Responsible wild dolphin watching is measured by how little you disturb them, not how close you get โ knowing the distance rules and reporting channels in advance is the most important thing to prepare.
The most important thing to bring on a dolphin-watching trip isn't a good camera โ it's a good attitude. Wild dolphins aren't happy to see people approach; a boat pressing in close or a drone hovering overhead can genuinely stress them. This matters even more for a regional population like Jeju's Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, where numbers aren't large โ staying far away and not interfering matters far more than getting a close look. Golladream put together the principles and gear worth having before you go.
The list below doubles as both gear advice and welfare guidance. Before you plan a trip, treat it as a starting point and re-check the latest official distance rules and on-site conditions with the relevant authorities.
