I just ticked-off another from my bucketlist– swimming* with dolphins. Yep, but I did this not during a dolphin show or in a dolphinarium. I did this while holding on a boat’s “katig” in Mati City.
*Swimming. I was informed that swimming with a dolphin and/or whales is prohibited by our law so as not to disturb their activity. I hope this will not be misunderstood because I just held on to the boat’s katig while listening to their song below. It was an awesome experience, I got a different kind of stoke.
After the pawikan season comes the dolphin season here in Dahican Bay, Mati City. Pods and pods of spinner and spotted dolphins abound here in the months of June to September (Habagat season) because they feed and mate in the area during this time.
If you are lucky enough you would see dolphins in the bay swimming freely and doing aerial acrobats while following a pump boat.
I would stop here and let you watch the 3:08 minutes video. Hope the message is passed on to others.
Thank you!
Mati City is not only home to these dolphins. They co-exist with dugongs, pawikans and whalesharks too.You can check the latest updates by visiting these sites:
https://journeyingjames.com/2013/07/25-interesting-facts-about-pawikans/
https://journeyingjames.com/2013/07/what-will-happen-to-the-pawikan-hatchery-in-dahican-beach/
I hope you would share these blogs. 😉
You can also learn a lot when you visit these Facebook pages:
Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines– I always visit this page to be updated on the local and international news. New lessons everyday guaranteed! Thanks Dr. AA for this page!
Dolphins Love Freedom– Maintained by my friend AG Sano, dedicated to saving the dolphins.
Save Philippine Seas– Created by different individuals to stop the abuse and destruction of our marine resources.
Underwater video is courtesy of Rudel Santos. All other videos are mine.

“After the pawikan season comes the dolphin season here in Dahican Bay, Mati City. Pods and pods of dolphins abound here in the months of June to September (Habagat season) because they feed and mate in the area during this time.” – I have been searching for this information for months!! Had I known months ago, I would not have scheduled my trip back to Davao this year as late as October, but earlier instead >_< Any chance that I'll still spot dolphins by then? 🙂
Great post, James!
sir, during october there will be sighting of dugongs so dont worry you are more lucky.
kung maka-“sir” ka naman… hahaha. dugongs!!! that’s grrreeeaaaattt!!!
Oh wow! That’s so nice, James! Have to visit Davao soon just to get a chance to do this.
come and visit! let me know in advance para maguide kita. hehe one of the locals here in davao oriental
Great video, James. It just goes to show that we need not put dolphins in captivity just to see them perform.
yes and we should not patronize dolphin shows too. please spread the word swexie
I also saw dolphins (accidentally) when i went to SILINOG ISLAND, in Dapitan maybe a hundred of them.
James I hope you can visit there too to see the beauty of the small island. Great People and rich in marine life.
wow! did you identify them? i wish to see that too. first time i heard of silinog island
nice blog sana lang,bago ka magsalita alamin mo muna ang kalagayan ng kapwa pilipino mo!akala mo ba lahat makakayang ma afford yan ginagawa at para makapagmatyag ng dolphin?isip isip muna kapag may time!
sir, last time i checked its free to watch dolphins swimming and jumping in the wild.
do they pay you now when you watch dolphins shows in ocean adventure? please update me 🙂
Antonyo, Basa basa muna ng blog pag may time, bago ma comment..
I had swam and watched dolphins in the wild…it didn’t cost me a centavo! Affordable sya if you have time 😛
WORD! i agree sir czaldy
Last year while in a ship off to palawan, we saw 4 dolphins playing with the waves. it was an unforgettable experience 4 me…not a lot of people has the opportunity of being able to see them in their natural habitat, free…
diba its so refreshing to enjoy these dolphins in the wild? im sure you are leaping and ecstatic when you saw those dolphins.