About three years ago we went to Tenerife and whilst there we went on a boat trip,it was a catamaran with nets slung across the front of it.We saw lots of dolphins and they came really close to the boat,it was pure magic to see them so close and in their natural environment.Please ,please ,please do not go to dolphinariums,most of them are cruel although they pretend not to be.

OSCARBEN - I did the same trip I am guessing I loved it so beautiful

Miss Pink,absolutely fantastic wasn't it?

Watching dolphins in their natural environment is the only way to do it. To have them in captivity is cruel and sad, they are not meant to be kept in pools

Tin Can Bay in Queensland is a magic place for feeding the dolphins, by hand, in their own environment. The swim into the bay every morning for feeding. With a couple of game wardens supervising, you pay a couple of dollars for a small bucket with 2 fish, step into the water and the dolphins take the fish out of your hand.

They've hardly missed a day in the last ten years and are now bringing their young along to join in.

Well worth a visit if you get over that way.

Sounds fabulous!!

I was very fortunate that on my last diving holiday to the Red Sea in December, we were lucky enough to dive with dolphins in thier own environment. There was a major storm and out boat took shelter at Bluff Point...apparantly this is on a dolphin feeding route....they swim past twice a day. On the first day, we had all just finished diving when a pod of about a dozen came past..so we all jumped back in and had a swim with them.
We saw them again the next day..and on a dive, just as we rolled off the rib, we were met by a mum and baby who decided to have a little bit of an interaction with us. On the final dive of the holiday, we were again met by some younger dolphins who decided to swim with us for a while, swim away and then keep coming back for repeat performances. We were so close we could touch them. They were even mimicking peoples movements underwater.
I have quite a few photo's..and the best thing is we were there on thier terms....it was all natural. They allowed us into thier world. When they were bored with us...they swam off.
I think I posted some photo;s on my media here on HT...it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life..and one of the reasons why i go diving...to experience such wonderous things as that.

Wow Justval, just wow!

I have never been diving and I've only been snorkelling once. But I was lucky enough on that first ever snorkel trip in Marsa Alam, Egypt, to encounter a school of dolphins swimming by and all around us in the water.

I would never go to a commercial 'swim with dolphins' venture.

I saw the Coachtrip footage yesterday too, amazing!

OSCARBEN wrote:

Miss Pink,absolutely fantastic wasn't it?

Yes It really was, and I think it's one of those trips that you 'feel' if you know what I mean

We have seen them on the Gulf Coast in Florida but the nearest we got to them was on a trip to Cleopatras Island in Turkey.They swam alongside the boat and when the boatman pulled into a bay they were still near the boat.Lots of people got off and swam with them.I dare not swim in deep water but it was amazing to watch them.
Several years ago there was one in the Marina here in the cold North East and it stayed all summer then just took off one day.
I hope it is the beginning of the end for all the Dolphinariums.

The only swimming with Dolphins I would consider (they're actually swimming with us);



I don't believe these beautiful mammals should be held in captivity.

Darren

My sentiments exactly.

Just a snap of the 2 dolphins in Tin Can Bay



If you look closely, level with the lad's elbow, there's one swimming away.

We saw some on a trip from Parga to Paxos, as well as pilot whales and a seal. It was truly magical and emotional to be so privileged.

I did an essay on this subject a few years ago and my research led me to the conclusion
swimming with dolphins (and possibly captivity too) can damage there immune system.