mammal
Spinner dolphin.
Stenella longirostris · also: Long-snouted spinner dolphin
The Maldives' most commonly seen dolphin, famed for hurling itself from the water and rotating up to seven times in mid-air. By day, large pods rest and socialise inside atoll lagoons; by night they head offshore to hunt in deep water. Bow-riding spinners are a signature Maldivian moment.
Size
~2 m, ~60–75 kg
Weight
~23–79 kg.
Diet
Small mesopelagic fish, squid and shrimp, hunted at depth at night.
Lifespan
~20–25 years.
Depth
Rests in shallow lagoons; dives ~200–300 m to feed.
Reproduction
~10-month gestation; calving interval ~3 years; nurses 1–2 years.
Snorkel or dive
Boat-based watching
Best season
Year-round; afternoon trips best
Conservation
Least Concern
How to recognise it
Slim body, long thin beak, tall triangular dorsal fin; tri-tone grey colouring.
Behaviour
Famous for spinning leaps; rests in lagoons by day, feeds offshore at night; large pods.
Where to see it in the Maldives
Channels of South Ari, Baa and Vaavu; pods of 40–100+, best on late-afternoon cruises.
Conservation
Tuna-fishery bycatch (historically severe), boat disturbance to resting pods, noise.
IUCN · Least Concern
Watch them responsibly
Don't chase, encircle or swim into resting daytime pods — day is their rest period; let boats pass slowly.
Can complete up to ~7 spins in a single leap — the most acrobatic of all dolphins.
The purpose of the aerial spin is still debated — likely acoustic signalling or dislodging parasites.
Collective noun: a pod of dolphins
Want to dive with spinner dolphin?
Our Maldives specialists match you to the right atoll, season and resort.
More mammals
Sightings are typical, not guaranteed — encounters vary with season and conditions.