· 6 min read · by Salimar Boat Tour
Dolphins near Olbia: where you really see them, from shore and by boat
Everyone wants to see dolphins on holiday, and almost nobody tells you the truth: where they actually are, what your chances look like, and what is fair to expect from wild animals. Here is the full answer, with the exact spots.
Why dolphins really are seen here
In the waters between the Capo Figari headland and Golfo Aranci a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins has lived for over ten years. The reason is concrete: near the islet of Figarolo there is a fish farm with big cages of sea bass and sea bream, and that fish draws the dolphins in every day. It is not luck: it is their home.
The same bottlenose dolphins, coastal animals by nature, also swim regularly in the waters of the Tavolara Marine Protected Area, between the island and the San Teodoro coast: that is where our tours run.
Seeing them free from the shore: Cala Moresca (Golfo Aranci)
The bay of Cala Moresca, at the start of the Capo Figari trail, looks straight onto the Figarolo waters where the dolphins pass every day. With some patience and ideally binoculars, a shore sighting here is more likely than anywhere else in the area. The best light is in the morning, when the sun lights the bay and the sea is calmer.
How to get to Cala Moresca and where to park
The beach car park is the via Cala Moresca car park in Golfo Aranci: from there you walk down to the bay in a few minutes. In summer arrive early, spaces go fast.
Distances: about 25 minutes by car from Olbia, about 40 from San Teodoro. The cove is small and has no services: bring water and a hat.
Seeing them by boat: the two options
1) Short trips from Golfo Aranci towards Figarolo: one and a half to two hours dedicated purely to the sighting, with very high chances thanks to the fish farm. A quick experience, mixed groups.
2) Our dolphin watching in the Marine Protected Area: 3.5 hours from the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Marina+di+Olbia+Via+Piovene+8" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color:#1b7fd4;font-weight:700">Marina di Olbia (MOYS)</a>, a route between Tavolara and San Teodoro with swim and snorkelling stops (masks on board). Dolphins are wild and can appear anywhere along the route; and even on a day they decide not to show, you have spent it in the most protected water in Sardinia.
| Tavolara & Molara islands tour | €70 per person | Book now Details › | |
| Dolphin watching | €70 per person | Book now Details › |
The rules of those who respect them (and why they matter)
The code of conduct of serious operators is simple: run parallel to the dolphins, never cut across them; reduced speed in the sighting area; engine in neutral if they approach you; short observation times; no food, ever. And you do not swim with dolphins: if someone promises you that, change operator.
When to see them
The pod is resident, so technically all year round. The golden moments are dawn and sunset, with calm sea and more active dolphins; in summer there are more departures to choose from. For Cala Moresca from the shore: early morning, always.
Quick answers
Is the sighting guaranteed? No, and beware of anyone who guarantees it: these are wild animals. But the Figarolo area has near-daily sightings, and in the Marine Protected Area the frequency is high.
Is it good for children? Yes: mostly sheltered water, swim stops and the real thrill of wild animals instead of an aquarium.
What should I bring? From the shore: binoculars, water, a hat. On the boat: sunscreen, swimsuit and a camera or phone with some zoom.
You find the dedicated tour on the Tavolara dolphins page or you can book straight from the table above: your card is only authorised until the skipper confirms.
Facts checked on 1 August 2026. Dolphins remain wild animals: routes, frequencies and Marine Protected Area rules can change, and on board the skipper’s judgement always prevails.