This is the excursion we shouldn’t have done in Mauritius.
We did it with The Friendly Dodo, but from what I saw, it’s the same with most agencies.
Departure at 6 a.m. (even though the sun rises at 7 a.m. in August). Why? Because there’s only one well-known spot where the dolphins are, and all the agencies race to get there first.
For 45 to 60 minutes, it’s just straight-line navigation to the spot. No one’s looking for dolphins—we’re just speeding there in silence, full throttle.
Once we arrive, there are already 5-6 boats. The dolphins are there, sure. The boats fight for the best position, cutting off the dolphins’ path, and then—go, go, go—everyone jumps in. Not a single instruction is given on how to approach the dolphins respectfully. Result: everyone jumps in at the same time from 3 boats, creating a huge splash, and rushes toward the dolphins. Outcome: faced with this chaos, the dolphins dive, and you can’t see them from the boat anymore. The swimmers who are right in their path might see them pass below for a few seconds at best.
Everyone climbs back onto the boats, and as soon as the dolphins resurface, the same cycle starts all over again.
After 5 or 6 jumps like this (3 of which I didn’t even see the dolphins), it’s back to the port the same way we came.
Not a single explanation is given during the entire excursion about the dolphins themselves or how to approach them.
Safety-wise, I didn’t feel comfortable either with all the boats fighting for position. I bumped into another boat (no pain) while swimming, and I wasn’t reassured about the propellers.
With all this circus, my daughters didn’t even want to get in the water. The problem is, when you stay on the boat, you don’t get much out of it either—because as soon as the dolphins resurface, everyone jumps in haphazardly and scares them off again.
Having done the same kind of outing in Réunion, I can confirm it’s nothing like this (much better organized and ultimately much more rewarding in Réunion).
Under these conditions, this is an activity we never should’ve done! !
Having already done the same type of outing in Réunion, I can confirm that it’s nothing like it (much better supervised and ultimately much more qualitative in Réunion).
Under these conditions, this is an activity we never should have done !
Same here, definitely don’t do it in Zanzibar either. More like 15 boats than 6, by the way. We asked to cancel straight away when we saw the lack of respect for the animals and the appalling conditions they were kept in. I’m still mad at myself for even booking it, even though the dive club had warned me.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Christophe.
After reading several accounts like yours, we decided not to go—even if we had to hear, "What?! 😮 You didn’t go see the dolphins in Mauritius?"
"Nope, I’m telling you, they’re much happier without us." 😔.
Christelle
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Christophe.
Thanks to several testimonials like yours, we decided not to go, even if we had to hear "What?!?! 😮 You didn’t go see the dolphins in Mauritius?"
"Nope, I assure you they’re much happier without us." 😌.
Christelle
"What?!?! You went to Mauritius?" 😮
Christelle’s getting all fancy now! 😉
"Le véritable voyage de découverte ne consiste pas à chercher de nouveaux paysages, mais à avoir de nouveaux yeux."
Marcel Proust
Okay, this forum is getting out of hand!
You can't pet lions in South Africa anymore, can't swim with dolphins in Mauritius, I won't even mention penguins in the Arctic!! Or was it the other way around with penguins—I can't remember how that works anymore.
What's the point of vacations then?!!!!
Joking, of course—thanks, Christophe, for raising the alarm.
That said, I wouldn’t have done it anyway.
PS: If anyone’s interested, I’ve got some tips on turtles and sharks in Cape Verde 😕
But you’ll have to wait for the travel journal 😉
"Le véritable voyage de découverte ne consiste pas à chercher de nouveaux paysages, mais à avoir de nouveaux yeux."
Marcel Proust
"Christelle’s getting all fancy now!"
Haha, you know me well, Bruno! The plan was to visit Rodrigues, but since we were in the area, we also checked out Mauritius Cricri and Lulu-style 😄. And it was definitely surprising, given all the preconceptions we had about the place!
It wasn’t the trip of a lifetime, but we really enjoyed it 😊.
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
Hi everyone! 😊
I’m looking for a place in Albania to go scuba diving with my boyfriend. We’ve never done it before and we’d love to try this activity.
Thanks so much! 🌺🌺
hi
I wanted to know the best snorkeling spots in Tuamotu since I unfortunately don’t have enough time to do everything—I’ll have to pick and choose.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’d describe myself as a "former diver." I’ve done around 450 dives in natural environments across different settings. I put diving on hold about 5 years ago due to work/schedule constraints and, let’s say, family reasons. Since then, I’ve still tried to stay in shape with hiking trips, running, swimming, and freediving in protected environments, etc...
I’m planning to get back into the bubbles somewhere this year.
Any destinations you’d recommend—or avoid—for getting back into it?
I’m looking for a spot for April/May this year.
For my trip to Thailand with two teens aged 13 and 16, do you have any info or tips to share? I’d like to go jet skiing, either in Phuket or Koh Samui, but I’d need at least two jet skis since there are three of us. Can my 16-year-old ride alone? Is it better to rent on-site or book an all-inclusive excursion online or in person?
Our Bali-Lombok trip is taking shape, but we’d love to wrap up the stay with at least a solid week of snorkeling somewhere the coral is still in great condition. In your opinion, are the Gili Secrets in southern Lombok better than Flores Island, where there are supposedly amazing underwater landscapes?
We’ll be in Dahab again this October—we’ve been going since 1979—to freedive. In 2025, to our surprise, access to the Blue Hole is now paid: on top of the 10 € taxi fare, you have to pay $10 per person to enter the park. So we’re heading outside Dahab to the Three Pools site by bike, rented locally. Is there a bus that goes there, or shared taxis, instead of the tourist taxis? And where can we catch them? We’ve seen big buses full of local families on the site, but we don’t know where to find them. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
The comments about this public beach are generally negative:
tiny beach, crowded, dirty, and noisy.
Is that really the case?
Could you please post some of your recent photos of the public beach—not photos from the big hotels?
Hello,
For flight schedules and prices from Bordeaux, and ease of reaching Alexandria by bus/train afterward, I’m considering spending 4 days around Hurghada (direct flight from Bdx).
I don’t think I’ll go for courses to get my Level 1, since I don’t plan to dive often in the future—unless you think it’s better than doing 2 discovery dives in this area (I only have one baptism under my belt, in Koh Tao 15 years ago—amazing! But I’m not targeting trips for diving; I need to go to Alexandria, so this is a chance to get back into diving and snorkeling).
I’m looking for a spot to do some snorkeling, 1 or 2 baptisms, and explore the surroundings. I’ll arrive in early March on the evening of Day 0. I’ll have 3.5 days after that (I’m planning to leave on Day 4 around 4 PM by bus/train).
Is Hurghada completely to be avoided in favor of another area in the Red Sea, or can I still have a nice 3.5 days there? I know places like Dahab are more pleasant, but the convenience and timing of Hurghada appeal to me...
I usually prefer more authentic travel spots and places, but I’m willing to compromise on that if it’s still worth it for the diving.
Or should I only stay 2.5 days and head to Alexandria a day earlier? (I’ve already seen Cairo and Luxor a bit.)
Bonjour,
Je pars quelques jours à hurghada en novembre. Je suis à la recherche d'un endroit où l'on peut faire du snorkeling à partir de la plage. Est-ce encore possible ou faut-il nécessairement faire un trip en bateau pour voir de belles choses?
J'ai lu des choses concernant la baie de Makadi, mais aussi du fait que c'est rempli de gros complexes hoteliers, ce que j'aimerais plutôt éviter... Y a-t-il des plages accessibles sans êtres dans un de ces gros hotels?
Auriez-vous des bons plans, conseils pour moi?
Merci d'avance,
Lucille
Hey everyone!!
I’m planning a 3-month trip to the Philippines for May 2026.
As a diving enthusiast, I’d love to hear about must-visit diving spots.
I’m traveling with a buddy, and we don’t really want to spend all our time moving around, so if you have recommendations for one area that’s better than others for diving, that’d be great!
What do you think are the best diving sites? (I’d appreciate an overview of the country so I can decide based on that.)
Compared to my buddy, I love macro photography (nudibranchs, etc.), so I’d also love any tips on that.
And completely unrelated to diving, but I’d also like info on places to visit (national parks, reserves, etc.) to see the local wildlife.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply!
Safe travels, everyone!
Hello everyone!
So glad to be back on this forum to swap some great tips.
I’m heading to Malaysia from mid-May to mid-August 2025 for nearly 3 months.
With my advanced certification in hand for a few years now, I’m on the lookout for the best dive spots in Malaysia.
I’ve obviously heard about the Perhentians and Sipadan.
Someone mentioned Tioman too, but not necessarily for diving.
Do you have any feedback on these places for diving? (visibility, marine life diversity, etc.)
Any idea about the rates for fun dives?
Dive centers you’d recommend?
Any help would be super valuable for planning the trip, so thanks a million in advance to those who take the time to reply.
Safe travels, everyone!!
Hi there.
For taking photos while snorkeling, is it better to go with a disposable camera or a waterproof pouch? If a pouch, which brand is reliable? Thanks for your feedback!
Hi there,
I’m looking for a destination in Vietnam for January to spend a week and go snorkeling.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I know Thailand well, and with my Thai friend, we’d like to try a different country.
Bonjour à tous,
Je me rends en couple à Maurice fin octobre (baie de Tamarin), et un de nos souhaits est de pouvoir trouver une chouette excursion - si possible en petit comité - en mer afin d'aller à la rencontre avec les dauphins.
Je cherche un prestataire respectueux des animaux, qui nous fasse passer une journée pleine d'ambiance et de découvertes.
On parle beaucoup d'Amistad sur ce site, qu'en pensez-vous?
Avez-vous des alternatives vécues à me proposer ?
Merci à tous
Nous partons début mars pour 15 jours sur praslin, la digue et mahé. Avez vous de bon spot à nous conseillez? Je précise que nous sommes débutant et que moi j'ai peur facilement si il y a trop de profondeur
Et sinon autre questions importante, que faîtes vous de vos affaires sur la plage pendant vos séances de snorkeling? Nos téléphones, clefs d'hébergement, portefeuille etc...
Hi everyone!
I’ve been in Malaysia for a month now and still have two more to go. I started traveling with friends, but I’ll be solo for the next month and a half.
We did a pretty classic route: Perhentians, Cameron Highlands (which I found pointless), Tioman, and Kinabatangan in Borneo. Now I’m thinking of heading to Redang Island—Langkawi is also an option, but it doesn’t appeal to me as much. Any feedback on these two spots?
Especially Redang?
Any thoughts on the diving there?
So far, I haven’t had much luck with diving—at the Perhentians, it was pretty disastrous with water at 31°C 😵😫
I’d love to find a nice island where I can meet people (locals and travelers) because going from a group of six to solo at the end is going to feel weird.
So I’m open to all tips and opinions. Also, I’d love to hear about Langkawi, and if anyone knows of an island that’s a bit more off the beaten path, that’d be amazing. Thanks in advance, and happy travels to you all!
bonjour à tous
nous aimerions visiter bornéo et je ne trouve pas grand chose sur le sujet (je débute dans mes recherches )
donc je fais appel à vous comme à chacun de mes voyages, (ça nous a super bien réussi jusqu'a maintenant 😎 )
nous sommes une famille de 4 dont 2 gas de 14 et 18 et partons pour 3 semaines.
le climat en aout, pas trop de pluie ??
pas de problème politique ?
quels sont les petits paradis plage à ne pas rater ?
on aime découvrir les animaux et plonger .. des coins top bien ?
coté billet d'avion ?? compagnie pas trop cher et facilité ? (singapour ou denpaser ou ..)
j'en ai des questions !!! tout ca avec un budget raisonnable ..
merci d'avance à tout ceux qui auront la gentillesse de prendre le temps de me répondre
Hi,
I’d like to do several boat trips to go snorkeling during my stay in Florès: Islands departing from Riung, Maumere, and Labuan Bajo (Seraya).
- WHO?: Do you have any contacts to organize these boat trips?
- HOW MUCH?: What’s the cost for a full-day trip, including boat rental and possibly meals (picnic, barbecue, etc.)?
Hello,
I’d like to go on a 5-day kayaking trip with snorkeling, island visits, and village tours in the Philippines. I don’t have a specific island in mind, but I’d love something off the beaten path. I’m traveling solo but can join a small group. This would be around March 20th. Thanks so much for your suggestions!
I’m looking for a 5-day kayaking and snorkeling trip with a few village visits and no mass tourism. I’m alone but open to joining a small group. Any recommendations for around March 20th? Thanks a bunch for your feedback!
Etant interessé par une formation Nitrox, je me demandais si cela valait le coup: est-ce vraiment répandu dans les clubs de plongée un peu partout dans le monde? Est-ce plus cher?
Hey everyone reading my post!
I’ll be in Mexico, specifically in Playa del Carmen and Tulum, from March 11 to April 2.
I’m looking online for things to do, but they all seem pretty similar—I’m after something a bit more original but don’t wanna get ripped off either!
If you’ve had any great experiences in those areas, feel free to share them. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I have my flight to Malé from February 3rd to 15th.
I want to visit Malé first, then head to 2 or 3 nearby islands. I’d like to take the ferry to keep costs down.
I’d love to be able to snorkel right from the beach.
Which atolls or islands would you recommend?
Thanks for your help!
Bonjour, mon mari adore la pêche et lors de nos prochaine vacances en Polynesie, il prévoit de faire 2 sorties en demi journée. Nous serons dans les îles suivantes en pension de famille : Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Rangiroa et Fakarava. Quelle pêche choisir pour bien s'amuser et dans quelles îles ? Merci d'avance pour votre aide.🙂
Hi there,
We’re heading to South Africa for a two-week vacation next March.
We’d love to see great white sharks and maybe even try the cage diving. We’re planning to go to Gansbaai—do you think we’ll have a chance to see them? Also, do you know of any specialized agencies that aren’t too commercial and are respectful of the animals?
Thanks
notre voyage en Indonésie étant annulé, et notre agence nous déconseillant l'Egypte, nous sommes à la recherche d'un lieu où nous pourrons faire du snorkeling depuis la plage (et en excursion bateau). Je connais un peu Zanzibar pour y être allé il y a plus de 10 ans, ainsi que Pemba (mais les prix ont explosé), et je me tourne aussi vers Mafia.
Est ce propice au snorkeling , des resorts ont ils des house reef où l'on peut voir des choses intéressantes (je ne m'attends pas non plus au niveau de la Sulawesi ou des Raja).
Merci d'avance pour toute info.
Je pose ma question malgré la situation incertaine actuellement, mais évidemment mon plan de voyage est conditionnel à l'évolution de la pandémie, donc merci de vous abstenir ceux qui me diraient juste de rester chez moi ;)
Donc, je planifie de passer l'hiver au sud de l'Europe, et ou vers les Balkans et j'aimerais savoir si c'est partout de la plongée en eau froide donc avec le drysuit et tout ou s'il y a des endroits qui sont superbes et ou je peux plonger avec un suit plus épais seulement même exemple en février et mars. J'ai lu pas mal ici sur le portugal et malte https://divezone.net/diving/portugal mais j'aimerais l'opinion récente de plongeurs du coin! :)
Ce que j'aime en plongée c'est l'eau claire, les fonds marins attrayants, la vie aquatique particulière, etc. Je ne suis pas une fan d'épaves, mais je considérerai tout les sites / pays proposés :)
Nous sommes allé faire une plongée profonde de 100 pieds à la carrière Flintkote. Nous sommes descendu sur le site de l'autobus. êtes vous déjà allé plus bas? comme a la voiture?
