ckwald

We're going to be on the Big Island next month and are wondering whether any of you have swum with wild dolphin out in the ocean --specialized small charter boats find wild spinner dolphin pods, then you get into the water & hope like mad that they swim over to you. It's all done, as I understand it, with great care & respect for the dolphins. One outfit that does this has a website at www.sunlightonwater.com and another is www.dolphindiscoveries.com.

Does anyone have experience with either of these companies you'd care to share? I'd value your opinions, as always.

Jolie

I read that Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources is against the idea of swimming with dolphins. They are even against the type of activity where people get in the water and let the dolphins come to them, the idea being that any disruption of the dolphin's natural behavior is not good for the pod. The NOAA is currently working on administrative rules to protect the dolphins from such activities.

So for now, it's legal. But morally, I am against it.

Jolie

I should mention that I am especially sensitive to people swimming with dolphins (as opposed to other animals) because I had a college roommate who worked with researchers on dolphins.

Through her I learned that "real" dolphin researches will not allow jewelry, fingernails beyond the end of your skin, deodeorant, perfume, sun screen, or anything else that can affect the dolphins' sensitive skin. When I see hotels and other activities allowing any person and kids - with watches on, make-up, etc., to interact with dolphins, I know they don't REALLY care about dolphin well-being and it's just a quick buck, like any other irresponsible business. This is a pet peeve of mine, so that' why I may sound too "harsh" on this subject.

ckwald

No, Jolie, you don't sound harsh-- just committed to your convictions, and I admire them. I would never do the hotel and amusement park dolphin programs, but I was hoping that approaching a wild pod off the coast, which gives them the option to approach us or not, as they see fit, would be OK. Hmm. Would you please pass on to me the material you've read, particularly the NOAA (??? -- um, I dunno what those initials are but they must be impressive, or you wouldn't be citing them, right?

GoTravel

From my understanding, it is considered dangerous to swim with dolfin in the wild.

These are after all the only predator a shark has.

Jolie

ckwald - I'm sure you are not going to harm any dolphins, so my apologies for the rant and rave.

I can't find the newspaper article that I read last fall, but here is a similar one:
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story....3-73f8921f6c64

and this discussed it also: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...123000488.html

And while doing this search, I came across an Advertiser article I hadn't seen before, discussing sharks (all the more reason not to swim with dolphins!):
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../ln/ln08a.html

Well, if you do go, hope you have a fun and safe time.

sceneisle

"ckwald": It is my understanding that it's against Hawaii State law for tour boat operators to allow passengers into the water if dolphins are swimming nearby. Chance encounters of dolphins in the wild are rare, but fortunately it happened to me in Honolua Bay, Maui a few years ago. I don't know what NOAA, or any other agency can do if you happen to be snorkling in a very popular spot like Honolua and you're approached by dolphins. I say enjoy the moment.

starrsville

I went on a similar trip in the Keys. It was a horrible experience because of other "guests" on the trip. One woman splashed and kicked around in the water yelling "Here dolphin dolphin" as if she was calling a dog. I drifted off as far away as possible and remained as quiet as possible. I was the only person on the trip that came close to a dolphin. One swooped up from underneath me and glided past. I enjoyed that brief encounter - but not enough to do it again.

Ag3046

Wild dolphin tours only display the greed of tour boat operators and the stupidity of tourists. Thank goodness most wild dolphin are far smarter than the tourists and get as far away as possible.

Diana

It is wonderful to see this topic discussed in a responsible and thoughtful manner.

I've been involved in advocating against the swim with the dolphin (swtd) programs for about ten years.

There are NO swtd programs involving captive dolphins that allow interaction with the public that are not harmful to the dolphins, and as Jolie mentioned, even wild interaction is disruptive unless it's totally spontaneous and not a "dolphin tour."

People have been injured by both wild and captive dolphins as they are large animals and can be aggressive. One longtime dolphin resident of the Turks and Caicos islands - Jojo - had begun biting people due to the relentless assault of people molesting him.

ckwald, there is nothing like seeing dolphins in the wild, and I don't blame you at all for having an interest in participating in a dolphin tour.

I have been fortunate enough to see them up close several times. It's best to view from the shore or the boat, and enjoy their wild grace and beauty.

OO

We saw a woman like that in one of parks trips Starrs, only it was "Here baby, here baby" in a very high voice, calling a deer. We all got pretty good at "here baby" imitations in the car later.

I just wanted to say, GoT is right about dolphin in the wild. Our daughter was enamored enough by them to transfer from UT, which she loved, to TX A&M, just for their wildlife management program. She did an internship under Dr. Bernd Würsig at A&M Galveston one summer, doing tissue analysis on bottle nose dolphin, radio tracking them to see where they were feeding and what pollutants they were picking up--this during a period when there was an unusual dolphin die-off off the coast of Texas. She went from viewing them as gentle beasts to powerful and often unpredictable mammals, for which you needed healthy respect!

We've had them approach our sailboat, go under it or swim alongside and it's such a thrill, but as much as I love them, and as comfortable as I am in the water, I don't think I'd want to be in the water intentionally with them around me.

ckwald

(sigh) I guess I'm way too old to be suffering from the Flipper syndrome. Jolie, I read your articles-- many thanks.

How wonderful it is to have this resource of intelligent and caring Fodorites to turn to with a question. You guys are great!

GoTravel

OO, we had the most amazing dolphin experience fishing in the keys off Islamorada.

We were about two miles offshore and it was around 11AM and we were just about done trolling for the day.

All of a sudden we see this pod of dolphin including a mother and calf and this pod swam with us for almost an hour. I've seen them in the wild while sailing hundreds of times but this was the first time I've ever had them swim with us.

It was the most amazing experience.

It never occured to me to jump in the water with them. Mr.GoTravel, the Master Diver and all things Under The Sea would have snatched me right back out if I had been so inclined.

stevebarr

Although a dolphin encounter can be an incredibly unbelievable experience, another thing to consider is this: Dolphins can contract many human diseases. Quite often, germs can be spread from your hands touching their blowholes. Many people who swim with captive dolphins are not aware of this, but if you've got a runny nose or are showing symptoms of an illness, it is best for the dolphins if you just admire them from a distance.

Cackti

sceneisle,

I too had a dolphin encounter at Honolua Bay. My wife and I were snorkeling the northern side of the bay when we heard a great commotion. We popped our heads up out of the water and saw what looked to be the start of a Triathlon. People were running from the beach and literally diving into the water. There was a tour boat anchored, and people were leaping from it in all directions. Suddenly, we say a couple small pods swimming towards us, about 20 dolphins total. We just floated there and watched half of them swim (sideways, looking up) underneath us, in about 10 feet of water. The others half swam by on the surface about 15 feet from us. It was really amazing to see them so close. Unfortunatly, we were then almost drowned by the hoards of people that I guess thought they were going to catch up with them. If only we had been the only ones out that day!

TahitiTams

I have swam many times of the coast of La Jolla with dolphins, riding waves and diving down and playing but I never touch them and let them come to me..in Hawaii, I have seen them afar but never that close..I have seen the dolphin quest in Tahiti and it made me sad that they were pinned in a small lagoon.
When we go to Catalina from SD, the dolphins are always out in full force riding in the wake, crossing the bow and it is such a beautiful thing to see..they are such wonderful mammals!

LauraATL

I also had a chance encounter with wild dolphins on a dive trip to Bimini. We were free-diving for lobster off the beach when out of nowhere I happen to look up and there were 3 adults right in front of me. We just kind of stared at each other for a few minutes then they took off. It was definately a National Geographic moment I'll never forget.

sceneisle

Cackti: Isn't Honolua awesome? Great for just plain old snorkeling too. We just returned from Maui earlier this month and took a trip out to the Olvine Pools. On our way back, we stopped at the Honolua overlook. Unfortunately, we did not bring our snorkeling gear; as no sooner than we got there, a herd (multiple pods) of dolphins entered the bay. There must have been about 3 dozen total; swimming around near the surface. Fortunately for the dolphins, there were no tour boats or solo snorklers in the water at the time. The show lasted about 20 mintues. I posted a short video of the experience on the Trip Advisor web-site, under my screen name (sceneisle) and "profile/contributions".

dd992emo

Coming upon a dolphin while snorkeling and seeking them out on a boat are two different things. Look at it from their perspective. How would you like it if someone brought a 75HP outboard motor into your living room and lit that sucker off?

repete

We had a completely unplanned experience off the Big Island some years back. We were swimming offshore and a pond working along the shoreline came up, stopped for a moment and continued on its way. Locals said it happens a lot in this stretch. Won't ID it specifically, but it was a hike down the cliffs on the Puna side ...