Spinner dolphins
Slim, with a long thin beak and a three-tone grey body. Pods can range from a handful to several hundred animals. Nobody is certain why they spin; communication and shaking off parasites are leading ideas.
Other dolphins you may see
Bottlenose dolphins are larger and sturdier with a short beak. Other species are recorded around Trincomalee less often.
Behaviour to watch for
- Spinning and leaping clear of the water
- Bow-riding, surfing the wave in front of the boat — always the dolphins' choice
- Resting pods, slow and close together, which we leave alone
Watching responsibly
We never drive through a pod or chase dolphins for a better photo. If they come to the boat, we slow down and let them choose. Our responsible watching code
Prices
Dolphins are seen on many of our whale watching trips, so the same 2-hour sunrise departure covers both. Shared €25 adults, €18 children. Private €100–€185 per boat. All whale watching prices
Whales and dolphins are wild animals. Sightings cannot be guaranteed and depend on wildlife behaviour, weather and sea conditions.