Watching Wild Dolphins Well: Our Advice to Guests
If dolphins or a turtle do come near, the next minute is up to the people on deck. A few simple habits make it better for the animals and, as it happens, for everyone watching.
Short answer
Look, keep your distance, stay quiet, and let the animals leave when they choose. If dolphins or a Caretta caretta turtle come close, do not reach for them, throw food, swim after them or crowd the rail shouting. This is our advice to guests, and it follows the wildlife-viewing guidance published by marine conservation agencies.
Why it matters
The dolphins and turtles in the sea off Side are wild, and the loggerhead turtle is a protected species in Türkiye. They are not performing and they are not looking for us. Published guidance from marine wildlife agencies says the same few things everywhere: keep your distance, never feed, never touch, never chase or surround the animals, avoid sudden noise and movement, and back away if they seem disturbed.
A guest on a boat cannot steer it, but a guest can decide how to behave on deck and in the water. That part is yours, and it is what this page is about.
Six habits for the deck
- Distance. Let the animals set it. Watch from where you are rather than moving towards them.
- Quiet. Lower your voice and resist calling or whistling to them. Point them out with a gesture.
- No food. Nothing from your plate or your bag goes over the side, however tempting.
- No chasing. If you are swimming, do not swim after an animal. Stay put and let it pass.
- No touching. Not even a hand stretched out from the deck or the water.
- No litter. Bottles, wrappers, cigarette ends and sun-cream tubes stay on board and leave with you.
If you are already in the water
Sometimes an animal surfaces while people are swimming at an anchor stop. Stay calm, keep still, and enjoy the moment from where you are. Following it, grabbing at it or jumping in after it only ends the moment sooner. When it moves off, let it go.
Children get excited, which is wonderful — a quick word beforehand about staying quiet and keeping hands to themselves helps them get a longer look. More on taking young ones along is on with children.
What this day is not
This is not a swim-with programme and not a show. Nobody on this site sells contact with wild animals, and no part of the fare depends on one appearing. If you want to understand the difference between a chance meeting at sea and a dolphin show, read wild dolphins or a dolphin show?, and for the honest odds, will we see dolphins?
Everything else about the day — the river, three swims, lunch on deck, the island and the foam party — happens either way. Book your seats — the fare is settled in euros when you travel, never online.