Swimming With Dolphins in Their Natural Habitat
Mark Twain once said: “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven.” That's the feeling I get every time I visit the southeast coast of Mauritius. That’s where dolphins’ natural habitat is situated! Both Bottlenose and Spinner dolphins are often spotted in the area around the Black River and Tamarin Bay.
As a child, I always feared the ocean and the life beneath it. However, there is something so special and magical about that area that I have long wanted to explore. I have always wanted to follow my instincts in trying what others have experienced after swimming with dolphins.
It was a pleasure to be able to research and book a trip with VitaminSea, a professional company that offers a wide range of adventurous adventures. They are experts at what they do. We had booked the trip for the early morning; that’s always the case when it comes to whale watching and swimming with dolphins. We embarked around 5:50 a.m. and the magical experience began as soon as we got on board.
As we drove, we enjoyed the sunrise views along the way until, twenty minutes later, we reached our destination. Just ahead of us, we started to see pods of dolphins swimming in the water. There must be a few crowds around the dolphins to avoid disturbing them and making them uncomfortable. Then, we circled them, slipped on our flippers, masks, and snorkels, and jumped into the cold deep water. As a first-timer, I had a skipper on my side. He had to guide me and take me to swim in the opposite direction from where the dolphins were coming. I could hear the dolphins whistling and clicking above the water; I thought I was dreaming until the skipper asked, “can you hear them?" I knew by then it was real.
I was extremely nervous about putting my head underwater, but time was not on my side; I needed to dive under to see the dolphins coming toward me, or else I would miss them; I did it just in time. I saw dolphins swimming beside me, and one even rubbed her body against mine, which felt quite uncomfortable.
But it was so lovely to see all those adorable creatures around me. They were swimming harmlessly, not bothered by my presence at all. My stomach turned for a moment, and I felt scared. Then, I noticed that some of them stared at me as if they were trying to read my mind in some way. I felt ALIVE.
By leaving my comfort zone, I realized that life is much bigger than we think. There is so much to see and do. There’s another life in the ocean.
I am now in the dolphins’ natural environment. Can you believe that?!
Touching them is a big no-no, but sometimes they might be playful and get close to you. It is always our goal to observe these magnificent creatures without disrupting in any way their delicate ecosystem.
Unlike dolphins in captivity, wild dolphins are not trained to entertain; you may feel they barely notice you. Then, you will be able to observe them playing, socializing, and interacting naturally with each other in their natural habitat, enhancing your experience even further.
It seems to me that I have found my happy place! There was something special about the satisfaction and happiness I felt at the end of that day. For me, it was an unforgettable experience that I will never forget and one that I will never stop doing. It made me more eager to learn and study those beautiful animals who opened my eyes to a beautiful world I still need to discover.
Take a chance and give it a try!
