We are proud to announce that after six years of development and three years since the first application was lodged, Dolphin Swim Australia P/L, DolphCom Solutions and Imagine Cruises Port Stephens can now offer an amazing interactive experience with Dolphins in NSW!

The Aquatic Marine Viewing Experience (AMVE) brings swimming with dolphins to Port Stephens. Pacific common dolphins are the species we encounter most and despite their prevalence in oceanic waters, we know very little about them. These dolphins are very friendly and love to come and visit us when we are off shore.

The AMVE is a breakthrough in dolphin / human interaction. Using specific approach techniques and relying on the dolphins amazing intelligence and inherent interest in humans, we now are able to share with YOU an open water, in-water dolphin experience. You are connected safely to the boat at all times and in the water right next to the dolphins as they glide from bow to bow- in front of, below, and next to you! The best thing is that this all takes place right here in the Blue Water Wonderland of the Port Stephens & Great Lakes marine park NSW Australia!

Become a dolphin researcher for the day!

Little is known about the Common Dolphin population off Port Stephens, so join as we commence the most comprehensive migratory and distribution study of the “common” dolphin ever held and begin to understand the wonderful Dephinus delphi (the common dolphin). Learn and understand more about the Dolphins and their environment.

* Maximum 20 swimmers 22 observers per program

* Program commences 7.30am -12pm

* Includes: Wetsuit (compulsory), mask and fins (supplied & fitted by Pro-Dive Nelson Bay.

* Arrive Nelson Bay and get fitted for equipment 7:15am

* Embark Imagine Dock C d’Albora Marina for groups and briefing 7:45am

* Depart for the blue water wonderland and a whole lot of fun and adventure 8:00am

* Over four hours of quality experience, superb training and invaluable information

The only licensed dolphin swim in NSW AMVE program value:

* $229 per swimmer (minimum age 12years) waiver and booking form required. Includes equipment hire and GST

* Observer $60 Includes GST

For all enquiries call our office on 02 4984 9000

We will have a direct booking system online shortly!

For more information click here!

So here we are, January is  nearly over and before you know it we’ll be wondering where summer went!

Imagine’s Dolphin watch Cruise and Marine Discovery cruise have been as popular as ever with everyone always commenting on the intimacy of a smaller vessel, the friendliness of the Bottlenose Dolphins, as well as our commentary and genuine love of the area and its wildlife. “How good is the sailing?” is a common cry during summer, people just don’t know how good it is to cruise along under wind power listening to some lazy summer tunes.

There’s a touch of the islands further North on the Marine Discovery cruise, especially when it’s particularly hot and sunny! This year we have been lucky to see some of the largest Wobbegong Sharks as well as spending some time with the resident Green Sea Turtle!

The end of the day is definitely not the end of the fun for us, at 5:30pm we head off for our last trip of the day, the Sundowner Sail. This relaxing and kid friendly cruise is a great way to take in the sights of the Bay at the best time of the day. It’s always cooler on the water so what better way to end the day and kick off the night than with a free cold one and some nibbles. It’s not a Dolphin Watch but we do often see the dolphins as we sail by. After all, it’s THEIR time to relax too after a hectic day hard at work being looked at.

So that’s it for now. We hope everyone’s enjoying their Summer and all is going well for you. Please give us a call soon to book a time to come out and enjoy what we have to offer!

Book Now!

About the only thing we didn’t get to mark off was Migaloo, we have heard that he was already up on the Gold Coast and he must have snuck past Port Stephens and Nelson Bay during the night on the way back down!

So as October greets us, so do the Humpback mothers and their newborn baby whales! They are travelling in full force down the coast keen to “show off” and October is always a great time to mark of the wildlife Bingo card. We even still see some other species of whales as the year progresses like Southern Right whales, Sei whales and False Killer Whales to name a few!

We love to think that this is in part thanks to growing population numbers and a cease in hunting Humpbacks!

We are into our first week in November and have had excellent sightings every day of breaching calves enjoying the great weather. It is really going to round off a great October and we still have a couple of days to go yet!

Imagine is going to run a whale watching trip every day until the 15th of November, which is when we have seen a drop in sightings in the past. So come and see the Mums and their newborn babies before whale watching finishes in 2009!

The Marine Discovery is always a big hit. We have four Divemasters now, Jane, Hazel, Roger and Didj. It’s difficult to tell who has the most fun, us or the people we take snorkeling! I suspect Didj may actually be part fish as he can hold his breath for so long! Some of the interesting creatures we have spotted in the past include wobbegongs, banjo rays, stingrays and blue gropers. The Marine Discovery trips are usually to Cabbage Tree Island or Fingal Island. The scenery at both locations is spectacular.

Summer will also been busy with the Dolphin Watches, with several new additions to the local bottlenose dolphin population (they’re so cute) and of course the Sundowner Sail! Come out for a trip with us soon, you never know what interesting sights you’ll see!