Dive with

Best places to dive with Common dolphin

Delphinus delphis

The Sardine Run's headline hunter — short-beaked, with an hourglass flank pattern, travelling in super-pods that herd sardines into bait balls with coordinated bubble-netting.

Destinations ranked by how reliably common dolphin is seen. The bars show the likelihood by month — never a guarantee. See the full species page for more.

KwaZulu-Natal Shark Coast, South Africa
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Maypeak season
Junepeak season
Julypeak season
Augustoccasional
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

Super-pods drive the Sardine Run bait balls, roughly May–July.

Azores, Portugal
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Frequently encountered on the boat, not usually on scuba. Swimming with dolphins is legal but tightly regulated — snorkel only, never scuba, no more than two swimmers at a time near the vessel.

Fleurieu Peninsula, Australia
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible year-round; no unsupported peak is applied.

Port Lincoln & Neptune Islands, Australia
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Possible in the region; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Sydney, Australia
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

Possible year-round; no unsupported peak is applied.

Tasmania — East & Southeast, Australia
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

Possible year-round; no unsupported peak is applied.

Whyalla & Cuttlefish Coast, Australia
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryrare
Februaryrare
Marchrare
Aprilrare
Mayrare
Junerare
Julyrare
Augustrare
Septemberrare
Octoberrare
Novemberrare
Decemberrare

Possible in the region; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.