In Search of Broome’s famous Snubfin Dolphins

Sightings of snubfin dolphins, an enthusiastic and helpful crew and a stunning sunset ensured Broome Whale Watching’s three-hour Scenic Dolphin Sunset cruise was truly memorable.

A text before the cruise offered a reminder that wildlife sightings vary each day and are not guaranteed. However, as Broome Whale Watching also operates a Subfin Dolphin morning cruise, the company would seemingly have a pretty good idea where to look!

As we learnt from our captain Cam, Broome’s Roebuck Bay is home to Australia’s largest known population of snubfin dolphins, a species renowned for their large heads, small dorsal fin and broad paddle like pectoral fins and for spitting water which helps them catch fish.

Their looks and habits have attracted many wildlife enthusiasts including Sir David Attenborough who visited Broome several years ago to film the near threatened species.

As was the case with the other wildlife spotted on the cruise, including a large turtle and perhaps a dugong, photographing these creatures proved elusive. But watching them pop up and disappear under the water as quickly as they appeared provided plenty of entertainment for the 30 passengers on board Broome Whale Watching’s 50-foot catamaran Orcaella.

Equally enjoyable for a number of passengers on board was a swim on the boom net attached to the back of the boat.

For those not so inclined there were several locations to chill, enjoy the scenery and the canapes and drinks happily served by crew members Mac and Hoppy.

While the Orcaella is licensed, passengers are also welcome to bring their own drinks on board which a number did (the only restriction: the drinks must be opened and served by the crew).

As a result of the delicious food, made by Cam’s wife Val it’s unlikely anyone needed dinner that night!

The water also proved an ideal location to observe Cable Beach’s famous and stunning sunset ensuring the perfect end to the three-hour cruise.

While the cruise includes pick up and drop off at passengers’ accommodation thanks to Mac and Hoppy those on board who also wanted to see Broome’s famous Staircase to the Moon could also do so via a transfer to the Mangrove Hotel – one of the best viewing areas.

Their desire to advise and help added to the experience as did a ride on Sealegs – the amphibious transfer vessel which transfers passengers from the shore to Orcaella.