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Rare Hector's dolphin caught spyhopping

Wednesday 17 November 2010, 5:38PM

By Tourism New Zealand

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AKAROA

A camera has captured a rare close encounter with nature - a spyhopping dolphin in New Zealand waters that has created one tourist’s never-to-be-forgotten travel experience.

Jason Hagedorn, from Chicago, was on a dolphin-swimming expedition in Akaroa Harbour on Saturday (13.11.2010) when he came face-to-face with a rare Hector’s dolphin - the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin.
As Hagedorn swam in the harbour’s sheltered waters, the little dolphin popped up beside him, its head and eyes raised above water - eyeball to eyeball with the delighted swimmer.

Dolphin spyhopping
Hagedorn - who was out with his wife and six other passengers on a scheduled morning cruise with Black Cat Cruises - was witness to a dolphin behaviour known as ‘spyhopping’.

A dolphin or whale ‘spyhops’ by raising its head vertically out of the water at least high enough for the eyes to be clear of the surface.

It will often rotate slowly, apparently checking out the surroundings, then quietly sink back below the water surface.

One-in-a-million shot

Tourism operator Paul Bingham of Black Cat Cruises, who’s been in the dolphin-spotting business for 25-years, said it was a lucky encounter.

"That’s a one-in-a-million shot. Talk about having a one-on-one connection. The chap in the photo said that he will never forget this moment."

Guide Laura Hansen, who took the photo, said the swim took place at 9.30am in Akaroa Harbour near Onuku Marae / Maori village.

"The dolphin did a couple of spyhops and was really into this swimmer," Hansen said.

"The dolphin also did some 'logging' which is coming to a complete halt in the water and eyeballing the swimmer which is quite unusual behaviour."

Black Cat Cruises run wildlife and scenic tours from Banks Peninsula, near Christchurch, in New Zealand’s South Island.

Background: Banks Peninsula

Banks Peninsula is home to the world’s rarest dolphin - the Hector’s or New Zealand dolphin is the smallest oceanic dolphin, and is renowned for its playful, friendly nature.

About 900 of the dolphins make their home around Banks Peninsula, and regularly come into Akaroa and Lyttelton harbours.

The region is also the place to see a wide variety of marine mammals and birds, including passing whales, New Zealand fur seals and endangered yellow-eyed penguins.

Sheltered Akaroa Harbour sits within a nine-million-year-old volcanic cone. Spectacular scenery includes still visible ancient lava flows, and Scenery Nook - a dramatic multi-hued volcanic amphitheatre.

Background: Black Cat Cruises

Black Cat Cruises - a pioneer of eco-tourism in New Zealand - has been operating scenic and wildlife tours on Banks Peninsula for 25 years.

Black Cat’s primary product is the dolphin swimming tour, but the company’s cruises also offer the chance to see a variety of marine mammals and birds. Cruises cover local history and geographical features.

The company received international publicity in 2008 with the world-first introduction of dry swimming suits for winter tours. Swimmers don the dry suits over their normal clothes.

Black Cat Cruises is committed to best environmental practices. It has won numerous accolades including New Zealand’s Supreme Tourism Award.

The company contributes substantially to a number of environmental and community programmes, including marine mammal education and research fund, the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust, and university research projects.