Diving with Spinner Dolphins
Acrobats of the Dolphin World
One of the most acrobatic dolphin species, the spinner dolphin is famous for its acrobatic displays, specifically the way in which it spins multiple times longways as it jumps through the air. They are commonly spotted racing alongside boats and are a beautiful, exciting site to see. These agile mammals are among the smallest of the dolphins and are found in tropical waters all around the world. The largest populations seem to be near Thailand, the Central American Pacific coast, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Like it’s cousin the striped dolphin, due to its smaller size, speed, and athleticism it is harder to encounter them while diving underwater. If your goal is to see them in action, your best bet is to visit the population in the Hawaiian Islands as they seem to spend more time near shore and are more social with people and boats than other spinners around the world. Click on the map below to view the best locations around the globe to see spinner dolphins.
Dive Sites with this Animal View more on map
★★★★☆ Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida
Located on the west-side of Nusa Penida Island, Crystal Bay has two coral reef formations separated by sand slopes. The combination of slopes and walls that form the topography at this dive site goes down to more than 50 meters and meets with large rock which is an ideal place for a cleaning station for sunfish.
★★★★☆ Shaab Samadai / Dolphin House
Shoaab Samaday, also known as Dolphin House, is a protected area by the Egyptian environment authorities. The crescent formation of the reef and shallow water has, over the time, attracted bottlenose dolphins to use it as a rest location. This dive is perfect for entry level divers and snorkelers alike.
★★★★★ Garden Eel Cove
This is THE place to night dive with manta rays. One of the most famous dives in Kona allows you to kneel on the bottom in about 35 feet of water in the dark of night while a huge light is set in the middle of all the divers that attract phytoplankton and krill so the mantas swoop in right over you to feed.