Sorrento · On the water · Wildlife

Swimming with wild dolphins and seals in Port Phillip Bay

One of the great wildlife experiences in Australia happens less than two hours from Melbourne: slipping into the water off Sorrento to swim alongside wild bottlenose dolphins and play with Australian fur seals at the Chinaman's Hat haul-out. These aren't captive animals or a staged encounter — the dolphins live in the bay year-round (a resident population of around 100-plus) and choose whether to engage. On a good day they bow-ride the boat and circle swimmers; the seals, meanwhile, are almost guaranteed to put on a show, spiralling around you in the shallows like underwater puppies.

The operators

Two long-running, family-owned operators run these swims from Sorrento Pier, and both have strong reputations and excellent safety records:

Polperro Dolphin Swims — run by the Muir family since 1986, making it one of the oldest dolphin-swim operations in the world. Polperro caps swimmer numbers at around 20 per trip and is known for a patient, low-key approach that lets encounters unfold naturally. They also run dedicated snorkel trips to see weedy sea dragons and seals.

Moonraker Dolphin Swims — the other Sorrento institution, operating comfortable purpose-built boats with hot showers on board, lunch on longer trips, and a sightseer fare for those who'd rather watch from deck.

What to expect on the day

Tours run from mid/late September to May — the dolphins are present year-round, but the swim season tracks the warmer months. Most operators run morning and midday departures (around 8am and 12pm) with check-in at Sorrento Pier 30 minutes beforehand. Trips run about 3–4 hours.

Everything is provided: wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel (plus wetsuits in kids' sizes — minimum ages apply, usually around 5–8 depending on the operator). After a safety briefing, the boat heads to where the dolphins were last sighted. When conditions allow, swimmers enter the water in small groups holding a surface rope; dolphins decide the rest. The second half of the trip is usually the seals at Chinaman's Hat, a purpose-built platform where dozens of Australian fur seals loll and, in the water, perform barrel rolls centimetres from your mask.

Weedy sea dragons

Sorrento's shallows are also one of the best places in Australia to see weedy sea dragons — the flamboyant, kelp-mimicking relatives of seahorses. Dedicated snorkel tours target them along with the seals, and they're a great option if dolphins prove elusive or you're visiting outside peak season.

Prices

Expect to pay from around $90 for sightseers and $120–170 for swimmers, with family bundles and off-peak deals sometimes available. Because these are wild animals, no operator can guarantee a dolphin swim on every trip — most offer a return-visit policy if the dolphins don't show, so booking early in your stay gives you a backup day.

Tips from experience

Take the morning departure — the bay is calmer, dolphins are often more active, and sea breeze hasn't built yet. Bring warm clothes for after (you'll be on deck wet between swims), take seasickness tablets beforehand if you're prone to it, and manage expectations: some days the dolphins engage for an hour, some days they pass by once. The seals, almost always, deliver.

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