Dawn Encounter
05:00 · DOLPHINS & WHALES · departs 05:00 · 3–4 H
The earliest departure and the wildest. We slip out of La Balise at five, before the wind, and idle into Tamarin Bay where spinner and bottlenose dolphins rest after a night of feeding. In season the skipper heads outside the reef for humpback whales. Then a snorkel at Crystal Rock if the tide permits, and refreshments on the way home.
Price
Rs 25,000 per boat on the visitor rate (2 guests included), Rs 19,940 per boat on the Mauritian resident rate (up to 4 guests included). Each additional guest Rs 1,000, maximum 8. Pay on arrival; free cancellation up to 48 h before departure.
Included
- Dolphin & whale watching
- Crystal Rock visit (if tides permit) + snorkelling
- Refreshing non-alcoholic beverages & light bites
Route
La Balise Marina, Tamarin Bay, Outside the reef, Crystal Rock, Le Morne lagoon, La Balise Marina.
Timeline
- 05:00 Cast off in the dark: Coffee and pastries as La Balise slips behind. The mountains go pink.
- 05:30 Dolphins, engines off: Spinners and bottlenose rest after the night hunt. We drift 50 m off and let them come.
- 06:30 Outside the reef (Jul–Oct): Humpbacks on their migration. Blows first, then the tail.
- 07:30 Crystal Rock snorkel: Tide permitting: coral, parrotfish, the rock standing clear of the lagoon.
- 08:30 Home under Le Morne: Fruit, juice and the first sun on the bow.
Not included
- Island lunch (09:30 trips only)
- GoPro · cinematic video
- Alcohol (available at anchor on request)
Questions
How close do we get to the dolphins?
We stop at 50 m and switch off; they often come to the hull. No swimming with them: it’s the Mauritian code and it’s why they stay.
What if there are no dolphins?
Rare, but it happens. The skipper extends the search outside the reef and the Crystal Rock stop; no refund, but we’ll say so honestly on the day.
Is 05:00 really necessary?
Yes. The bay is glassy and the dolphins are resting; by 09:00 the wind and the other boats arrive.