Dolphins are the ocean’s most playful creature and everyone enjoys seeing their aerial acrobats  from the shoreline, or while out on a boat.  But to swim with dolphins, now that is a memorable experience.  And to swim with dolphins in their wild habitat? An UNFORGETTABLE lifetime experience that most only dream of having.

Off the shores of Hawaii’s Big Island, along the Kona Coast you can do exactly that.  Wild spinner, spotted, and pacific bottle nose dolphins live in these waters year round.  Affectionately named “Kona Dolphins”, they head out at night and hunt for food.  Early each morning they return home to the safety of their coastal bays to rest.

I booked my dive through Neptune Charlies Ocean Safari, and what a great outfit to spend time with.  Everyone I met was so friendly and knowledgeable about all of Hawaii’s underwater life, and it is teeming with things to see.

Most people consider being able to swim with dolphins therapeutic.  They are highly intelligent, and incredibly social.  Their curiosity will intrigue you as they want to check you out, almost show off playfully for you while underwater.

Recently though, with Hawaii’s booming tourism, the Kona Dolphins have been lacking in getting rest.  People are flocking to these bays, and tours are taking them to their resting spots in the middle of the day.  Do not do this.  We need to help these beautiful creatures continue their natural way of living.  Observing them is one thing, but interrupting their lifestyle is completely unacceptable.  And this shouldn’t need to be said, but don’t be that person and try to pet the dolphins.  Just don’t.

So how does it work?  When the Kona dolphins are on their way back home in the mornings you can catch them off the coast.  Neptune Charlies Ocean Safaris will literally drop you in their path where you can swim, and watch them.  And they can watch you!  Then you get back into the boat, get ahead of the pods and drop in again.  This is repeated until they reach the entry of their bays, where they go to sleep, and you are finished.

You can see hundreds of dolphins.  It is incredible to turn around and see an entire wall of dolphins coming toward you, and then immediately surrounding you.  The sound of them chattering away is so exciting too!

I will say that the Big Island took me by surprise and blew me away.  It has so much to do, and I could dive every day for an entire year there and still not see everything.  If you make it out to Hawaii this is a must do dive.

Which is your favorite Hawaiian Island, or which one would you visit?