Best Time to See Dolphins in Oahu
Many people around the world come to Hawaii every year for a tropical vacation, relax, and bask in the sun. While here, dolphin watching is a very sought-after activity. But you may be wondering when is the best time for dolphin watching in Oahu, Hawaii. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the right timing for the best time to see Hawaiian spinner dolphins in Oahu!
When Are Dolphins Most Visible in Oahu
Wild dolphins are visible year-round, making it an accessible activity for everyone! But when it comes to the best times, where the wild dolphins are most active and abundant? The best time is generally during warmer weather, when dolphins come to relax near the bays along the west coast of Oahu. These months would be around April through May and August through November, as it’s not too cold in the winter season (December through March) and not too hot in the summer season (June through July). Though you can see dolphins year-round, it’s always important to plan your trips ahead of time, during the right periods, to get the best bang for your buck, which you can also do by booking our tour from our website!
What Kind of Dolphins Can You See in Oahu?
There are a handful of dolphin species that live in Hawaii, but there are two main ones that appear very often in comparison to the rest. These would be the Hawaiian spinner dolphins and the bottlenose dolphin. Both dolphins are complex and social creatures, such as traveling in pods that could range from ten to even a thousand dolphins! But they also do have their differences. Hawaiian spinner dolphins, compared to bottlenose dolphins, are smaller, growing up to 7 feet (2.1 m) long at around 170 lbs (77 kg), while bottlenose dolphins grow up to 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.6m) and weigh around 330 to 440 lbs (150 to 200 kg). Hawaiian spinner dolphins are also more acrobatic, as they leap and spin out of the water, which is an action believed by researchers to shake off parasites!
Weather, Sea Conditions, and Breeding Info
Many other factors could affect the likelihood of seeing wild dolphins in Oahu. Three main ones are the weather, sea conditions, and breeding season. The weather should be calm on a sunny day, allowing the dolphins to glide in a warm environment. The sea conditions should also be calm, not having strong, choppy waves that could be a disturbance. These are some of the ideal conditions in creating a relaxing environment for the dolphins to want to stay. Days wheres its cold and rainy, like during rainy seasons or storms, can reduce the chances of seeing these wild dolphins. Concerning the Hawaiian spinner dolphins’ breeding season, dolphins mate year-round. This leads many scientists to believe that Hawaiian spinner dolphins do not have a mating season, unlike many other animals, making it not an issue when regarding to dolphin watching.
Best Time of day to see Dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins can be seen year-round with the right conditions, but when is the best time of day? Typically, the best time of day to see them is in the early morning, as they rest during the day. The reason they rest during the day is that they feed at night, going into the deep ocean and hunting for food, such as small fish, squid, and shrimp. Compared to the early morning, Hawaiian spinner dolphins are less active during the afternoon, but still visible, while during the evening, they are typically not active. This is when they rest in the bays of the west coast of Oahu.
During each sighting, especially during the early morning viewings, you have a higher chance of seeing a large pod of dolphins swimming around the coast of the west side of Oahu. These pods can contain anywhere from a few dolphins to hundreds of dolphins! On top of this, you have a chance to see other marine life, such as Hawaiian green sea turtles, local fish, humpback whales, if it is during the winter season, and much more!
Tips and Notes
Because our dolphin watching and snorkeling tour involves watching wild dolphins, there is no guarantee that the sighting will happen. In addition, there are laws and regulations in place by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) in order to help protect Hawaiian spinner dolphins. These laws and regulations prohibit people from being within 150 feet, or around 50 yards, of Hawaiian spinner dolphins intentionally. This helps protect Hawaiian spinner dolphins, as since they rest during the day, it looks like they are out and about, playing, which causes confusion among bystanders. They then would be disturbed from their sleep, and their one safe place, being their natural habitat. We go into more details about this information, plus other dolphin-related information, in our Ultimate Guide to Dolphins in Oahu!
Experiencing Dolphins in Oahu
Dolphin watching in Hawaii may not be an easy task, having to take into account the many things that could affect the likelihood of seeing wild dolphins during your vacation in Hawaii, such as time of year and day, weather and sea conditions, and laws and regulations. But with our dolphin watching and snorkeling tour, come and join us as we make it a priority while following the guidelines in order to give our customers the best experiences!