjoy hanging out with people along the way. They’ve apparently been doing this for generations and are unperturbed by us. Cedric told us all this, and more, whilst checking on the dolphins, and determining when was right to get in the water. Eventually, he said we could get in, so I got my snorkel gear on, and slipped in as quietly as I could.

The water was freezing, (Indian Ocean, what?) but I didn’t have to wait long. We had entered in front of the pod, and soon we were surrounded by spinner dolphins! It was absolutely incredible; I was literally surrounded by the pod and they were very curious, they’d come up close to me and roll over, and dive deep down, almost as if inviting me to join them. Then eventually they’d all swim on their way, way too fast for slow fish like me. Cedric was great, he obviously loved being there, and really let me enjoy my time with the dolphins. It was incredible being the only two in the water with them. We repeated the swims a few more times, and each time I was completely amazed by their playful nature and grace underwater. It’s truly something incredible, to connect with such intelligent creatures in their home.

Afterwards we got to go to an amazing shallow lagoon nicknamed the Aquarium to swim with thousands of tropical fish in a kaleidoscope of colors. And then a fast ride back to shore, the wind drying my hair. I guess after all these years, my dream really did come true! And if you’re ever considering a wild dolphin swim, I’ve already done all the hard work for you!

The details- Vitamin Sea offers half day swims with the dolphins, from their base on the west of the island. Reserve well in advance- they book up fast (they’ll also take photos of you)! There’s a range of accommodation on Mauritius, but for a lovely little hotel on a beautiful beach I recommend Astroea beach hotel. Try to visit between September and November for the best weather and least crowds.

lifestyle travel tips

How to draw cute animals

September 12, 2019

During the summer holidays I finally had a bit of free time. Time to read, to watch clouds pass languidly across the sky, to watch the dogs sniff about the garden, as butterflies buzzed around them. To draw. Maya gave me a very helpful book with lots of tips to draw animals. I always struggle with their eyes and by making them more cartoonish, as the book suggests, you can avoid that problem, and make them very cute.

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lifestyle travel tips

The Sketchbook Files- Watercolour horses

May 30, 2017

I’ve been obsessed with drawing horses since I was small. I found one of my old sketchbooks the other day and its filled with attempts of horses and ponies of all sizes, especially Shetlands since they were my favourite back then. Horses don’t make easy subjects; its hard to get their proportions right and I always struggle with their eyes. The weather of late inspired me to get outside with my sketch book and give the challenge of drawing horses another go- I figured a blackbird soundtrack and being able to spread myself out on the freshly mowed lawn would help the creative process. Continue Reading

lifestyle travel tips

The Sketchbook Files- How to draw dolphins

May 22, 2017

I know we all lead busy, stressful lives and barely have five minutes to breathe, leave alone pick up a pencil and paper and start sketching. But for me, art is a form of relaxation and taking some time out to draw helps me wind-down and gather my thoughts. Not to mention the satisfaction that comes from looking at finished drawing. So, I thought I’d share a few posts on how to draw different things, starting with one of my favourite subjects… dolphins. Continue Reading

travel tips

Why I love my GoPro

March 10, 2017

I have to start off by saying that I’m not the best photographer. So when I got a GoPro HERO last Christmas, it was a bit of a revelation. Once the domain of thrill seekers and extreme sports junkies, these days everyone seems to use a GoPro on their travels. Although I’m still scratching the surface in terms of using mine, I thought I’d share why I love my GoPro and why its the perfect little camera for lazy travellers. Continue Reading

bucket list destinations travel tips

How to survive an African Safari

February 10, 2017

You’ve been driving around for hours, your whole body aching from the constant jarring and bumping. The heat is intense, the sun beats down on you unmercifully, easily finding its way through the open vehicle. Every bush, every tree, every leaf is starting to look the same, a blur. Suddenly, something catches your eye, something is out of place. What have you spotted? Continue Reading

lifestyle travel tips

Making a holiday scrapbook

December 28, 2016

Postcards, ticket stubs, keychains, shot glasses, magnets, napkins, receipts, boarding passes. The list of pointless souvenirs and momentos we find ourselves bringing back from our holiday is endless. Each flight we take, each restaurant we eat in, each museum or concert or park we visit, we insist on buying/keeping/stealing (ok maybe not the last one) something to ‘remember’ our trip by, only to be dumped in a box or the bottom shelf, to be discovered again when moving house. Continue Reading