Hi! I am traveling to Greece for a last minute trip in 2 weeks. Searching for some Greek dolphins. What islands, if any, are they most frequently seen? Is there a specific season or year round? I am looking for a safe, dolphin-friendly place where I can actually get in the water and swim with them (as one commonly does in Hawaii). Thank you in advance!
Posted by
Portsmouth
5277 posts
You cannot swim with Dolphins in Greece as part of any organised activity as they are a protected species. Dolphins can be spotted around many of the islands however their populations are decreasing in particular due to hunting and pollution.
Personally I would leave them alone, the less comfortable with humans they are the greater their chance of survival.
Besides, in two weeks time I would not advocate swimming in the Med, it will be far too cold!
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3321 posts
Dolphins in the Aegean are a rare treat... sometimes, when taking a ferry from one island to the next, out at sea, you'll see a pair. Once I saw two as I stood at the High Chora in Sifnos. This is not a Great Ocean like the pacific. The Med/Aegean is small enough that it does not even have a tide. And overfishing has diminished the sea life.
Forget dolphins, even swimming is problematic in early May. you really are going in 2 weeks (may 10), the sea will be brutally chilly. I see that you are from Portsmouth, is that New Hampshire?? Then perhaps you can brave a dip... it depends on which islands. In most islands (and I've been to more than 25 in my 12 greek trips), I couldn't really bear more than 5 minutes in the water before May 15. The one exception was Rhodes ... the South-facing Bay of Lindos is shallow and known as a "sun trap" and on a 3 day stay in Rhodes, on May 11, I did swim there.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Very helpful to know, thank you!
Posted by
Portsmouth
5277 posts
Janet
I'm from the original Portsmouth (Old Hampshire)! ; )
I'm not the OP either but I do know how chilly the Med will be in May. I have swam in it a few times at this time of year, it's not brutal and once you're acclimatised to it it's ok, but once you're in stay in!
Posted by
1 posts
Hello there where more than hundred dolphins in the gulf of korinth 5/10/2017 we stopped the boat and they swimm more than
an hour arround the boat .
next time we try to swimm whith them the water temperature is in oct about 25 celcius.
we make a lot of photos and film .
we saw also at the same place a sunfisch 1.5mtrs and a lot of turtles. it was amazing
Lya from Rijssen netherlands