marine mammals - swimming with cetaceans

Swimming with whales or dolphins may place both people and animals at risk. Risks to humans may include injury and possible death from interactions with large, wild animals. Risks to whales and dolphins may include physical damage from collisions with vessels and people and ecological impacts caused by changes in normal behaviour of the animals.

At present there is little scientific information available on the potential short and long-term impacts of swimming with whales and dolphins. It is therefore recommended that Pacific Island countries that do not currently undertake swim-with whale operations, initiate such activities with much caution until more information is available. Potential operators should seek and rely heavily on advice from current operators, scientist and authorities.

For those countries where swim-with activities are currently being undertaken, it is recommended that the following standards be applied to these operations. (Countries may also refer to the national examples and standards in appendix 1): 

  • Scientific studies should be initiated to assess: a) the associated risk to the safety of the people participating in swim-with activities; and b) the current and potential future impacts of these activities on the target cetacean species. 
  • Particularly sensitive animals (eg mothers with calves) and critical habitats (eg calving grounds) should be provided additional protection (refer to Management Considerations) 
  • Swimming with the use of any underwater breathing apparatus should not be allowed.
  • Underwater flash photography or lighted filming should not be allowed. 
  • An adaptive precautionary approach should be taken when determining swim-with operating procedures.  Consideration should be given to:
  1. Regular review of operational standards as credible scientific information on the impacts of swim-with programs becomes more available;
  2. All persons in the water with whales or dolphins should be accompanied by an appropriately trained local guide;
  3. Limiting the maximum number of vessels permitted to undertake swim-with activities in a region;
  4. Limiting the number of swimmers allowed in the water at any one time with a pod;
  5. Limiting the maximum interaction time with a pod/population per day, including maximum swim time for each interaction, time required between successive swims and maximum cumulative interaction time per day;
  6. Appropriate drop-off distance for swimmers and minimum swimmer distance from animals;
  7. Swimmers should not be allowed in the water with surface-active large whales;
  8. Prohibit leap-frogging during swim-with encounters and limit the number of swimmer drop off’s or attempts.