Dolphin Fun | NeptunesGallery

Dolphin Fun

The allure of dolphins seems universal. These remarkable marine mammals instill visitors to their realm with a sense of peace, love, and gentle playfulness. They are highly complex, social animals, which have a variety of different behaviors, sounds, postures, and gestures which they use to communnicate. Much research has been done to better understand these beautiful and graceful animals.

I was fortunate to spend time at RIMS, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences in Honduras. There, I had the rare opportunity to interact with a resident pod of dolphins in their natural environment. A large pod of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins makes their home nearby at Bailey’s Key. I had class time and spent time interacting with the dolphins – feeding them and diving (they would always come to play) . It was great to dive with them in the open sea and experience what it’s like to be ‘part of the pod’.

Airborn Mama

Pregnant with a calf, she still manages to make impressive leaps – Honduras

Gleeful Dolphin

With the greatest of ease.. this dolphin gleefully jumps into the clouds – Honduras

Breaking a Wave

A bottlenose dolphin cuts through the water with minimal splash – Honduras

Making Waves

Sleek and graceful, and hardly a splash –
Honduras

It’s a Fluke

Actually, flukes. Each fin on the tail is referred to as a fluke – Honduras

Mom and Calf

A calf stays with its mother for 3 to 6 years. This 18-month old male calf is shadowing his mom and mimics what she does.

Ambassador of the Sea

– Honduras –

Dolphin Mosaic

– Honduras –

Sticking Close to Mom

– Honduras –

Horsing Around

Good example of a dolphin’s ‘countershading’ camouflage – gray to dark gray on the back, fading to white on the underside (belly and head). This helps conceal the dolphin from predators (and prey). When viewed from above, the dolphin’s darker back blends in with the darker depths. When seen from below, the lighter belly blends in with the bright sea surface

Peek-a-boo !

This youngster exhibits ‘rake marks’, parallel scratches on his skin most likely caused by another dolphin. These marks typically result from play or mating – or in the case of this youngster, a reprimand or admonishment. Rake marks heal fairly quickly. Stripes along the dolphin’s forehead help in identifying individuals – Honduras –

Roll Over, Play Dead

– Honduras –

Dolphin Fanfare

A Dolphin Comes to Play

I’m always thrilled to see the the unforgettable profile of a dolphin approaching – to play. I’d like to think they’re as excited to see us and we are to see them – Honduras –

Sleek and Sly

Down at about 70 feet, this male dolphin exuberantly swims circles around me, while I spin with him. He keeps his eye on me as if to make sure I am ‘keeping up’ with him. We did chirping sounds to each other the whole time. I felt rather ‘special’ ! – Honduras

Circles..

This beautiful male Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin swims circles around me for several minutes – Honduras

And More Circles..

He turns and swims circles around me in the opposite direction – What magic! – Honduras

Hunting for Tasty Morsels

One dolphin watches as the other digs in the sand for tasty morsels – Honduras

Bonding !

Here I am with one of my favorite dolphins with whom I bonded at RIMS. We share banter and kisses – Honduras

Tail Slaps

This male is ‘tail slapping’. It can signal aggression, or a call to other dolphins to come by. In this case, he was not happy about another male dolphin approaching.

One year, I worked with the Marine Mammal Rescue as part of their ‘Pod Squad’ to help with a large beaching of dolphins along the Florida Keys. There have been instances in which military sonar activities have overlapped with mass strandings of marine mammals, but the exact link is not understood. Though we lost many dolphins, we were able to save many others.

Wanna Play ?

Thanks for looking!