Day 118-119 : Snorkelling with dolphins!

• Drove to Kaikoura. Had a coffee and banoffee pie and wandered in the little town. Set up camp in a DOC site about 9km from town along a gravel track.
• Got early and went swimming with dolphins! Saw seals and huge albatross on the way. There a re loads of dusky dolphins that live not far from shore due to a massive gorge in the sea where fish live. They are very acrobatic and playful dolphins. We sat on the back of the boat kitted out in full wetsuit and snorkel gear and jumped in the water on 5 occasions. You have to “entertain” the dolphins by singing or diving down to get them to come and interact with you. They are very quick and speed by – the visibility was poor so could only see them underwater when they were close by. They circle you if you’re interesting enough. Will managed to get 3 circles with a dolphin a few times and even got squeaked at by diving down I got a 3/4 circle a few times it was amazing. Really weird when they look you right in the eye as they circle you. A really amazing experience.
• Unfortunately could not swim with the seals as conditions not right :–(
• Camped at another DOC site on the coast (Okiwi bay)