Whether you’re visiting Hawaii for the first time or you’re a long-time resident, encountering a dolphin in the wild will always be a thrilling and memorable experience. You may be surprised to learn that there are multiple dolphin species that swim along Hawaii’s coast, each of which has distinguishing features, lifestyles, and habitats. These are some of the most common species you may see during dolphin excursions or catamaran tours.

3 Dolphin Species You May Encounter in Hawaii

1. Spinner Dolphins

Also known by its scientific name, Stenella longirostris, the long-beaked spinner dolphin is the most commonly seen species off Hawaii’s coasts. Spinner dolphins spend most of the daylight hours resting in resident pods near the shore. Lucky sightseers may even get to witness one of these small dolphins leap out of the water, “spinning” around as many as six times in the air. At night, the spinner dolphin travels to deeper waters to forage for food, including smaller schools of fish.

2.· Bottlenose Dolphins

Tursiops truncatus is another species often seen during dolphin excursions. They’re easy to distinguish from other dolphins due to their large size and distinctive, bottle-shaped beat. This species rests and travels in smaller packs of no more than ten. They’re extremely intelligent and playful. You may catch them bowriding, or surfing in the waves created by passing ships. Like whales, they also lobtail, or slap the surface of the water with their rear fin. 

3. Spotted Dolphins

These dolphins are often confused for spinner dolphins because they grow to a similar size. To tell them apart, take a close look at their beak and body. Mature spotted dolphins have a white tip on their beaks and develop a spotted pattern. Additionally, spotted dolphins aren’t generally seen near shore like the spinner. Instead, they like to rest in the more secluded channels between islands and often travel in large pods. 

If you’d like to observe some of these dolphins in the wild for yourself, schedule a  dolphin excursions with EO Wai’anae Tours. This local dolphin boat company can introduce you to the wonders that await just off Hawaii's Oahu coast. They also offer a variety of other fun-filled packages sure to excite tourists and locals alike, including snorkeling tours, whale watching, and catamaran boat rides. To experience the beauty of the waters of Oahu, contact their team today at (808) 699-5910. Visit them online to book dolphin excursions for your friends, family, or coworkers.