Photo: Dusky Dolphins Tour Kaikoura

The calm, green waters off Kaikoura in New Zealand give passengers a clear view of the Dusky Dolphins on this tour.

Three Dusky Dolphins ride the bow of the Encounter Kaikoura boat that takes passengers on a dolphin watching tour off the South Island of New Zealand. These dolphins love to ride the wake of boats and frolic about in the waters which gives people on the tour a closer view of these incredible mammals.

The Dusky Dolphins are very closely related to the Pacific White Side Dolphins especially in their color and markings. Looking at these dolphins from above you can see that their backside is dark grey but the underside which is not visible is white. The dorsal fin of the Dusky Dolphin is dark grey along the top and a lighter shade of grey at the trailing edge. Along their sides, they have two streaks of white that runs from their dorsal fin to their tail.

Dusky Dolphins are highly energetic animals that can perform incredibly high jumps and twists. When one dolphin starts his acrobatics, the rest of the clan seem to follow and the sight of hundreds of Dusky Dolphins leaping in the waters off Kaikoura is one you will never forget. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Dolphin Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

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Encounter Kaikoura is a very reputable tour company and their success rate of finding Dusky Dolphins is very high. The best way to get a closer look at these dolphins is to take a tour and try it out for yourself while visiting New Zealand.

Dusky Dolphins during a dolphin watching tour with Encounter Kaikoura, Kaikoura, East Coast, South Island, New Zealand.