Cetacean

Bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

IUCN status: Least concern

Pods of bottlenose dolphins regularly approach and interact with divers at Cabo Pearce, sometimes staying with a group for an entire dive — one of the more reliably playful cetacean encounters in the region.

Max size: Up to 3.8m
Habitat: Open water and coastal points

Best places to dive with Bottlenose dolphin

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak season

Panglao & Balicasag (Bohol)

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	occasional
February	occasional
March	peak season
April	peak season
May	peak season
June	peak season
July	occasional
August	occasional
September	occasional
October	occasional
November	occasional
December	occasional

Pamilacan, southeast of Panglao, runs dolphin and whale watching from boats — spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins are the usual sightings, with the best window for larger cetaceans reported as March to June before the southwest monsoon. These are surface encounters from a boat, not dives; in-water encounters are not part of the operation.

Atauro Island & the Dili Coast (Ombai Strait)

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	commonly seen
February	commonly seen
March	commonly seen
April	commonly seen
May	commonly seen
June	commonly seen
July	commonly seen
August	commonly seen
September	commonly seen
October	commonly seen
November	commonly seen
December	commonly seen

Conservation International records 25 whale and dolphin species in Timorese waters, among the highest cetacean counts anywhere, and a five-day rapid survey logged more than 2,280 animals from 11 species including superpods of up to 600. Dolphins are commonly seen from the Atauro ferry and on boat transfers. In-water encounters are not a reliable part of the diving.

Azores

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	commonly seen
February	commonly seen
March	commonly seen
April	commonly seen
May	commonly seen
June	commonly seen
July	commonly seen
August	commonly seen
September	commonly seen
October	commonly seen
November	commonly seen
December	commonly seen

Seen from the boat far more than on scuba. Snorkel encounters are permitted but regulated (snorkel only, two swimmers maximum, 15-minute limit); scuba with dolphins is not allowed.

Cabo Pearce

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	commonly seen
February	commonly seen
March	commonly seen
April	commonly seen
May	commonly seen
June	not seen
July	not seen
August	not seen
September	not seen
October	not seen
November	commonly seen
December	commonly seen

Pods very often approach and stay with divers for extended periods — one of the most reliable dolphin encounters in the region.

KwaZulu-Natal Shark Coast

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	commonly seen
February	commonly seen
March	commonly seen
April	commonly seen
May	commonly seen
June	commonly seen
July	commonly seen
August	commonly seen
September	commonly seen
October	commonly seen
November	commonly seen
December	commonly seen

Resident year-round at both shoals; large pods during the Sardine Run.

Sharm el-Sheikh, Ras Mohammed & Tiran

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	commonly seen
February	commonly seen
March	commonly seen
April	commonly seen
May	commonly seen
June	commonly seen
July	commonly seen
August	commonly seen
September	commonly seen
October	commonly seen
November	commonly seen
December	commonly seen

Resident in the Sharm and Tiran area year-round, seen from boats and occasionally underwater. Not site-guaranteed.

Fakarava

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	occasional
February	occasional
March	occasional
April	occasional
May	occasional
June	occasional
July	occasional
August	occasional
September	occasional
October	occasional
November	occasional
December	occasional

Bottlenose dolphins visit the passes and can turn up on a dive, but Fakarava is not the reliable dolphin site that Rangiroa's Tiputa pass is. Treat encounters as a bonus, not an expectation.

Galápagos

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	occasional
February	occasional
March	occasional
April	occasional
May	occasional
June	occasional
July	occasional
August	occasional
September	occasional
October	occasional
November	occasional
December	occasional

Encountered on crossings and occasionally underwater at Wolf and Darwin.

Port Lincoln & Neptune Islands

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	occasional
February	occasional
March	occasional
April	occasional
May	occasional
June	occasional
July	occasional
August	occasional
September	occasional
October	occasional
November	occasional
December	occasional

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

Tofo

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	occasional
February	occasional
March	occasional
April	occasional
May	occasional
June	occasional
July	occasional
August	occasional
September	occasional
October	occasional
November	occasional
December	occasional

Bottlenose dolphins are frequent around Tofo's waters, most often encountered from the boat and sometimes on dives.

Cabo Pulmo

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Dahab

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Guanaja

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Chance sightings may occur during boat travel or diving, but they are not a target encounter.

Hurghada & Giftun Islands

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Isla Mujeres

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Kauaʻi & Niʻihau

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Dolphins may be seen during the crossing; underwater sightings are incidental and approach guidance applies.

Kona & Hawaiʻi Island

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Boat sightings or chance underwater encounters are possible. Dolphins are not a scuba target and NOAA approach guidance applies.

La Paz & Espíritu Santo

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Lord Howe Island

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

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

Los Cabos & Gordo Banks

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported peak is applied.

Marsa Alam, Elphinstone & Abu Dabbab

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Possible in suitable habitat; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.

Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Dolphins may be seen during crossings; underwater scuba encounters are incidental and approach guidance applies.

Oʻahu

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Chance sightings can occur during boat transits or dives; do not pursue or alter course toward them.

Roatán

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Wild dolphin encounters during ordinary scuba are uncommon and should not be confused with captive programmes.

Utila

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

Dolphin sightings are incidental during boat travel or diving and should not be promised.

Whyalla & Cuttlefish Coast

Sighting likelihood by month
Month	Likelihood
January	rare
February	rare
March	rare
April	rare
May	rare
June	rare
July	rare
August	rare
September	rare
October	rare
November	rare
December	rare

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

Sources & last checked

Checked July 2026

Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.

View 2 sources and checking notes

Bottlenose Dolphins entertain our guests at Socorro, Nautilus Liveaboards
Best Dive Sites in Socorro: Oceanic Mantas & Sharks, Nautilus Liveaboards