Opportunities to swim with the dolphins abound in Fiji. It could be the swim of a lifetime, but there's much to know before you dive in.
Instructions
1. Book your travel. Use websites like Kayak.com or Travelocity.com to compare airfares and hotel prices. Expect airfare from the United States or Europe to Fiji to be expensive. Plan to spend at least $1,300 from Los Angeles, and at least $2,000 from London to get to Nadi International Airport in Fiji. Travel within and around the more than 300 islands making up the nation will be contingent on where you choose to swim with the dolphins.
2. Choose where you will swim with the dolphins. There are several resorts and companies in Fiji offering dolphin tours, and choosing the best one can be a dizzying experience. It's possible to simply ask your hotel's concierge for recommendations once there, but you'll save yourself from some headaches with a solid plan before you go to the island, as accommodation and intra-island travel will all depend on where you decide to swim. Sites like TravelAdvisor.com and LonelyPlanet.com tend to offer the best user-created reviews from people who've done the trips before. The sites also feature discussion boards where you can inquire for more information, and continual updates as conditions change. Travel guides in book-form like Lonely Planet, Frommers and Rough Guides usually provide further credible reviews, and calling the Fiji Tourism Bureau is another option.
3. Choose what kind of dolphin tour you'd like. Different resorts and companies offer different trips.Some, like the Lomalagi Resort on Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island (another 45 minute flight from Nadi), features non-migrating dolphins guaranteed to welcome you. Others, like the Takalana Resort on the same island, will take you to where wild dolphins are usually found swimming and let you join in. Others take a more hands-off, observant approach. For example, the Plantation Island Resort, just ten miles west of Nadi offers a cruise around the island, searching for wild dolphins in their natural habitat, and snorkeling trips along the dolphin-magnetic outer reef.
4. Confirm the details of your trip. Once you've sorted through all the reviews and made a decision, call ahead to sort out what specifics your swim with the dolphins might require. Different resorts require different things. Confirm your travel plans with the resort, and ensure that your stay will include dolphins.
5. Watch for travel warnings. Fiji experienced four military coups in the past 21 years alone, including two in 1987, one in 2000 and most recently in 2006. Although the political unrest has been almost entirely nonviolent, these situations are still worth monitoring closely in case of escalation or infrastructure disruptions.
6. Fly. Go. Swim.Take pictures. Dress accordingly.
7. Dress accordingly. Bring a towel and swimsuit. You can wear a wetsuit if you feel the need, but a simple bathing suit is fine. There are changing rooms and showers available for you to use before your event.
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