While planning a to Oahu (our 7 day itinerary to Oahu here), I had it in my head that I really wanted to swim with dolphins in the wild, i.e. not in an enclosed environment, and thought it would be such a unique experience. And spoiler alert, it was!
I did so much research to see where to go to have the highest chances of swimming with dolphins and I learned that most of the local dolphins like to hang out on the west coast and the north shore of Oahu.
Remember: When swimming with dolphins in the wild, give them space and enjoy the dolphins from a distance. Do not harass or try to touch them. A word to the wise, if you just float and let the dolphins carry on, more oftentimes than not, they will hang around you for a little bit.
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Ways to Swim with Dolphins in Oahu in the Wild
If you want to swim with dolphins in Oahu in the wild, you can:
(1) Swim in the ocean and hope to find the dolphins yourself
(2) Attend a tour with a company that specializes in swimming with dolphins
We did both! If you want a higher chance of swimming with dolphins, I highly recommend going with a tour company if you can.
Finding Dolphins Yourself
We were so lucky and were able to swim with dolphins in the wild when we visited Waimea Beach on the North Shore. We got there pretty early around 8 a.m. and the beach was fairly empty aside from a local fishing and a couple of other families.
While setting up our beach gear, we noticed a pod of dolphins swimming pretty close to shore, so decided to hop in the water to see if we could get a closer look. It was tricky to find their exact location so we just hung out a bit in the water. When we were starting to swim back to shore (a bit defeated), a pod of dolphins suddenly swam by us, surprising us. They stuck around for a minute or so before swimming off. They were playful and beautiful and it was the most exhilarating experience! We were on a high for the entire day shocked that we were able to see them in wild.
We’ve also heard that Electric Beach (Kahe Point) is good spot for spotting dolphins, especially early in the morning. It’s close to the Kahe Power Plant that releases warm water into the ocean, which brings in a variety of marine life, including dolphins.
Generally, the west side of Oahu is a hot spot for dolphins.
Go on a Dolphin Excursion
If you want to semi-guarantee swimming with dolphins in the wild, you’ll want to book a dolphin excursion with a tour company that knows, pretty well, where the dolphins are at what point in the day.
We went with Wild Side Specialty Tours, that are semi-private (no more than 6 people) and led by experienced naturalists. If you pay cash, there is a discount which helps with the steeper prices, but honestly, going with a smaller group was so worth it! We learned so much about the dolphins and their habitat. Best of all, we got to swim with dolphins twice, snorkel with some sea turtles and experienced the dolphins surfing the waves from our boat.
Other great and more economical options are the Dolphin Excursion in Waianae and the Dolphins Catamaran Cruise, but there would be more people on the boat with you. I also recommend always choosing the early morning tour versus the late morning / afternoon tour for higher chances of spotting and swimming with the dolphins.
What to Bring on a Dolphin Excursion
- Underwater camera: To capture the dolphins and all of the beautiful marine life while swimming. A GoPro is a popular camera for high quality photos but you can also get a simple waterproof sleeve for your phone.
- Swimsuit and rashguard: You’ll be out on the water for sometime so I highly recommend covering up with a rashguard or a long sleeve swim suit.
- Towel: Don’t forget a towel as you’ll need to bring your own. These are great soft but fast drying towels!
- Sunscreen: A must in my book! Try to use reef safe sunscreen. We like this one because it goes on sheer.
- Water bottle: All that swimming will leave you parched, so don’t forget water. We love our insulated water bottle for cold, refreshing water after a swim.
- Snorkel set: We like to bring our own snorkel set and have used this one for a few years. It’s pretty affordable and perfect for people who snorkel maybe 1-2 times per year.
Happy swimming!
