Lovina is famous for spotting the dolphins, some people also say chasing dolphins and sometimes (in high season) that might be true, but it also has something spectacular to watch these dolphins swim around in the open sea. Dolphins are intelligent animals and if they don’t like it they would swim a different route, the dolphins are often playing with the boats and swim from one side to the other having the boats follow them, but nowadays there is more awareness where the boats (but not all of them) just wait until the dolphins come closer to the boat.
There are many dolphin captains in Lovina as it is a business, in general the boat can accommodate a maximum of 5 people. A few years ago they would say “Get out of bed early because at 5.30 am you have to be on the beach” nowadays that is still an option, although it can also be later around 8 am or 9 am where the first boats would come back and it would be less busy.
At 6 o’clock in the morning the sunrise can be described as spectacular, but it will also be busier with boats (especially in the high season), and if you go later it can also happen that there are not that many boats and there are many dolphins, it is simply not predictable. The dolphin trip can be combined with a snorkel trip, life jackets, snorkel goggles and fins are available, just indicate in advance that they are needed.
Made Sire
Rundung Bali Tours work together with a few dolphin captains, one of them is Made Sire he is a very experienced dolphin captain who approaches the dolphins with respect and will not chase them. The boat from Made is located on the beach with Kutus Kutus Sunari Resort. Because there are now more options it is better to contact Made Sire directly on WA +62 877-6254-4521 and discuss what you want as there are several options. It is possible to be picked up by Made as he is also a driver.
Mang Nono Cruises
Mang Nono Cruise has been around since 2011, his full name is I Nyoman Budiartana and Nono is his nickname. He has a new boat which is wider than the other boats and you can go as a group as 10 people is no problem, the boat is located on the beach in Anturan, please click here for the exact location.
Mang Nono offers several packages, private and shared with other people (from 2 up to 10 people).
Sunrise watching dolphin cost IDR 100.000 per person and takes 2 hours.
Sunrise watching dolphin plus swim with dolphin cost IDR 200.000 per person and takes 2,5 hours.
Sunrise watching dolphins, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling at the coral reef cost IDR 300.000 per person and takes up to 4-5 hours.
The price for private packages as mentioned above + IDR 200.000 for the boat.
All packages include a small breakfast, we will serve you with coffee or tea and fresh fried banana. The shared trips depart at 6 am and it is requested to be at the location 15 minutes before.
For private packages it is basically up to you what time you want to leave, between 6 am the earliest and 9 am the latest. For the private packages there must a be a minimum of 2 people and can be a group of 10 people maximum, this is because the boat is wider than the other boats.
More information about the dolphin trips from Mang Nono can be found on the website and on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok.
Snorkeling in Lovina
You can also do some snorkeling at the coral reef of Lovina, there are actually different locations where you can do this, the pictures below were taken with the coral reef in front of Adirama hotel.
Recently there have been projects along the north coast where they put structures on the seafloor where it is the idea that this will attract the fish.
The boat captain will exactly know where to go for some nice snorkeling locations.
How to book a dolphin trip?
You can contact Mang Nono directly via Whatsapp : +62 877-5798-1179, you can also book the dolphin trip via Rundung, he then can provide transport from your hotel to the location where the boat is, in case it is not provided.
Beautiful fish
This is another option but it is different than all the other options as Made Rudita has a polyester boat, this is a modern boat, the advantage of this boat is that it is faster (due to the two 40 HP outboard engines) and because the boat is higher and you can sit on the front point of the boat you can see the dolphins swim under the boat and you can see them up close. Also for older people boarding is easier and the boat is more comfortable than the traditional boats.
Made has been doing this for 30 years and he has a lot of experience, and before he also had a traditional boat but since about 10 years he has this boat which is very different than the traditional boats.
Two trapezes are attached on the side of the boat and you can hang on to it and watch the dolphins with snorkel goggles. Like others he does not chase after the dolphins with great speed, but he keeps floating around until the dolphins have passed.
A maximum of 8 people can join, you can sit under the roof (out of the sun) but also at the front of the boat and this is very nice because you see the dolphins swim under the boat because you sit higher than in the traditional boat.
It can happen that you take the trip with other people that also depends on how many people there are.
In consultation it is possible to be picked up by Made, the normal boarding place is on the beach at Warung Nemo in Kalibukbuk.
Prices:
Dolphin tour is IDR 300,000 per person,
Snorkeling is IDR 250,000 per person.
Snorkeling and dolphin spotting is IDR 500,000 per person and these prices are fixed and non negiotable.
Life jackets and snorkel gear are available in the boat.
Reservations are recommended, especially in the high season.
See other reviews about Beautiful Fish op Tripadvisor.
Contact information and reservation:
Made Rudita via Whatsapp : +62 (0) 813-3751-0300
In general it is important to be clear what you want and what you expect to avoid confusion.
Rundung #Megae 