A pod of up to 200 dolphins was spotted in the Tauranga Harbour and surrounding waters on Tuesday.

The pod of common dolphins was first reported to be around the harbour entrance at about 9.30am, and were later located by Butler's Swim with Dolphins skipper Graeme Butler about four miles from Mayor Island around 2.30pm.

A common adult dolphin and a calf from the pod spotted in Bay of Plenty waters.

Graeme says the dolphins are strong and healthy and included a number of calves.

'We have hardly moved and they have just gathered around us.

'It's awesome.”

Graeme was particularly excited to see the dolphin nick-named Notchyfinn.

'They come and go - but she looks just the same as when I first saw her years ago.”

Graeme says the pod appeared to be following the sun throughout the day, with the dolphins more than happy to hang around the boat, providing a spectacle for guests on board.

'It was really good to see them.”

Members from the pod of dolphins.

After the Rena wreck was hammered by large seas at the end of last week, Graeme says he again became concerned for the safety of dolphins in Tauranga waters as the potential for more oil leaking was heightened.

'The Rena has definitely changed things.”

Although the dolphins appear to be unharmed, Graeme says he continues to be concerned about the lack of bird life at sea.

Normally with a pod this size there is a significant number of birds with them, he says.

'There are very few birds, diving petrels and gannets, they're just not here.”

Graeme says despite the Rena incident, the number of dolphins in Bay of Plenty waters in the last three months has not fallen.