There is something exciting about being the first person on a boat to call out, “Dolphin!”
Mandurah’s waterways are home to wild dolphins that can appear when you least expect them. Sometimes they announce themselves with a noticeable splash, while at other times the only clue is a small fin briefly breaking the surface.
Spotting dolphins takes patience, concentration and a little knowledge of what to look for. While there is never a guaranteed trick for finding wild animals, the following tips can help you notice the signs sooner during your next Mandurah dolphin cruise.
1. Scan the Water Instead of Staring at One Spot
One of the most common mistakes passengers make is focusing on a single section of water. Dolphins are constantly moving and can surface in a completely different area within seconds.
Slowly scan from left to right, concentrating on one section at a time. Look across the middle distance as well as close to the boat.
Try not to look only at the water directly in front of you. Dolphins may appear beside the boat, behind it or closer to the shoreline.
The more of the water you observe, the better your chances of noticing that first fin.
2. Look for a Curved Dorsal Fin
The dorsal fin on a dolphin’s back is often the first part of the animal you will see.
From a distance, it may look like a small, dark triangle moving across the water. Unlike a floating stick or piece of seaweed, the fin will usually appear briefly before disappearing beneath the surface.
If you see a curved shape surface and then vanish, keep watching the same general area. Dolphins need to surface regularly to breathe and may appear again nearby.
Avoid expecting the dolphin to surface in exactly the same place. It may have travelled several metres underwater before coming up again.
3. Watch for Smooth Rolling Movements
Dolphins do not always leap dramatically out of the water. More often, they surface using a smooth rolling motion.
You may first see the head or blowhole, followed by the curved back and dorsal fin. The dolphin then slips beneath the surface with very little disturbance.
This movement can be easy to miss, especially when the water is calm. Watch for a dark, rounded shape that seems to roll through the surface rather than float on top of it.
Once you recognise this movement, dolphin spotting becomes much easier.
4. Notice Unusual Splashes
A sudden splash can indicate dolphin activity, but not every splash is caused by a dolphin. Fish, birds, boat wakes and floating debris can all disturb the water.
Dolphin splashes may be caused by:
- A dolphin jumping or partially leaving the water
- A tail striking the surface
- Several dolphins moving together
- Dolphins chasing fish
- A dolphin playing near a boat wake
If you notice repeated splashing in the same general area, keep watching. A fin, back or tail may soon become visible.
5. Look for Changes in the Surface Pattern
You do not always need to see the dolphin itself. Sometimes the surface of the water provides the first clue.
Watch for unusual ripples, circular disturbances or a narrow trail moving across otherwise calm water. A dolphin swimming close to the surface can push water ahead of its body or leave a subtle wake behind it.
These patterns may look different from the regular waves surrounding the boat. If one patch of water appears to be moving independently, it is worth watching more closely.
6. Pay Attention to Groups of Birds
Bird activity can help direct your attention toward areas where fish may be gathering.
Dolphins and seabirds sometimes feed in the same general location because both are interested in schools of fish. Birds circling, diving or concentrating over one area may indicate activity beneath the surface.
This does not necessarily mean dolphins are present, but it gives you a useful place to look.
Watch the water below and around the birds rather than focusing only on the birds themselves. You may notice splashes, scattered fish or a dorsal fin moving through the area.
7. Watch for Fish Jumping from the Water
A few fish occasionally jumping is normal. However, several fish suddenly scattering or breaking the surface may indicate that something is chasing them.
The cause could be dolphins, larger fish or another marine predator, so it is not a guaranteed dolphin sighting. Nevertheless, it is another useful sign that activity is happening below the surface.
Keep your eyes on the edges of the disturbance. A dolphin may surface just outside the group of fleeing fish.
8. Check Along Drop-Offs, Channels and Shorelines
Dolphins may travel through deeper channels or search for fish near changes in water depth. They can also appear near shorelines, canal entrances and areas where currents move food through the waterways.
During a cruise, regularly alternate your attention between open water and the edges of the channel.
Your skipper knows the local waterways and may recognise areas where dolphins have recently been active. Listen carefully to the commentary and look in the direction indicated by the crew.
9. Watch the Boat’s Wake
Dolphins are sometimes attracted to the movement of water created by boats. They may travel near the bow, swim alongside the vessel or appear in the wake behind it.
Passengers often spend the entire cruise looking forward and forget to check behind them.
Every so often, glance toward the sides and back of the boat. Look for a fin briefly cutting through the wake or a smooth grey body appearing among the white water.
Always remain safely seated or follow the skipper’s instructions when changing your viewing position.
10. Learn the Rhythm of Their Breathing
When a dolphin surfaces, try to remember where it appeared and which direction it was travelling.
Dolphins usually continue moving underwater before returning to the surface for another breath. By following their direction rather than staring at the original location, you may be able to anticipate where they will appear next.
For example, if a dolphin surfaces while travelling from left to right, shift your attention slightly farther to the right. You may catch its next breath before other passengers do.
Their speed and direction can change, but learning to anticipate their movement makes dolphin watching much more rewarding.
11. Use Your Ears as Well as Your Eyes
A dolphin surfacing nearby may produce a short breathing or splashing sound.
On a quiet section of the cruise, listen for an unexpected exhale or disturbance beside the boat. The sound may reach you before you manage to locate the dolphin visually.
If you hear something, look immediately toward the direction of the sound and continue watching the surrounding water.
12. Put the Camera Down Occasionally
Trying to view the entire cruise through a phone screen can actually make dolphins harder to spot. A camera provides a much narrower field of view than your eyes.
Spend some time scanning the water without recording. Once you have found a dolphin and understand the direction it is moving, you can prepare your camera for the next time it surfaces.
Watching first and photographing second often produces better sightings—and better photographs.
13. Tell Others Calmly When You See One
If you think you have spotted a dolphin, point toward the location and use simple directions such as:
- “Dolphin on the left!”
- “Near the birds!”
- “Behind the boat!”
- “About halfway to the shoreline!”
Avoid leaning over other passengers or moving suddenly across the boat. Calm, clear directions help everyone enjoy the sighting safely.
Be Patient and Enjoy the Search
Mandurah’s dolphins are wild animals, so every encounter is different. Some days they may swim alongside the boat, while at other times they appear briefly in the distance.
That unpredictability is part of what makes seeing them so special.
Keep scanning the water, listen to your skipper and look for fins, rolling backs, unusual ripples, bird activity and scattering fish. Even if someone else spots the first dolphin, there will often be more opportunities as the cruise continues.
Join a Mandurah Dolphin Cruise
Put your new dolphin-spotting skills to the test with Mandurah Estuary Dolphin Cruises.
Our family-friendly cruises provide a relaxing way to explore Mandurah’s spectacular waterways while watching for wild dolphins and other local wildlife. With an experienced skipper and comfortable seating, passengers of all ages can enjoy the scenery and excitement of a possible dolphin encounter.
Explore the available Mandurah dolphin cruises or call 0411 515 293 to organise your cruise.