On the west coast, from Flic-en-Flac to Tamarin, swimming with dolphins has become an almost automatic activity for tourists. Prices are affordable, access is easy and there are plenty of service providers;
What tourists are often unaware of is that harassment of these marine animals is prohibited, and that there are strict guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of both humans and dolphins. These are set out in the Tourism Authority (Dolphin and Whale Watching) Regulations. The guidelines are as follows:
-You may not feed a dolphin, nor throw food or any other object, substance or material near or around a dolphin.
-You must travel with a licensed dolphin-watching service provider.
-Pleasure boats may only approach dolphins from the side, must follow a trajectory parallel to the dolphin and sail at a speed with no wake.
-It is forbidden to touch or attempt to touch a dolphin.
-You can’t make any noise to attract their attention or hover around them.
-If you swim with dolphins, you should be aware of the sound techniques involved in swimming calmly and silently. No more than three swimmers (including a designated lifeguard) may simultaneously enter, dive or snorkel in the sea .In practice, however, these rules are often ignored. Numerous unauthorized boats head out to sea every morning with uninformed or poorly supervised tourists.
Sometimes boats suddenly cut their engines to block the dolphins’ path, allowing swimmers to jump into the water to be close to the dolphins. We often see more than three people in the water at the same time, and even whole groups of people, diving in noisily in the hope of a selfie.
Dolphins are wild animals, organized in social groups and with special behaviors. Every morning, they return to the bays to rest after hunting all night. But unfortunately, it’s precisely at this time that tourist boats arrive, breaking their tranquility and forcing them to flee or change their habits.
Some groups have even begun to desert the most touristy areas, driven away by the noise of the engines and the constant presence of humans in the water.
However above all, illegal feeding alters their hunting instincts. Dolphins become accustomed to the food provided by humans, and this changes their natural diet, social behavior and ability to survive alone in the wild. This dependence can have dramatic consequences, especially for young dolphins who no longer learn to hunt properly.
Loving dolphins doesn’t mean touching them or chasing them at sea: it means learning to observe them with respect, within an ethical and sustainable framework. Just because an activity is widespread doesn’t mean it’s respectful. It’s time to rethink the way we travel, so that we can experience the magic of the sea, without harming the natural world that welcomes us.
Alternatives exist: observe dolphins from a distance, without direct interaction, respecting their space and life rhythms; support ethical service providers who comply with regulations. To preserve these species and guarantee responsible tourism, it is urgent that rules are better enforced, that controls are reinforced and that tourists are properly educated.
As locals, service providers and visitors, we all have a role to play. Mauritius offers us its wonders: it is up to us to discover them with respect, intelligence and kindness.