By Scott Thornburn, Travel Writer
KONA, HAWAII — One of the coolest things to do in the whole entire world is a morning swim with wild dolphins in beautiful Kona, Hawaii. The Big Island has it all, with all the adventure you can possibly imagine. The Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins are year round residents so you can expect to see them whenever you are in Hawaii, and swimming with them is a “Bucket List” activity.
SunLight On Water, with Melainah, Michael and their exceptional staff, offer you the opportunity to have an experience that you will easily remember for the rest of your life – swimming with Dolphins that are wild and free in their natural habitat.
There is nothing that compares to the feeling of being in the ocean with the Dolphins! You can see Dolphins on tv, can visit them in captivity, and you can even see them from a boat – but swimming with them in their natural ocean habitat is a unique and magical experience that can touch you in ways you might not be able to imagine.
Sunlight On The Water has been conducting Dolphin Swims longer and more successfully than any other Hawaiian Dolphin Swim eco-tour operator. (Over 15 years!) They have a 99% success rate in finding the Dolphins each day!
When Michael is the morning captain, your journey will start with a Hawaiian ceremony to greet the day, and then it’s off to the adventure of a lifetime – a morning swim with the Dolphins! Simply put, the experience is transformative, and it’s frankly impossible to fully articulate. Dolphins are amongst the most intelligent beings on the planet and being with them in their own habitat will amaze you. Imagine your excitement on the cruise out to where the Dolphins live and play.
As you make your way along the Kona Coast, relax and let yourself enjoy the feel of the wind and notice how the sun glints off the surface of the Ocean, hence the name, SunLight On Water. Take in the beautiful color of the Ocean as she beckons to you, the setting is ideal, for that moment you don’t have a care in the word.
And then you see them– Spinner Dolphins spinning in the air to greet you! They love to ride the bow wake of the boat. They are sleek and graceful and exude absolute joy. There is nothing like it.
After receiving instruction about the proper protocols for entering into the Dolphins’ world and receiving some insider tips on how to get the most out of your Dolphin swim, the moment comes when quietly and gently you ease into the water with these incredible beings and join the Dolphin pod. It is completely safe, and a rewarding experience for the entire family. Children of all ages are welcome. If young children do not choose to go into the Ocean, for their safety, an adult must remain on board with them at all times. There is usually time for parents to take turns going into the Ocean. All you need is your sense of wonder and a willing Spirit.
During the winter, there is a good chance you will see Humpback Whales on the way to be with the Dolphins. Other interesting sea life has been known to pay us a visit as well such as Spotted Dolphins, Bottle Nose Dolphins, Whale Sharks, Pilot Whales, Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, the Honu (turtles) among others. Michael may even find an Octopus for you to see!
It really is an experience of a lifetime, and the staff at Sunlight On The Water is professional and exceptionally knowledgeable. If you are going to the Big Island, this is a must do activity. Do not miss out, swimming with wild dolphins out in the open ocean off the coast of Kona is totally rad. (Check out www.sunlightonwater.com for more infromation)