Snorkel And Seal Swim, 2 Hours

Kangaroo Island - Swim with Dolphins/Seals/Coastal Snorkel

★ 4.7 286 reviews

from $136.81 per person

Opens the live booking page with current dates and availability. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Duration: 2 hours
Meeting point: 43 Howard Dr, Penneshaw
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Run by: Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari

Overview

The premise is simple and slightly wild: a boat leaves Penneshaw and spends about two hours hunting for wild dolphins and seals along the coast. When conditions and the animals allow, you slip over the side and swim in the open ocean beside them. What happens on the day depends entirely on the pod, the season and the sea.

You start at the Kangaroo Island Information Spot in Penneshaw, opposite Christmas Cove Marina, arriving half an hour early to be fitted into a wetsuit at the change rooms there. The trip departs at 12:00 and carries no more than 20 travellers. Gear is provided, including snorkel equipment, wetsuits, life jackets, waterproof jackets and sunscreen, and a crew member gives commentary on the wildlife along the way. If dolphins are travelling with calves, swimming is off the cards and you watch from the boat instead.

Reviews describe the swimming as genuinely physical. You hold a rope towed by the boat and kick hard to keep up, so it rewards confident swimmers. Families with children have enjoyed it, though the operator recommends swimmers be over nine.

Boat with dolphins off the Kangaroo Island coast near Penneshaw.

What's Included

Included

Use of snorkelling equipment
Wetsuits
Life jackets
Jackets
Sunscreen
Informative commentary

Not Included

Food

Itinerary

Meet in PenneshawArrive 30 minutes before departure at the Kangaroo Island Information Spot, 43 Howard Dr, Penneshaw, opposite Christmas Cove Marina. Change rooms there are used for fitting wetsuits.
Boat departureThe trip departs Penneshaw at 12:00 aboard the operator's vessel.
Wildlife spottingThe crew searches the coast for dolphin pods and seals, with commentary on the animals and coastline along the way.
Water timeWhere conditions and wildlife allow, travellers swim with dolphins, seals or snorkel the coastal waters. Swimming may be limited to viewing from the boat, for example when dolphin pods include calves.
Return to marinaThe trip runs about two hours in total and ends back at the meeting point in Penneshaw.

What To Expect From The Tour

This is an open-ocean swim with wild animals, and the practical details matter more than most people expect.

$136.81 from, per person

2 hours duration

4.7 across 286 guest reviews

20 guests at most

Cold water. Sea temperature sits between 14 and 15 degrees, and the operator is blunt about it being refreshing. Wetsuits are compulsory, children under 14 get double wet suits, and adults prone to the cold can ask for the same.
Fitness and swimming. Several reviewers describe the swim as a workout, even for strong swimmers, because you hold a rope while the boat tows you toward the animals. Confidence in open water helps a great deal.
Warm layers. Bring a warm jacket for after the swim. Waterproof jackets are supplied on board, but the operator suggests putting your own warm layer over the top when you climb out.
No food. Food is not included, so eat beforehand or bring something for after. No catering is provided on board.
Photos. One reviewer reported using their own GoPro in the water without issue. Beyond that, no photography policy is stated, so check the live booking page if you plan to bring a camera.
Seal seasons. Seal numbers swing with the seasons: they peak in winter and are at their lowest from November to January. If swimming with seals specifically is the draw, the time of year you book shapes the odds.

Ready To BookCheck availability →

Common issues. The biggest caveat, stated clearly by the operator and echoed across reviews, is that wildlife interactions are not guaranteed. If you enter the water at any stage, no refund is given even if dolphins or seals stay away, and swimming is not permitted at all when a dolphin pod has calves. Some reviewers were disappointed when a trip became seal-only or sighting-only. The trip is also unsuitable for wheelchair users, pregnant travellers in the water and people with a pacemaker, and the operator recommends children be over nine for the swimming.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

Snorkelling equipment, wetsuits, life jackets, waterproof jackets, sunscreen and informative commentary are all provided. Food is the notable exclusion. The trip lasts about two hours and carries a maximum of 20 travellers.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

At the Kangaroo Island Information Spot in Penneshaw, at 43 Howard Dr, opposite Christmas Cove Marina. You must arrive 30 minutes before the 12:00 departure to be fitted into a wetsuit at the change rooms. The tour ends back at the same point.

Can Children Do The Swim?

The operator recommends children be over the age of 9 for the swimming activity, and kids under 14 are double wet suited against the cold. Reviewers who took children said the crew looked after them well, including letting kids return to the boat while parents stayed in the water. Note the trip is not wheelchair accessible.

Is Swimming With The Dolphins Guaranteed?

No. Wildlife interactions are not guaranteed, and for safety reasons the crew will not run a swim when a dolphin pod has neonates present; you can still watch from the vessel. If you get in the water at any stage for coastal snorkelling, a seals swim or a dolphin swim, no refund is given. Several reviewers had trips that became seal swims or boat-based dolphin viewing instead.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted, and cut-off times follow local time. The experience needs good weather; if it is cancelled for poor conditions you are offered a different date or a full refund.

How Cold Is The Water And What Should I Bring?

The water sits between 14 and 15 degrees, described by the operator as refreshing. Wetsuits are compulsory and provided, and you can request a double suit if you feel the cold. Bring a warm jacket to put on after getting out, and note that food is not included.