Diveworks Dolphin and Seal Encounters
Diveworks Dolphin and Seal Encounters
Diveworks Dolphin and Seal Encounters
5
Scuba & SnorkellingSwim with DolphinsBoat ToursSightseeing ToursDolphin & Whale Watching
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Watch or swim with dolphins and friendly seals in the warm Bay of Plenty waters, near White Island in Whakatane, in New Zealand. Diveworks Charters has been in operation since 1997 and is a genuine family affair. Phil designed and purpose-built the 10m Diveworks boat so it easily handles the sea and is great for divers and snorkelers! During summer, Diveworks Dolphin and Seal Encounters provides the opportunity to swim, view and enjoy dolphins that have come into the Bay of Plenty to feed and breed. Sightings of baby dolphin are incredible and swimming with the friendly Kekeno seals as they swim at Whale Island (Moutohora). - approx 4 hour tour - usually morning tours. Diveworks Charters other boat tours include: Whale Island Guided Walks, Fishing Trips and Diving at White Island. “Over 35,000 people have been on Diveworks - our tour parties are small and with every trip you will feel like one of the family.”
Whakatāne, New Zealand
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5.0
33 reviews
Excellent
32
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MosesP
Whakatāne, New Zealand10 contributions
Dec 2019
We swam with dolphins and seals!
What an amazing tour this was, the boat ride to the Island was smooth.
The beauty of Moutohora was breath taking on arrival, so much LIFE surrounds this place.
My highlight was seeing the excitement on my 10 year old's face when we spotted our first pod of dolphins. The dolphins looked so happy to us and stayed with our boat for a while. Swimming with dolphins was next level 'AMAZING'. The staff are all friendly and make you feel like part of their family. We were blessed to have one of the best and experienced skippers in Whakatane, take us out and share so much knowledge with us. I highly recommend this trip, It's child friendly and the price is great value for money.
What an amazing tour this was, the boat ride to the Island was smooth.
The beauty of Moutohora was breath taking on arrival, so much LIFE surrounds this place.
My highlight was seeing the excitement on my 10 year old's face when we spotted our first pod of dolphins. The dolphins looked so happy to us and stayed with our boat for a while. Swimming with dolphins was next level 'AMAZING'. The staff are all friendly and make you feel like part of their family. We were blessed to have one of the best and experienced skippers in Whakatane, take us out and share so much knowledge with us. I highly recommend this trip, It's child friendly and the price is great value for money.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mandy H
Whakatāne, New Zealand15 contributions
Feb 2020
Booked two trips to Moutohora Whale Island for members of the Whakatane Camera Club and everyone had a fantastic time! Both days Phil, Steph and Carly made sure the photography opportunities were maximised and in such a stunning environment we were spoilt for choice. Saddlebacks, kakariki, seals and amazing scenery.Great value for money!
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith N
Wellington, New Zealand54 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
We went on the seal and dolphin tour. We swam with seals, fish and sting rays. Unfortunately no dolphins for us - Mother Nature had other ideas - but we had a great time searching. We found a rare massive blue marlin instead and Phil took us to the island to experience hot water beach instead. We had a ball. We are larger people, not confidant in the sea to swim but we were really looked after, made to feel comfortable and welcomed.
Written 29 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahjay
Rotorua, New Zealand3 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
This is hands down one of the coolest experiences I’ve had! Everyone was so friendly and helpful, right from the start we knew we were in good hands. The dolphins were amazing and spending the better part of a day on the boat was so perfect. We saw a shark, flying fish and a couple of tuna. Whale Island is beautiful and the water was so warm. There were even baby dolphins and seals! 10/10 recommend! We will be coming back another time for sure.
Written 8 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hayley5
Palmerston North, New Zealand7 contributions
Jan 2022
We did the seal and dolphin encounter yesterday with our three children. It was such an amazing experience. The Captain was very knowledgable and we felt very safe. The crew were some of the nicest and most helpful people we have come across. One of the girls took my daughter swimming on her back to see the seals, it was so magical for my daughter and very special. Thank you for an amazing trip. We are going to book again for next year
Written 3 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tam872
Ottawa, Canada8 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
We paid $700 for our family to go out on a seal and dolphin encounter tour. It was a significant part of our entertainment budget for our trip to NZ. There had been a lot of wind lately so were told to call a couple hours before the start of the tour to ensure it was going to go ahead. We were told it was going ahead, that conditions were great. We were on the water by 1:40 and back by 4:30 and were told before we went out that it would be bumpy because of the wind. We saw the seals which were great though not as great as Phil said they would be as he said they'd come right up to you and put their face right up to you which they certainly didn't do. It was hard to get close to them and you couldn't touch them but it was still good and fun. Then we went looking for dolphins. We didn't find any. I can accept that that because nature is nature and what has made me upset instead of disappointed was being told by both Phil, and the first mate, during the trip, that the conditions were bad due to the wind so it would be very hard to see dolphins. And even if we did see them, we'd probably not be able to swim with them but would be able to watch them from the boat!!! Certainly not what we were expecting or paid for to be honest. I spoke with Phil's partner/wife afterward and told her that we would have appreciated being told the conditions were poor so we could have made our own decision as to whether to go out or save our $700 to try again somewhere else. She said she'd talk to Phil about either a discount or at least getting us out on another tour to try again. She never called back so I had to call them. I was told too bad, there is no guarantee and they would do nothing for us. He reluctantly offered getting us out on a tour later but for that they would have had to actually call us back before we had to leave the area. I am extremely disappointed in their behaviour--not telling us about the wind, not calling when they said they would, and not offering any sort of gesture that would have made this family dream a reality. We will NOT be able to go on another tour. We have saved for this trip to NZ for three years and this was one of the two things we were most looking forward to as a family. I am extremely disappointed and unimpressed.
Obviously, by the other reviews, when it works out it is great. I would suggest you do your own study of the weather and if it is windy, hold off or book with one of the other companies that offer a guarantee to get you out on another tour if you don't see dolphins. And be aware that you may only see them from the boat if you see them at all.
Obviously, by the other reviews, when it works out it is great. I would suggest you do your own study of the weather and if it is windy, hold off or book with one of the other companies that offer a guarantee to get you out on another tour if you don't see dolphins. And be aware that you may only see them from the boat if you see them at all.
Written 6 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jollyrobert
Bridgend, UK950 contributions
Feb 2019
We had noticed the bulky shape of Moutohora, Whale Island, as we drove towards Whakatane. We had booked into the excellent White Island Rendezvous motel, so good we booked an extra night, and wanted to explore the area, not just spend time on some of New Zealand's favourite beaches. We noticed the offices of Diveworks in the Strand, and made enquiries, to find to our delight they were running out to Moutohora the following day. We left around 12.30 pm, after a comprehensive but unobtrusive quarantine search of our bags and belonging, speeding out of the harbour and across to the island in around 20 minutes, long enough to admire the island's shape, which many prefer to call Snail Island. Disembarking in one of the sheltered bags on the south of the island by small tender, we were briefed by Steph, our guide for the visit, on our obligations whilst there, as the island is a wild-life reserve with a very delicate eco-system of flora and fauna. After a brief stop at some terraces exhibiting volcanic low-level activity, we were then led up and around a cliff path, sheltering under the welcome shade of the puhutukawa trees reaching down to the shoreline. Even though I have some mobility issues, Steph ensured the party, made of of my wife and another family of five from Auckland, moved at a pace which I could cope with, ably shepherded by Layanne and her boyfriend, Sam recently arrived from Gladstone, Queensland to join the Diveworks team. Steph pointed out several species of birds, many threatened, and unusual shrubs and trees. We were astonished to we now close the birds came to us, exhibiting little or no concern as we massaged by, and Steph explained how the island, once overrun by rabbits, rats, goats and other non-indigenous types to vermin levels, was cleared to allow the rarer and more delicate to flourish without predation. Continuing our trek we came across two volunteers who were undertaking a survey of the Kiwi birds that thrive here. Apparently, there are now a breeding group of around 15 native to the island with another 5 that have been brought over from the mainland after hatching, to allow them to grow large enough to deal with predators that they will encounter when being re-introduced into other reserves back on the mainland.Finally, we were invited to climb quite a steep path leading up to the saddle or col that sits in the island's middle, and here we had clear views of White Island steaming away out to sea, and also the bay in which Captain Cook surveyed this island.Our return trip, after a welcome bathe in the clear, warm waters, was enlivened by the skipper, Phil, Steph's partner, who literally surfed back into Wkakatane's river to dock at the wharf. This is a necessary technique, that Phil teaches to other sailors, to enter the river over its treacherous bar, as Whakatane is regarded as one of the most dangerous river ports, anywhere in New Zealand. Great day out, informative and interesting, and best value too. Try it yourself.
Written 8 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny C
Whakatāne, New Zealand9 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
What an amazing day we had! Phil, Steph and Ari Were fantastic to deal with. Right from the start of the morning getting kitted out in our wetsuits and fins, through to when we disembarked the boat at the end of the trip they were nothing but friendly and professional. The boat was well set up and comfortable to ride on. The hot chocolate and sweets after the swimming were very welcome. As for the marine life.......incredible! Swimming with the seals provided lots of entertainment. The clarity of the water was amazing and we could see interesting fish and seaweed around the rocks. Later on we were delighted to be able to get amongst several pods of dolphins. Fantastic photo opportunities to help keep the memories of our day alive. Thanks Diveworks for going out of your way to give us an awesome day! Would recommend anyone visiting the Bay of Plenty makes this high on your "to do" list!
Written 1 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally
New Zealand34 contributions
Feb 2016 • Family
We are a family group with four adults and two children (2&4yrs). We had such a fantastic time, thanks so much. Swimming with the friendly seals was just great and amazingly both of our children were able to get in the water and swim with them too! That just blew me away and really made my day as I thought they might be deemed too little but they loved it.
Everyone involved was really inviting and helpful and I would definitely recommend to anyone coming to Whakatane, especially with little kids. The boat felt very safe and they have great life jackets and wet suits for little people.
Everyone involved was really inviting and helpful and I would definitely recommend to anyone coming to Whakatane, especially with little kids. The boat felt very safe and they have great life jackets and wet suits for little people.
Written 3 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lidie86
1 contribution
Feb 2015
This is the best activity we've done in NZ. Worth the money. Swimming with seals is awesome. But the dolphins is something else. After some searching we found a big pod. Watching them from the boat is beautiful. But hanging on to a roap while being towed through 100m deep ocean is even better. Amazing animals.
Written 18 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it common to see Whales in early October on your dolphin/seal tour?? Thank you
Written 13 September 2019
Years ago we used to be Whales and Dolphin Watch, however the whale sightings grew slimmer and slimmer. After 3 years doing research and study in conjunction with Department of Conservation, we were able to swim with the friendly local Kekeno seals on Whale Island. So we have diversed from Whale watching to Dolphin and Seal Encounters. :)
However, the last season saw a number of whale sightings closer to White Island :) which is wonderful to see the possible return of consistent whales to our area.
So in short, it has not been common in quite a few years. And who knows what this season may bring. Last season's sightings were Jan, Feb, March if that is any help.
Lastly, every trip we have usually has an element of surprise as we head out into the Bay of PLenty waters.
Hope this helps :)
Written 11 December 2019
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