Dolphin In Lovina

I did it once years ago.
I thought it was really horrible.
About 10-20 little boats with noisy 2-stroke outboard motors went out to sea at about dawn. So far so good.
As soon as someone saw dolphins, usually a few hundred meters away, all the boats revved their engines and rushed towards the dolphins making a terrible noise. The dolphins disappeared of course.
Never again, unless they have changed the technique.

I think we would have seen more (or at least not been so annoying) if we had just floated around quietly and hoped some dolphins surfaced near us.
I have been on other boats (not at Lovina) with quieter motors when dolphins have come along next to us, jumping and playing, a wondeful experience. I assume it was the number of engines and/or the irritating small 2-strokes that made the dolphins go away at Lovina.

If you've never seen dolphins before then you might want to take this very very touristy early morning trip with all the other tourists in the small boats. But if you've seen dolphins before then I'd give it a miss for the same reasons as stated by Mister RAK above. Note: When I was in Lovina the dolphin trip prices were controlled by a local cartel so there was no negotiation on the price (and it doesn't matter whether you see dolphins or not). I'm not sure if it is still that way as I haven't been to Lovina for many years. You probably have more more chance of seeing dolphins at Lovina in the off-season when there are not so many boats going out to see them.

If you still don't see any dolphins on the boat trip, try heading to Melka's, they have 6 dolphins in captivity.

As an Australian who has always lived near the beach it is not such a novelty to see a dolphin. Dolphins are intelligent , peaceful mammals who deserve to be left alone. I have heard that the dolphin tours aroung lovina are awful and they persue these poor creatures to the limit. It is a wonder that the dolphins stay there at all. We see them often here when we are swimming and surfing or just walking along the beaches. As for the dolphins in captivity in Bali , I think it is disgusting to keep such a free spirited wild creature in such a confined environment. I suggest that you dont support anybody who exploits wild animals for profit. If you can ever afford it try Australia on most beaches in the southern or western states to see dolphins in a natural environment for free!

Yes i don't think i will go for this dolphin tour or even see the one in captivity.
but #4 i don't know if i can ever afford it to go to australia, but does it takes USD 1 mill to go there?

Cheers,

The so-called "Dolphin Tour" at Lovina is probably the most heavily-promoted tour on Bali in the high-season months of July and August. You will be asked (a better word might be "harassed") countless times from local kids regarding whether you want to book the Dolphin Tour.

I was just in Bali this August and we took a day to go up to Lovina and that area. Our guide told us that if we wanted to see Bali our best bet would be to go at dawn, and we would probably have a better chance of seeing them if we got passage with a fishing boat instead of going on the tours.

Ha! It looks like I should spend a little more time proofreading. What I meant what that if you want to see dolphins you should go at dawn. You can see Bali any time of the day :) We chose not to go on any of the tours...they looked too touristy.

As I recall the dolphin tours are typically start at 6 am and you return at about 8 a.m.