Close up to a Bottlenose Dolphin
AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Tue 3 Jan 2012 20:29
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As a Christmas pressie to each other we fulfilled a long-held
ambition to get up close to a dolphin or two. We are blessed when cruising to
enjoy the company of these fascinating creatures that seem to be as curious
about us as we are about them. Whenever it's safe to do so we go forward
and watch them playing in our bow wave - on the few occasions we go fast enough
to actually make one that is. We've even had pilot whales at the bows but
fortunately nothing larger! Our favourite species are the Bottlenose and
Atlantic Spotted - a completely daft bunch but great fun to
watch.
Rotan has a wonderful research facility based at Anthony
Key Resort on the Northwest of the island featuring
20+ bottlenose dolphins from which the males have been trained to
allow close contact with the public under the guidance of a trainer. Without the
trainer's prescience it would be extremely difficult to avoid stressing the
friendly creatures. The females are not included in the public interaction as
they would be a distraction - male dolphins being a pretty randy lot but with a
very short span of attention.
Many people have varying thoughts on such establishments - us
included, especially having witnessed so much dolphin activity near the boat
-however one fact we are aware of - in the wild these mammals love to
play and perform as part of their daily life. None of the activities performed
at the Research Institute were any different to what we have seen them undertake
in the wild with the one exception that we were able to smooth the dolphins
belly and back, staying well away from the blow hole of course.
So without further ado here are the pics of our time
in their company - a mere 30 minutes in fact. Our dolphin's name was Ken.
And for anyone feeling that their captivity seems cruel - well during
Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - a major destructive Category 5 the dolphin
pens were damaged allowing the dolphins their freedom - but they all returned to
the Institute. Must be the 35lbs of fish they are fed
daily!
Aerial view of Bailey's
Key at Anthony Key Resort showing the dolphin pens
 
A short boat ride takes us to the dolphins'
home
The main pen where people can snorkel with them
  The briefing area where we are told about the rules of
encounter........
.......before heading to a small beach to wade waist
deep
 
Chatting to a
visitor!
Here we go........ 6 of us in a straight line (3 were retrieving
cameras)
The red box carried by the trainer is full of
fish - not cold beers
  This
is Ken - he thinks it's funny
anyway.......
...... and off he goes to perform a tail walk for us for which we give him much
applause
 Ken
received double fish rations for this leap
  Just
stick your hand in there
Madam......
........and now you Sir
  and now for a nice big wet sloppy
kiss
Phil would have preferred a female dolphin to be doing
this!
  Watching Dixon, Ken's younger brother
performing......
..............while Ken just blows a few bubbles
Ready? Now Heave !!! Gosh Ken you're are a
heavy cetacean!!!
We learnt a lot about the dolphins whilst there, but it's all
on the internet for anyone to find out about. For us it was the experience which
we'll always remember.
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