Swimming with Dolphins Guidelines

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Unique and unforgettable experience, that's how we can describe this activity. As swimming takes place on the high seas, the interaction is carried out with wild animals, in harmony in their habitat. Picos de Aventura seeks to provide an incredible activity, but always in compliance with the rules and with maximum respect for animals.

Directions about the swimming

The Swimming with Dolphins activity is carried out in speed boats, being this type of boat the most adapted for this activity, due to its versatility and easy access to the water. In each speed boat, it is only possible to take groups of 8 people, which are always accompanied by a biologist and a qualified skipper who understands the behaviour of dolphins. Swimming takes place on the high sea, so customers must know how to swim and feel comfortable in the sea.

Very often, to find the dolphins we must travel great distances, so this activity is not recommended for people with back problems, heart problems, anxiety or for women who are pregnant. To climb back to the boat there are stairs, however it is necessary to do a little push to raise the body. In short, all participants in this activity must be in good health and in good physical shape.

Briefing and responsibility contract

Before going to the sea, a security and responsibility briefing is presented, and a contract is given to all clients, and all should sign this contract (for the underage children the contract is sign by the parents or the responsible person who is taking care of them).

We don’t advise pregnant ladies, people with back or heart problems and anxiety problems to go on the trips. In general, the clients should be in good health conditions. The duration of the whale watching activity is between two hours and half and three hours, with the briefing about the activity included.

Rules and Code of Conduct

To carry out this activity, there are rules that must be respected so that the impact on these cetaceans is as little as possible. These rules are described by Regional Legislative Decree No. 10/2003/A, which are:

  • Swimming with whales is not allowed.
  • The skipper chooses where and when the swimmers should go to the water.
  • Each vessel is limited to three attempts to release the swimmers.
  • Swimmers must be equipped with apnea equipment, and must remain together, never more than two, on the surface of the water, within a radius of 50 meters in relation to the speed boat.
  • The permanence of swimmers in the water must not exceed 15 minutes.
  • The boat's engine must be out of gear while the swimmers are in the water.
  • Swimmers must be collected at more than 50 meters from the animals.

What should you bring?

For this activity it is necessary to bring personal equipment, such as bathing suit, flip-flops, towel, and sunscreen. As for the other type of equipment, Picos de Aventura provides diving masks, snorkel tubes and neoprene wetsuits. However, if the client has his own material, he can bring it for its own comfort. In addition to these materials, a waterproof jacket and a life jacket are also provided for the boat trip.

How to use the mask and snorkel?

The mask is placed over the eyes and nose and the straps are pulled until they are comfortable and sealing around the eyes and nose (Figure 1). The snorkel tube is already adapted to one of the straps of the mask and to use it you just put it in the mouth. If you have never used a tube or are not comfortable using one, it is not mandatory. It is also very important to have your hair tied back so that it’s not in front of your face. When this happens, it prevents the mask from being sealed, and water enters the mask.

How do we find the dolphins?

To find the dolphins, the technique of the lookout is used, as in the observation of cetaceans. Our lookouts look for animals in the sea with binoculars, providing information on the location, number of individuals and species to the boats via VHF radio.

How is the drop at the sea made?

After our lookout tells us where the dolphins are, we start our journey towards them. As soon as we start the approach, it’s time for the swimmers to start getting ready to enter the water, that is, you start by removing the life jacket and the waterproof jacket, and anything else you have on; then you are called two by two to sit in the back of the boat on the right side.

When you are seated, the skipper and biologists will instruct the swimmers on the correct way to position themselves. At this point it is important that the mask and tube are ready to be used. The skipper, after evaluating the behaviour of the animals, will then position the boat in the best way to put the swimmers in the water.

Once swimmers are in the water it is extremely important to keep their heads under water. Dolphins are very fast swimmers so they will swim underneath, in front, behind people, so it is essential to always look below the surface of the water.

Find out more about this activity and book your experience here.

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