Blogs
Snorkeling With… Andrew Neighbour, Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures, South Australia
In this ongoing series, we speak to the people who run snorkel centres, resorts and liveaboards from around the world about their businesses and the snorkeling they have to offer…
What is your name?
Andrew Neighbour
What is the name of your business?
Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures
What is your role within the business?
Owner / Skipper
How long has the business operated for?
15 yrs
How long have you snorkeled for, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Basically all of my life , I like the freedom and ease of snorkeling
If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?
I think the fact we operate on the dolphins terms & conditions. We do offer a completely wild swim so no ropes / no props. We operate a prop free zone and the dolphins are not fed so they are as wild as can be. And the fact we take you right into their lounge room to swim with them.
What is your favourite snorkel spot and why?
Probably North Cape because it has everything: cuttlefish, seals, dolphins, crayfish, eagles rays, the lot!
What is the main focus of your snorkeling trips?
The dolphins are no doubt the highlight. The fact that we can guarantee this on a daily basis with wild dolphins is pretty amazing… only 2 times in 15 yrs have we failed to find dolphins!
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
Giving people what they pay for. They are after an unique wildlife experience and that’s what we give them and after, when they are enjoying there hot tea/coffee an reflecting at what they have just achieved, is pretty special.
What is your favorite underwater creature?
Octopus
As a center what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?
Our biggest issue is the recreational industry not adhering to the rules of the marine mammal interaction policy. We have recreational boats seek us out daily to then pull up along side with people diving in right on top of our dolphins. You can imagine what the dolphins do.. yep they pretty much scatter.
Is your center involved in any environmental work?
We work closely with KI Dolphin Watch, the NRM board & National Parks.
Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?
Hopefully more understanding regarding our dolphin/ whales and the marine mammal policy.
How do you see the Snorkeling / Freediving / SCUBA industry overall? What changes would you make?
What changes would you make? None really apart from… Hey guys get out there enjoy your own back yard! Whilst we cannot travel internationally I think it’s a great time to push this market.
Finally, what would you say to our visitors to promote the snorkeling you have to offer?
It’s safe, it’s kid-friendly, it’s in shallow water, it’s a wild experience and it’s guaranteed to make your day.
Where can our visitors find out more about your business?