TongaLegal · Strict
Vava'u, Ha'apai & Tongatapu
Allowed since 1993. Royal permit required, 4 swimmers + 1 guide max, 5 m distance, no scuba. World reference destination.
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SeasonJul – Oct
01
The rarest encounters
7 species covered
Fewer than twenty places in the world legally allow regulated swimming with large cetaceans. Permits, quotas, licensed operators, strict distances · here is the map and the rules, species by species.
Swim with the giants.
02The map
49
spots worldwide
35
countries
07
species covered
23
Legal · Strict
03The map
Swim with
the map.
All the spots in one glance. Click for rules, permits and season.
04Humpback whales
Swim with
humpback whales.
Masters of song and breaching, humpbacks are the most accessible. Tonga opened the way in 1993; several destinations have since followed with strict charters.
South PacificLegal · Strict
Niue
Regulated since 2003. Very few boats, strict supervision, minimal contact.
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SeasonJul – Oct
French PolynesiaLegal · Strict
Moorea, Tahiti & Rurutu
Official charter since 2018. Labeled operators, 5 m, 10 min per interaction, forbidden with mother-calf pairs.
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SeasonAug – Nov
Dominican RepublicLegal · Strict
Silver Bank (Banc d'Argent)
Only legal Caribbean destination. Government permit, 3 licensed operators, 6-7 day mothership cruise, passive soft in-water approach.
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SeasonJan – Apr
Western AustraliaLegal · Strict
Ningaloo Reef
Federal licenses since 2016. Accredited operators, 30 m from boat, 5 m in water, max 10 swimmers.
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SeasonAug – Oct
FranceLegal · Strict
La Réunion
Quiétude charter since 2018. Passive approach, 5 min max, 10 people, forbidden with mother-calf pairs and surface-active groups.
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SeasonJun – Oct
FranceLegal · Strict
Mayotte
Marine mammal approach charter since 2015. DEAL-approved operators, 100 m from boat, entry at 30 m.
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SeasonJul – Oct
MadagascarUnregulated
Sainte-Marie
Practised but no strict legal framework, informal supervision depending on operator. Pick a responsible one.
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SeasonJul – Sep
MadagascarUnregulated
Nosy Be
Unclear legal framework, variable supervision. Prefer responsible-tourism certified operators.
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SeasonJul – Sep
05Sperm whales
Swim with
sperm whales.
Abyssal hunters, extremely rare at the surface. A single country in the world allows in-water encounters, with a government permit.
CaribbeanLegal · Strict
Dominique
Only country with a clear legal framework for sperm whales. Government permit (~USD 150/day/person), licensed operators, groups of 3.
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SeasonNov – Mar
Sri LankaUnregulated
Trincomalee
Gray area: practised informally, not officially authorised. Not recommended.
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SeasonMar – Aug
MauritiusUnregulated
Maurice (Tamarin)
Unclear legal framework; some operators still run trips despite a 2022 marine-mammal regulation that makes it illegal.
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SeasonYear-round
06Orcas
Swim with
orcas.
Dry-suit snorkeling in the wake of Arctic herring schools. Run by professional operators.
NorwayLegal · Strict
Skjervøy, Tromsø & Andenes
Regulated during herring season. Professional operators, dry suits, passive approach, calm water entry from the boat's edge.
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SeasonOct – Jan
07Belugas
Swim with
belugas.
A single destination in the world: the Churchill river estuary, towed snorkeling, under a Parks Canada licence.
CanadaLegal · Strict
Churchill, Manitoba
Regulated by Parks Canada. Towed dry-suit snorkeling, licensed operators (Lazy Bear, Sea North Tours). Unique experience worldwide.
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SeasonJul – Aug
RussiaUnregulated
Mer Blanche (Solovki)
Practised but unclear legal framework, access very difficult since 2022.
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SeasonJun – Aug
08Gray whales
Swim with
gray whales.
No swimming, but the closest legal direct contact in the world: gray whale mothers approach the pangas in the Baja lagoons.
Baja California, MexicoContact, no swim
San Ignacio & Ojo de Liebre
No swimming but friendly whales contact from pangas, regulated by CONANP. Max 16 boats at once. Closest legal direct-contact experience in the world.
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SeasonJan – Apr
09Dolphins
Swim with
dolphins.
More numerous and accessible, dolphins are regulated in protected areas, semi-captive sites or through local charters.
BahamasLegal
Bimini & Grand Bahama
Habituated spotted dolphins. No restrictive law, many operators.
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SeasonMay – Sep
Red Sea, EgyptLegal · Strict
Sataya & Samadai Reef
Samadai protected since 2004: daily quotas, paid access, limited boats. Sataya has no quotas.
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SeasonYear-round
IsraelLegal
Eilat (Dolphin Reef)
Semi-captive site with free-roaming habituated dolphins.
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SeasonYear-round
New ZealandLegal · Strict
Kaikoura
DOC licenses. Approved operators, passive approach, forbidden with mother-calf pairs. Dusky dolphins.
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SeasonYear-round
New ZealandLegal · Strict
Akaroa & Banks Peninsula
Hector's dolphin, smallest in the world. Strict DOC licenses, passive approach.
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SeasonYear-round
Western AustraliaLegal · Strict
Rockingham, Bunbury & Baird Bay
Strict licenses, passive approach, no wild feeding.
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SeasonYear-round
AustraliaContact, no swim
Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
No swimming, but ranger-supervised feeding since the 1960s. Highly regulated.
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SeasonYear-round
JapanLegal · Strict
Mikurajima & Ogasawara
Reference site for bottlenose dolphins. Code of conduct, limited boats.
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SeasonApr – Nov
PortugalLegal · Strict
Açores (Pico, Faial, São Miguel)
Licenses required, passive approach, forbidden with mother-calf pairs. Certified operators. Swimming banned with sperm whales since 2019.
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SeasonApr – Oct
PortugalLegal
Madère
Similar framework as the Azores: licenses and passive approach.
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SeasonYear-round
MozambiqueLegal
Ponta do Ouro, Tofo
Licensed operators (Dolphin Care Africa).
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SeasonYear-round
PhilippinesLegal
Pamilacan & Bohol
Authorised, light supervision. Prefer local community operators.
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SeasonYear-round
OmanLegal
Musandam & Mascate
Authorised, lightly regulated. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins.
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SeasonYear-round
HondurasLegal
Roatán (Bailey's Key)
Site with semi-captive dolphins. Interaction and research programme.
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SeasonYear-round
Red Sea, EgyptLegal
Hurghada & Marsa Alam
Snorkeling authorised, variable supervision. Many operators.
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SeasonYear-round
TanzaniaUnregulated
Kizimkazi
Authorised but poor supervision, often unethical practices (chasing). Pick a Responsible Tourism certified operator.
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SeasonYear-round
IndonesiaUnregulated
Lovina
Authorised but practices often criticised (chasing). Pick an ethical operator or skip.
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SeasonYear-round
BrazilUnregulated
Novo Airão (Amazonie)
Swimming with pink river dolphins (botos) authorised in some lodges. Frequent feeding, criticised practice. Prefer observation only.
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SeasonYear-round
10Sea turtles
Swim with
sea turtles.
Protected sites with quotas, mandatory guides and strict no-touch rules · sea turtles are fragile everywhere.
Riviera Maya, MexicoLegal · Strict
Akumal
Protected since 2016. Paid access, mandatory vest and guide, strict quotas. No touching.
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SeasonYear-round
Hawaii, USALegal · Strict
Laniakea, Poipu
No touching (federal law, heavy fines). Minimum 3 m distance.
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SeasonYear-round
AustraliaLegal · Strict
Grande Barrière, Ningaloo
Regulated by Marine Parks. No touching.
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SeasonYear-round
PhilippinesLegal · Strict
Apo Island
Protected site with rangers.
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SeasonYear-round
FranceLegal · Strict
Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion
Approach charter. Touching forbidden and fined.
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SeasonYear-round
GreeceLegal · Strict
Zante (Laganas)
National marine park. Required distance, nesting zones off-limits.
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SeasonMay – Aug
BarbadosLegal
Carlisle Bay, Folkestone
Authorised, regulated. Distance, no flash.
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SeasonMay – Oct
Red Sea, EgyptLegal
Abu Dabbab, Marsa Alam
Authorised, supervision varies by site.
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SeasonYear-round
IndonesiaLegal
Gili Islands, Raja Ampat
Authorised, lightly supervised. Strict distance required.
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SeasonYear-round
IndonesiaLegal
Nusa Penida
Authorised in marine protected areas. Guides recommended.
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SeasonYear-round
SeychellesLegal
Mahé, Praslin & La Digue
Authorised, green and hawksbill turtles. No touching.
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SeasonYear-round
MauritiusLegal
Maurice
Authorised, lightly regulated. Prefer protected lagoons.
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SeasonYear-round
MaldivesLegal
Maldives (Laamu, Baa)
Authorised, many atoll observation sites. No touching.
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SeasonYear-round
Cape VerdeLegal
Boa Vista & Sal
Increasing regulation. Major loggerhead nesting site in the Atlantic.
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SeasonJun – Oct
Every destination here has a legal framework, licensed operators or an official charter. The approach is always passive and can be suspended to protect the animals.