THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step into the calm waters of Koombana Bay with the Dolphin Discovery Centre’s award-winning swim tour. Encounter wild bottlenose dolphins up close while supporting vital marine conservation efforts in Bunbury, Western Australia.
Step into the calm waters of Koombana Bay with the Dolphin Discovery Centre’s award-winning swim tour. Encounter wild bottlenose dolphins up close while supporting vital marine conservation efforts in Bunbury, Western Australia.
Book with Dolphin Discovery Centre
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Dolphin Discovery Centre · Bunbury, Western Australia
Koombana Bay, located just off the coast of Bunbury in Western Australia, offers a rare window into the vibrant marine life of the Indian Ocean. At the heart of this aquatic playground is the Dolphin Discovery Centre, where the boundary between human and wild bottlenose dolphin blurs during their award-winning Swim With The Dolphins tour. Over 100 wild dolphins call these sheltered waters home, creating an unpredictable yet magical environment for visitors eager to engage directly with these intelligent creatures.
This four-hour adventure begins early morning, with swimmers gathering at the Dolphin Discovery Centre’s well-equipped facility, which boasts hot showers, changing rooms, and gear storage. Accompanied by marine biologists and expert volunteers deeply committed to conservation, visitors are given wetsuits, masks, snorkels, and fins—all designed to maximize comfort and buoyancy in the cool bay waters.
Once aboard the vessel, the group heads into Koombana Bay with the goal of locating dolphin pods. The experience hinges on the dolphins’ choice: whether they initiate contact. This respectful approach ensures the animals’ autonomy remains paramount, fostering ethical wildlife interaction. The Dolphin Discovery Centre guarantees sightings: if the dolphins don’t appear, guests can rebook at no additional cost, an uncommon and reassuring policy.
More than a tour, this experience doubles as a research and conservation effort. Participants contribute to ongoing studies of dolphin behavior and population health, supporting the Centre’s role as both an environmental charity and an educational hub in the region.
Because the tour is based in a natural habitat where wild dolphins roam free, each encounter is unique. The scenic backdrop includes rocky shores and sandy beaches, with underwater visibility inviting thoughtful snorkelers to witness local fish species and kelp beds. This rare blend of adventure and stewardship marks the Dolphin Discovery Centre’s Swim With The Dolphins as a standout offering for both wildlife lovers and responsible travelers visiting Bunbury.
moderate.
4 hours.
Participants should have good swimming ability and comfort in open water, with moderate stamina for floating and snorkeling.
All dolphins in this tour are wild bottlenose dolphins living naturally in Koombana Bay.
Participants must be confident, independent swimmers as safety depends on swimming ability.
Yes, masks, snorkels, fins, and buoyancy vests are all supplied for your use.
The Centre offers a free rebooking if dolphins don’t appear during your tour, subject to availability.
Children aged 8 and up can join but those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult swimmer.
Tours run daily from November through April, starting at 7:45am with check-in at 7:30am.
Koombana Bay is a key habitat long-recognized by local Noongar people, integral to traditional maritime life.
The Dolphin Discovery Centre operates as a not-for-profit focused on research, education, and sustainable interactions to ensure dolphin welfare.
Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, Western Australia, is a marine education and wildlife tourism provider focused on encounters with wild bottlenose dolphins in Koombana Bay. The centre operates the Marine Discovery Centre, featuring themed aquariums with species such as sharks and octopuses, interactive displays, feeding programs, guided tours, and a 360-degree Digital Dolphinarium. Visitors can learn about marine life through exhibits and scheduled educational experiences. Dolphin Discovery Centre runs guided wildlife tours including the Dolphin Eco-Cruise, a 60-minute eco-tour with a 300-degree viewing platform on a stable vessel. The Dolphin Eco-Cruise advertises encounters with over 100 bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat and offers a guaranteed dolphin sighting or a free return cruise. The centre also offers a Swim With The Dolphins experience, described as an award-winning tour that provides opportunities to swim with wild bottlenose dolphins under the guidance of experienced staff who support marine conservation, research, and education. Swim participants receive provided gear and access to facilities. Discounted listings for the Marine Discovery Centre and Dolphin Eco-Cruise are available as specific product options. All activities take place in and around Koombana Bay and the centre emphasizes education, conservation support, and responsible wildlife viewing. Guides provide expert commentary during cruises, and the Dolphin Eco-Cruise typically lasts 60 minutes in Koombana Bay. Programs and displays at the Marine Discovery Centre are suitable for visitors of all ages and school groups.
Book with Dolphin Discovery Centre