While attempting to photograph any wild animal is often a difficult undertaking, photographing wild dolphins presents it’s own individual challenges.

If you happen to be planning a boat trip or swim with dolphins trip, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to make sure you take full advantage of every photo opportunity.

The most important thing to remember is to let the dolphins approach you, don’ rush. Remembert that Dolphins are very social creatures and seem to react favorably to interaction with humans, if allowed to do so on their own terms.

Your shots will be much better if the dolphin is actually in an inquisitive mode. Nobody wants to see photos of dolphins fleeing in panic.

If you’re attempting to shoot the dolphins from a boat, odds are you’re going to end up in rough water at some point.

Remember to brace yourself and your camera equipment so neither you nor your equipment ends up in the water. The motion of the boat, as well as the speed at which dolphins can travel, will require using a fairly high shutter speed on your camera. ASA/ISO 100 or 200 film will help alleviate some of the graininess that will result from the higher shutter setting but achieving a balance between these two comes with practice. A lens filter will help to reduce glare and a motor drive is extremely helpful when the dolphins are extremely active.

A telephoto lens will be necessary as its often difficult to get to close to the dolphins from the boat. The best type of camera for this type of photography is a Single Lens Reflex (SRL) and either a Nikon or Canon body.

If you’re actually lucky enough to participate in a dolphin swim, you’ll want to use wide angle lenses. Dolphins, even the younger ones, are fairly large. and a lens with a narrow angle of view will require more distance to make sure the entire dolphin is included in the frame. Wide angles lenses will provide more control and flexibility with the sharpness and color saturation of the image.

Obviously, if you are swimming with dolphins, a water proof camera will be needed, but there are many options for that which are not necessarily expensive cameras. You can find a waterproof housing for your own camera, or there are several waterproof cameras now, even digital, at really affordable prices.

If you need a camera for your trip, the recommended stores where I have purchase a cameras online with great results are:

They both have a great selection and prices and they both have great information to help you choose the right camera for your budget. Don’t get too excited! Quite often the experience of just being in the water with the dolphins will be so exhilarating that even the most talented photographer is reduced to simply snapping away with no thought to the actual composition of the photograph.

If you take the time to get in close with a wide angle lens, the resulting photograph will make the subject in the foreground appear disproportionately larger than the background. This technique can produce an amazing image. Changing angles on the dolphin can also add personality to your images. A picture of the dolphin in a side profile as well as one that captures the entire length of the creature can create an interesting collage of finished photographs.

When photographing dolphins, the use of a light meter is essential. Dolphins usually swim close to the surface which will require accurate settings of surrounding light conditions. The use of a strobe as fill lighting will also bring contrast to the dolphins features.

Regardless of how close you can actually get to the dolphin, using a few of the above techniques should guarantee an interesting array of photographs. If you’re patient and take the time to do a little practicing before your trip, you should be able to capture an extremely amazing opportunity with ease.

While attempting to photograph any wild animal is often a difficult undertaking. Photographing wild dolphins presents it’s own individual challenges. If you happen to be planning a boat trip or a swim with the dolphins, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make sure you take advantage of every photographic opportunity.

The most important thing to remember is to let the dolphins approach you. Dolphins are very social creatures and seem to react favorably to interaction with humans, if allowed to do so on their own terms.

Your photographs will be much better if the dolphin is actually in an inquisitive mode. Nobody wants to see photos of dolphins fleeing in panic.

If you’re attempting to shoot the dolphins from a boat, odds are you’re going to end up in rough water at some point.

Remember to brace yourself and your camera equipment so neither you nor your equipment ends up in the water. The motion of the boat, as well as the speed at which dolphins can travel, will require using a fairly high shutter speed on your camera. ASA/ISO 100 or 200 film will help alleviate some of the graininess that will result from the higher shutter setting but achieving a balance between these two comes with practice. A lens filter will help to reduce glare and a motor drive is extremely helpful when the dolphins are extremely active.

A telephoto lens will be necessary as its often difficult to get to close to the dolphins from the boat. The best type of camera for this type of photography is a Single Lens Reflex (SRL) and either a Nikon or Canon body.

If you’re actually lucky enough to participate in a dolphin swim, you’ll want to use wide angle lenses. Dolphins, even the younger ones, are fairly large. and a lens with a narrow angle of view will require more distance to make sure the entire dolphin is included in the frame. Wide angles lenses will provide more control and flexibility with the sharpness and color saturation of the image.

Obviously, if you are swimming with dolphins, a water proof camera will be needed, but there are many options for that which are not necessarily expensive cameras. You can find a waterproof housing for your own camera, or there are several waterproof cameras now, even digital, at really affordable prices.

Don’t get too excited! Quite often the experience of just being in the water with the dolphins will be so exhilarating that even the most talented photographer is reduced to simply snapping away with no thought to the actual composition of the photograph.

If you take the time to get in close with a wide angle lens, the resulting photograph will make the subject in the foreground appear disproportionately larger than the background. This technique can produce an amazing image. Changing angles on the dolphin can also add personality to your images. A picture of the dolphin in a side profile as well as one that captures the entire length of the creature can create an interesting collage of finished photographs.

When photographing dolphins, the use of a light meter is essential. Dolphins usually swim close to the surface which will require accurate settings of surrounding light conditions. The use of a strobe as fill lighting will also bring contrast to the dolphins features.

Regardless of how close you can actually get to the dolphin, using a few of the above techniques should guarantee an interesting array of photographs. If you’re patient and take the time to do a little practicing before your trip, you should be able to capture an extremely amazing opportunity with ease.

How to Pick your Dolphin Watching Tour

You are going to travel to one of those dolphin paradises and plan to take a dolphin watching or diving tour?

There are several issues to consider when picking a dolphin or whale watching tour or swimming with dolphins tour. At every dolphin watching or diving place, there are several tour operators therefore picking the right one is the starting step to have a wonderful experience.

Here are a few recommendations although the number one issue we are considering (and you should always consider) is your security.

Therefore, before selecting a dolphin watching, diving or swim with dolphins tour, please ask your provider:

What kind of boat are you using?

This question is mainly oriented to know if it is a boat or an inflatable, mainly ask how many feet the boat is and what material is made of as well as the kind of motors it has. Always ask if it is equipped with an emergency radio (this is the main question of all).

If the boat does not match the description you received when doing your research, refrain from boarding. Also, if you don’t feel right about the boat when arriving, do not board it. This is one of the important security issues.

The boat does not have to be a large boat or a yacht, but you should know in advance what will you get and where will you board.

Most of the diving I have done in the ocean have been on inflatables. They are very reliable an suitable for several applications. The last one I bough was a Sea Eagle inflatable. They have affordable and quality inflatables.

How long is the tour?

You should always ask your provider, how long the tour is going to be. It will be one hour? Four hours? All day?

This is important not only to get what you are paying for but also to take with you special items you might need in case the tour is too long, like food, glasses, sun protection, additional clothing, etc.

If the tour is longer than three hours ask if there is any food or drinks included, otherwise, it is advisable to take yours.

Where is the tour going?

It is another important security measure that you know where are you going and let know other members of your party. If everybody in your party is going with you to the tour, you should tell your hotel where you will be going, what company you hired and how long you will be away.

How many people are going?

This question is much related with the size of the boat. If the tour is shared with other people, make sure the boat is not overcrowded. If the boat is an inflatable, take additional care of the number of people going into the boat.

Don’t forget to count crew members as some companies take the limit boarding capacity of the boat but they additionally take 4 or 5 crew members, exceeding the boat limitations.

What shall we see?

Ok, this is difficult, but at least you will get some commitment from the tour operator.

We all who know the sea are aware that any decent tour operator will not be able to guarantee you watching dolphins or whales because even if they are at the same place every day, that day something could happen that they are not in the same place and you should be aware of this, however, is good to know what are your tour operator intentions.

Ask about how they contact dolphins or whales because some of them really buther dolphins by getting into their way.

How much will it cost?

Always ask in advance how much will the tour cost and what will be included for that cost. This should be one of the last questions after they have provided you the information above. Don´t forget to ask for child price if you are taking kids with you.

What crew is going in the trip?

Now is the time to get serious. Remember that there are two kinds of tours, watching and swimming with dolphins. Although in both cases you should be careful about the crew, in case you are diving, take extra care.

If you are not a trained diver (not only experienced…) make sure a trained diver is going with you. Hundreds of problems can arise while diving that only a very experienced and trained diver can solve properly.

If you are going with other people from your party, it would be a great security measure to leave one of them in the boat, in turns if necessary, so there is always somebody aware of your security on board. If everybody is going down, make sure to keep all together while diving and be sure to be noticed by the crew so they do not leave you in the ocean (it has happened…).

What equipment do you have?

This is also extremely important if you are diving or swimming with dolphins. If you are not taking your own equipment, ask the operator about the condition and the kind of equipment that you will receive.

For any kind of tour, watching or diving, you should be sure that they have a life jacket/vest for anyone boarding the boat.

If you would like to take your own equipment, I have got great prices and sevice for water sports equipment at Overton’s.

If you are planning your travel adventure to watch or swim with dolphins, don´t forget to print your destination miniguide.

Popular Destinations

There are several places where you can travel to encounter with dolphins.

We will concentrate this time in the travel destinations within the American continent and Hawaii where you can travel to see dolphins.

However, there are several other travel destinations in the world where you can travel to see dolphins like Australia or New Zealand.

To start, you need to define the kind of encounter with dolphins you would like to have. Seated from the distance in an auditorium like most big aquariums or you can travel into the real dolphin habitat either to swim or watch them in places like Hawaii, Florida, Cancun, Bahamas or Baja.

This section is devoted to places for traveling to encounter with wild dolphins in their own habitat and in a different page we will be talking about the places to travel to see great aquariums and dolphinarums.

We include some operators which give such service. Although we do not endorse any of them, we provide a guide on how to pick your best option. Click here to read how to pick up the right dolphin tour.

Once you travel into dolphin’s territory, you have two tour options, you can watch dolphins from a boat, or you can get into the water andswim with dolphins.

United States.

Within the US, there are several places to see dolphins. The most common are:

Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the traditional places to travel to see dolphins and of course you can have a great vacation travel at the same time. You can arrange dolphin, turtle and whale watching or swimming with several providers.

If you decide to travel to Hawaii, some of them are:

• Dolphin Discoveries, Kona, Hawaii – Dolphin watching boat trips and snorkel diving.
• Exploration Company – Dolphin and whale watching boat tours and diving
• Holoholo Charters – Kauai – snorkeling tours, sightseeing tours, and whale watching tours to Na Pali and the Forbidden island of Niihau.
• Pacific Whale Foundation – Maui, Hawaii – Several different whale and dolphin watching tours and snorkeling tours.
• Sail Hawaii – Snorkeling, watching and swimming with dolphins tours in Oahu.

Florida

Another great place to travel to watch and swim with dolphins is Florida.

With great waters and wonderful weather, Florida is another place to travel to have great vacations besides dolphin encounters. The main place is the Florida Keys, but you can find other places in Florida to encounter with dolphins.

If you travel to Florida, some of the providers for dolphin swimming or watching are:

• Captain Seaweed Charters – Snorkeling tours in the Florida Keys.
• FunDay Eco-Tours- They have 16 interesting pre-made tours but the are only for pre-formed groups.
• Orlando DiveDiving tours for Orlando area.

Texas

Texas is not the most common place to travel to watch or swim with dolphins, but if you are visiting South Padre Island, you will find a Safari tour to watch dolphins.

If you are traveling to South Padre Island, you can contact:

• Colley’s Fins Photo Safaris – Dolphin encounters on South Padre Island.

Washington

If you are looking for the big dolphin guys, the killer whales, Washington is the place to travel to watch Orcas.

You can find Orca watching tours and several other whale watching or nature watching tours. If you travel to Washington you can contact one of these operators:

• Maya’s Whale Watching Tours – Whale watching tours of the San Juan Islands.
• Mosquito Fleet- Orca whale watching tours in the San Juan Islands, Puget Sound, and Seattle area.
• Orcas Island Eclipse Charters- Orca watching tours.
• Private Boat Tours- Custom guided wildlife tour in the San Juan Islands.

Mexico

Mexico is one of the greatest places to travel to watch dolphins or whales and have at the same time the best travel vacations of your life.

With great weather all the year, very affordable prices and amazing fun, Mexico is a great travel destination which can be combined with dolphin or whale watching.

Baja California (Baja)

Baja California is probably the best place in the world to travel to watch whales and most of the time you can get close enough to even touch whales. The whales season is only from January to April. If you travel to Baja, some of the whale watching providers are:

• Baja Whales- Visitors guide to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico
• Gray Whale Watching In Baja- Whale watching in Baja.
• Mar Y Aventuras- Mexico – Whale watching expeditions from La Paz and Loreto, Baja, Mexico
• Navtec Expeditions- Sea kayaking and whale watching in the Sea of Cortez and Magdalena Bay, Baja

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is one of the greatest Mexican resorts to travel with wonderful hotels and beaches. You can combine there a wonderful vacation travel with dolphin and whale watching.

• Wildlife Connection -Dolphin, whale and turtle watching and tours.
• Discover Pacific Tours – Humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins tours.
• Cancun and the Mayan Riviera

Other wonderful place to see dolphins and have wonderful travel vacations is Cancun.

In Cancun you can have dolphin encounters under controlled conditions with captive dolphins or you can find watching and diving tours.

There are several places in Cancun and the Mayan riviera to swim with dolphins.

Canada

Canada is a place mainly to watch whales. If you travel to Canada, the most common places for whale watching are:

• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• New foundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia

Bahamas

Bahamas is a great place to traver for diving and watching dolphins. Bimini island is one of the places which has most tours. If you travel to Bahamas, you can contact:

• Bimini Tours- Dolphin watching and diving.

If you are planning your travel adventure to watch or swim with dolphins, don´t forget to print your destination miniguide.

Over the course of the last decade, swimming with the dolphins has become a popular, exciting and somewhat expensive pasttime.

As just about anything having to do with dolphins these days, swimming with dolphins have come under fire of animal activist groups and dolphin lovers alike. Most of the critics of this pasttime believe that swimming with dolphins are simply exploiting these beautiful creatures for profit while others believe that the dolphins are enjoying the visits as much as their human counterparts.

Lately, swimming with dolphins are being conducted in almost every corner of the world. In some cases, swimming with dolphins are actually performed in the ocean with wild dolphins while others are being conducted in more controlled aquarium environments.

The strongest criticism is directed at the aquariums that are holding dolphins in captivity.

More often than not, it’s the captive concept that angers animal rights activists rather than swimming with dolphins itself. Since science seems to have proven that dolphins are not happy or well adjusted when living in captivity, we’d like to suggest that if at all possible, dolphin enthusiasts avoid contributing to this type of entertainment. If you’re considering swimming with dolphins, visiting them in their own environment as they guest seems much more humane.

In the ocean, dolphins have the choice of interacting or not, consequently if they’re sticking around and seem to be satisfying their own curiosity, dolphin swims seem harmless.

It is important, however, to make sure that the company you decide to use as a tour guide is reputable in any sense and respectful of the environment.

The reputable companies to hire for swimming with dolphins will have rules that are made to protect the dolphins and their habitat. For example, most wild swim tours forbid touching or feeding the dolphins.

This is their way of making sure that the dolphins stay wild and do not become dependent upon their human visitors. While some operators will use different tactics to lure the dolphins, avoid those who circle or chase them when they’ve left the swimmers behind.

Try and find a tour operator that limits his groups to 6-10 people. Large groups of 20 or more are an invasion rather than a visit.

Keep in mind that reputable tour operators will leave the interaction decisions up to the dolphins themselves. Dolphins notoriously have short attention spans and interactions will normally last less than an hour and a half.

Good programs will also own their own boats and will offer tours that are long enough to allow the opportunity to interact with the dolphins on their time frame rather than ours.

There are even some programs that will actually allow you to live on board, basically meaning that you stay on the boat for your entire stay, a few days or even a week, but that will depend on your interests and the kind of vacation you would like to have.

If you are planning your travel adventure to watch or swim with dolphins, don´t forget to print your destination miniguide from travelocity to have the greatest fun.