Frequently Asked Questions

We invite you to read this page carefully before booking, to fully understand the cetacean outings and the prerequisites necessary for this extraordinary activity. You can also contact us for any other request.

Before booking:

The outing is made for you if you meet all these conditions: You know how to swim. You are really comfortable in the water with fins, mask and snorkel. You are in good physical health and able to do at least 100 meters in the "big blue" with waves and currents without having a foothold or seeing the bottom with your mask. You are able to go back up on the boat independently either along the tubes on a zodiac or via a ladder on the catamaran. You think that going in search of wild animals to observe them depends on their goodwill, their behavior and the environmental conditions, which are sometimes difficult in the Indian Ocean. You are reactive and able to apply precise instructions. You are over 12 years old (between 8 and 12 years old contact us ).

The outing is not for you if only one of these statements applies to you: You do not know how to swim. You are not comfortable with fins, mask and snorkel or you only use a full-face mask. You do not have the physical abilities to swim 100m with fins in the open sea and to frequently climb up to the back of a boat on a rope or stainless steel ladder. You have known health problems or you are pregnant. ( see T&Cs ). You are under 8 years old. You have a physical, psychological or mental disability, please contact us before booking.

The supervisors reserve the right not to embark or put into the water any person who does not respect these conditions and the instructions given. No discount will be made in this case.

Reservation :

Book a few days in advance and suggest a date to your friends and family. Pay per person if you are in a group. In high season, which is the whale season, it is recommended to book at least three to four weeks in advance.

All places must be reserved online. Online reservations are confirmed by an automatic email when payment is validated. The day before your outing, you will receive a reminder email. If you do not hear from us before the outing, it means that it is still on.

We do not accept waiting lists. Any cancellations are announced on the Duocean Facebook page.

On the day of release:

Please arrive at the time indicated on your reservation. In order to respect the timing of the outing and the other participants, we will not wait for latecomers. No postponement or discount will be made in the event of delay.

To avoid seasickness, do not come on an empty stomach or very tired.

A swimsuit that is "worn on you" is essential.

On the zodiac, avoid dry items (bag, towel, mobile phone, clothes, shoes, camera, etc.) that hinder our progress on board, and leave them in your car or in the Duocean vehicle. Sunglasses are recommended for your visual comfort during active search phases. In the southern winter, you can take a windbreaker. In the southern summer, a T-shirt and a hat are recommended.

This activity is then not suitable for you. For all our outings, you must be comfortable with a snorkel mask and master the finning movement without hitting the surface of the water with your fins. You also need to be strong enough to get back on the boat independently. Full-face masks are not suitable for the Indian Ocean.

The preliminary launch or the first few minutes of snorkeling around the boat will allow you to know your abilities. If it turns out that it is too difficult for you, you will be encouraged to go back up and enjoy the outing from the boat (no discount will be made).

If you have never been snorkeling, choose an outing where you stay on board to enjoy the outing from the boat.

Cetaceans taste the water in order to know their environment, to identify their health and readiness for mating with their peers (...) It's like the sense of smell in humans. We will therefore avoid disturbing them as much as possible with particles of sunscreen all around them. The marine environment will also be better off without it ;-)

Sunscreen on your face causes your mask to fog up, which can interfere with viewing.

Also note that the duration of effectiveness of these products in Reunion is very short, less than an hour.

To protect you from the sun, Duocean has installed a roof on the zodiac and the partner catamaran also has areas protected from direct rays. The wetsuit worn during the outing is a much more effective barrier against UV rays. Also, don't hesitate to take a hat, a lycra/long-sleeved T-shirt and sunglasses on board.

This is the "game" of cetacean outings... observations are never guaranteed in the wild, just like on a land safari.

We know the areas frequented and the times when the animals pass by, but it is not an exact science. The ocean is not a zoo, they are wild animals and in fact they choose whether or not to show themselves. Despite our experience, launchings can fail: it is possible that the animals are not ready to receive us and that they avoid us in the water. In this case, we do not insist.

No discount is made if the animals are not there.

During the outing, the specialized Duocean guide will provide you with information on the marine environment, cetaceans, its fauna and flora, the marine reserve, birds, etc.

The time spent in the water with the animals varies greatly from one outing to another: from a few seconds to several minutes sometimes. This depends both on the availability of the animals at that moment and also on the correct application of the rules for approaching cetaceans by the participants. It is a question of implementing the instructions given by the instructor during the briefing to optimize the chances that the animals choose to do the last few meters.

In addition, Reunion Island legislation determines a maximum time in the water depending on the conditions of human presence. This is in order to disturb the whales and dolphins as little as possible. (see question on legislation)

In order to preserve the peace and quiet of cetaceans, Reunion has put in place a prefectural decree which governs their approaches: when, how, duration, with whom, what diploma is necessary to supervise cetacean outings (annex 1)...

Duocean is committed to the authorities for its application, to the public for awareness and to Nature for the respect of animals. Passive observation allows the animal to choose whether to come to meet Man or not. No interaction is proposed by Man; the animals use their life time for their own needs.

It is a sporting activity aimed more at dynamic adults.

However, current regulations allow children from 8 years old to enter the water*. Please contact us before booking if your children are between 8 and 12 years old.

Beyond the age of 12, even if your child knows how to "swim", it is therefore essential to ensure your child's real snorkeling abilities in order to guarantee a great outing for everyone:

- Is my child able to swim 100 m with fins without having a foot in the open sea without seeing the bottom?

- Is he able to look into the water even if there are waves offshore?

- Does he know how to handle his mask and snorkel in the open sea without getting hurt?

- Is he able to act quickly like an adult to equip himself, get into the water in sync with all the other participants, and fin without slowing down the group?

- Is he able to stay calm in the water, not to move around at the risk of scaring away the animals?

Please present the ID of each minor registered for the outing. The instructor and the captain may refuse on board a child whose age cannot be justified. In this case, no discount will be made and the outing will be due in full.

Zodiac outings are not suitable for children under 8 years old and they take up a place according to the law. Only the catamaran can accommodate them, but they will pay an adult place from 2 years old. We do not practice a child rate because there are no "half places" on a boat ... In addition, one of the parents must remain on board at all times with the child. Please therefore take the two places on the "accompanying" schedule without launching in the event of the presence of a child between 2 and 8 years old. Under 2 years old, the child's place is free on the catamaran but we strongly advise against their presence on board.

The outing includes periods of physical activity: snorkeling, going back up to the boat, etc.

You must therefore be in good shape, and in particular not have cardiovascular problems, back pain or be pregnant (see our T&Cs for more information).

If you have a physical, psychological or mental disability, please contact us before making any reservation. A medical certificate may be requested depending on the situation.

There is no "high" age limit. It all depends on the physical condition of the participant.

The supervisors reserve the right not to embark or put into the water any person who does not respect these conditions and the instructions given. No discount will be made.

The Indian Ocean is rarely completely calm. At times the boat has to stop during approaches, which can lead to seasickness. The activity itself makes about 2 out of 10 people seasick.

We advise sensitive participants to bring anti-seasickness medication for a pleasant outing (mercalme, cocculine, etc.) and to follow our advice to avoid it, such as avoiding excesses the day before, not coming on an empty stomach, and participating in the active search for cetaceans, etc.

We will tell you about it at the briefing, but only three sharks have been observed during cetacean outings since our creation. They were not at all interested in us... Probably because a shark does not approach a group of swimmers as big as it! These animals are wary and observe for a long time before approaching humans. The accidents concern people who isolate themselves in poor visibility.

Our procedures implemented with regard to this risk:

- moving in a tight group, the main factor for your safety

- the instructor always goes into the water first and then authorizes the group to enter the water

- he watches over the group throughout the presence in the water

- he goes back on the boat last

- the captain, also very experienced, watches over the water from the boat

- short launches, which do not give the sharks time to take an interest in the group

- calm participants, who do not attract sharks from afar by tapping the surface of the water

At each outing, our participants tell us that they felt safe in this new environment.

Whales are generally present from June to October, but everything depends on the number and the migration which can change greatly depending on the year: In 2018, the first whales arrived in June, and they left at the end of October! In 2019 and 2020, they were present from July to the end of August. In 2022 and 2023 some stayed from June until the beginning of November. In 2024 the whales were in Reunion waters from June to September.

The 3 species of dolphins are present ALL YEAR ROUND, without any particular period.

If you encounter cetaceans in the water, the guide films your outing and posts it within 48 hours on Duocean's social networks: Facebook OR Instagram . You can save the real thing in your profile so you can come back to it whenever you want.

We do not keep the movies or photos, it would be too much data to store. We cannot therefore personally send you the movie or the rushes after your release because they are deleted immediately after the post.

No, you cannot bring your own photo/video equipment on board. Indeed, when filming, participants are less focused on the approach instructions and sometimes even turn into "image hunters" rather than passive and benevolent observers.

We therefore invite you to enjoy the moment with your eyes to fully experience these unique moments of encounter with cetaceans. Especially since the guide films if you see animals in the water and posts it for free on Duocean's social networks following the outing (see previous question).

People who wish to take photos from the boat will only choose the "accompanying" excursion WITHOUT launching by catamaran where dry gear can be taken on board.

From you:

To cancel your reservation, please contact us as soon as possible and during our opening hours by email at duocean.reunion@gmail.com or by phone/text message at 06 92 44 30 11 , specifying the boat, the date of the planned departure, your name, first name and your reservation number.

Changing the date of your reservation is only possible more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure and subject to availability. Cancelling your reservation is possible more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure. The requested refund will be effective on your bank account within a few working days. A processing fee of 20% of the amount paid online for the reservation applies for each cancellation more than 72 hours before the scheduled appointment.

There is no refund or postponement possible less than 72 hours before the scheduled appointment, whatever the reason for cancellation. In addition, the partner part to be paid directly to the boat remains due by all participants.

By booking, you agree to come with a number of people corresponding to the number of places you have reserved. The booking system does not allow you to change the number of participants in an order. If you still want to change the number of people, you must first contact us to cancel the first booking with the conditions mentioned above. Then you can make a new booking online at www.duocean.com with the correct number of participants. Please note that places are not guaranteed since the booking system is online and accessible to everyone at all times.

By Duocean:

We can cancel an outing if the number of participants is not sufficient (6 people minimum the day before the outing), in the case of bad sea weather (wind, swell), a boat breakdown or even an absence of an instructor. Payments are then fully refunded if there is no possibility of postponement.

In the event of a direct cancellation on our part, participants who wish to retake places can do so on the website www.duocean.com . No priority is given and we do not take a waiting list.

Please provide the telephone number and email address where you can be reached before your departure when making your reservation.