Dolphins are one of nature’s most mesmerizing creatures. These amphibious mammals are peaceful, highly intelligent, and can be spotted swimming gracefully in warm, tropical waters around the world. If you are interested in getting an up-close look at these amazing animals, you should book a dolphin-watching tour.

Ocean Joy Cruises in Kapolei, HI, offers dolphin- and whale-watching boat tours across the West Coast of Oahu. When guests book a tour with their company, they like to provide some basic information about the dolphins they may encounter and how to spot the differences, especially the bottlenose and spinner.

Bottlenose & Spinner Dolphins

Rostrum Length

One of the quickest ways you can spot the difference between bottlenose and spinner dolphins is the length of the rostrum. The rostrum—or snout—of the spinner is typically very long. In bottlenoses, the spinner is much shorter.

Dorsal Fin Shape

The dorsal fin of a spinner dolphin is dark and triangular shaped. A bottlenose, on the other hand, has a longer, sickle-shaped dorsal fin.

Size & Weight

Compared to bottlenose dolphins, spinners are fairly small in stature. Spinners grow to be between 6 to 7 feet in length and can weigh up to 170 pounds. A bottlenose is a much more imposing figure, reaching between 10 to 14 feet in length and weighing in at close to 1,000 pounds.

Groupings

Encountering a group of spinners while dolphin watching is a very different experience from a group of bottlenoses. Watching spinner dolphins is typically an exciting experience. You’ll spot many of them grouped together as they jump excitedly in and out of the water; putting on quite the show as they travel. In contrast, seeing bottlenose dolphins is a much more serene experience. They travel in groups of no more than 10, occasionally jumping out of the water up to 16 feet in the air before gracefully landing on their back.

Feeding Habits

Don’t be surprised if you spot some bottlenose dolphins during your whale-watching tour. Bottlenoses are frequently seen traveling and eating with humpback whales during the daytime. Spinners, however, prefer to travel by themselves. They typically reserve the daytime hours for resting and come out to eat in the evening.

If you are interested in going on a dolphin-watching tour on Oahu, contact Ocean Joy Cruises today by calling (808) 677-1277. For more information on available cruises and tours, including sunset cruises and private charters, visit their website.