← All speciesLeast Concern
Spinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostris
About the species
A spinner can turn several times around its long axis in a single leap
Spinner dolphins are the dolphins you meet on a sunset cruise in the Maldives, leaping and spinning along the side of the boat. They are slim, with a long narrow beak, and travel in pods that can number from a few dozen to hundreds.
They feed in deep water at night and come into sheltered bays and lagoons by day to rest and socialise.
Quick facts
Conservation status
Least ConcernSize
1.7 to 2.4 metres, weight up to about 80 kg
Diet
Small fish and squid
Lifespan
Up to about 20 years
Best season
Year-round, most often at sunrise and sunset from the boat
Where to see them
Open ocean, atoll lagoons and sheltered bays
Want to see Spinner Dolphin in the wild?
We'll time your trip to the season and take you to the sites where the odds are best.
Hi! I'd love to encounter Spinner Dolphin in the Maldives. Can you help me plan a trip around the season?
We reply to every enquiry within 24 hours.
