The right way to swim with wild dolphins (and why it matters)
Sataya’s pods choose to share their lagoon with us — but only if we behave. Here’s how our guides keep encounters magical for you and safe for them, from approach angles to the golden rule of never touching.
Spinner dolphins come to Sataya lagoon to rest after a night of hunting in open water. That means the dolphins you meet in the morning are, in effect, half asleep — and how we behave around them decides whether they stay.
Let them come to you
We never chase, circle or block a pod. Your guide positions the group to the side of the dolphins’ path and asks everyone to float quietly. Curious dolphins will often turn and swim alongside — that’s the encounter you want.
Splashing, kicking hard or diving down towards them has the opposite effect. Calm bodies in the water are what keep the pod relaxed.
The golden rule: never touch
Dolphin skin is delicate and easily infected, and touching is stressful for the animal. Keep your hands close to your body and enjoy the moment through your mask.
Small groups, short swims
We enter in small groups for limited periods and rotate, so the lagoon never fills with swimmers. It’s the reason our guests see relaxed, playful pods instead of dolphins fleeing a crowd.