Best Grande Riviere Noire Dolphin Tours — Our Top 6

1.Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 595 reviews · 5 hours · from $129Our pick

Set out from Grande Riviere Noire on a 14-passenger speedboat with two skippers. Swim with spinner and bottlenose dolphins, watch whales from the boat, and snorkel a coral reef. The crew speaks English and French and puts animal welfare ahead of close encounters.

“Seeing sperm whales for the time as well as swimming with wild dophin was a surreal moment and something I’ll never forget. This company was ethical and respectful to all sea life on this trip. Other boats allowed people to jump in the water and drove their boats far too close to the animals, which clearly scared the whales. It was nice to do this experience with ethical consideration and highly recommend!!”

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2.La Preneuse: Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 92 reviews · 2 hours · from $58Best value

Meet your skipper at La Tour Martello on La Preneuse Beach for a two-hour speedboat outing. You may swim near wild dolphins, then snorkel among reef fish, lionfish, octopus, and other marine life. Guides speak English and French, and names frequently praised include Feliciano, Andy, and Miguel.

“Nice. I simply decided, by my own, to request a return to the beach because I had the feeling of a sort of agressivity against the dolphins. Indeed, most speedboats than dolphins and not enough care from other skippers to indicate (educate) their customers to be with a huge respect and silence for dolphins. They are not cats or dogs. Anyway, your team was nice, full of respect and important communication and share of mutual understanding. Thanks a lot and see you soon. Nice end of Year Christmas festivites.”

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3.Grande Riviere Noire: Boat Tour and Swimming with Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 62 reviews · 2 hours · from $70Top rated

Meet Izel and the Friendly Dodo crew at La Balise in Grande Riviere Noire for an early two-hour boat trip along Mauritius’s west coast. You’ll look for spinner and bottlenose dolphins, swim near them when conditions allow, and use onboard masks and fins before enjoying fruit and water.

“GENIAL ! Un grand merci à Izel et son skipper pour leur gentillesse et leur professionnalisme. Très respectueux des dauphins contrairement à d’autres bateaux que nous avons pu voir, ils ont tout fait pour que chaque personne puisse profiter et voir au mieux les dauphins. Je recommande vivement ! Encore un grand merci !”

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4.West: Swim wz dolphins, Crystal Rock, Lunch Benitiers island

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 41 reviews · from $72

Spend a morning at sea in west Mauritius, looking for wild dolphins, snorkeling near Crystal Rock, and relaxing on Ile aux Bénitiers. The tour runs about 7:30 am to 2 pm, with equipment, boat drinks, and a simple Creole barbecue lunch included. Hotel transfers cost extra.

“Une merveilleuse croisière, les guides ont bien pris le temps pour qu’on puisse profiter de chaque moment (nage avec les dauphins, nage à proximité du Cristal Rock et temps libre sur l’île).”

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5.Dolphins & Whales, Private Tour Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 21 reviews · 4 hours

Spend four hours on a private speedboat off Mauritius, looking for dolphins and whales, then snorkeling near Crystal Rock and the natural aquarium. English- and French-speaking guides lead the trip. Captain Ali and assistant Bebe have earned praise for respectful wildlife viewing, though sightings, drinks, and comfort can vary.

“We saw both Dolphins and Whales, guide captain (Ali) was great.”

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6.Mauritius: Private Swim with Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 2h 30m

Meet near La Jetée Road in Grande Rivière Noire for a 150-minute private speedboat trip. Your English or French-speaking guide explains dolphin behavior and safety before you enter the water, then leads a short coral-reef snorkeling stop. Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.

“Our family had an amazing experience swimming with the dolphins. The captain on the boat was excellent, he took us to multiple locations to give us the best possible chance to get amongst the dolphins. His final spot was excellent, pod of dolphins numbering about 25 /30, he put the boat in the desired position and told us when to go for it. We got really close to the dolphins with everyone experiencing being surrounded by the dolphins. The captains local knowledge was superb and I thought the price was excellent for a party of 8 people. To actually get right in amongst the dolphins was an amazing experience for…”

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