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Trip Reports: Trip Report – Part 1 – Dolphins!
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2004-02-06 to 2004-07-31: Trip Report – Part 1 – Dolphins!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greg & Lani Muelrath (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 3:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Trip Report – Part 1 – Dolphins!
We just returned from 2-weeks in Bonaire. We had a fantastic trip with many highlights, not the least of which included encounters with a pod of 25 dolphins.

We have passed a total of 12 weeks on Bonaire since ’97, and have had only occasional sightings of solitary or small groups of dolphins on the surface. So we were totally surprised by repeated underwater encounters. This pod followed a fairly predictable north-south movement to the extent that we if we saw them at Lighthouse Beach Resort, there would be a good chance the dolphins would be in the Margate Bay area 75 minutes later. Atlantis and Oil Slick provided the money shots. At the latter, we were 30 minutes into a shallow dive when we heard a loud series of clicks. Lani started checking her hoses as she thought the noise might indicate equipment failure. A large moving shape to our right caught our eye and we turned and had an eye-popping panorama. Perhaps I had been watching one too many episodes of “Shark Week:” on Discovery Channel, but my first glance zeroed in on the dorsal fin and I nearly chomped my regulator in half. (Think new thread entitled “Rogue Shark Spits out Vegetarian Diver. Patooie.”). They moved in uniform fashion, undulating, with gray shapes against purple-blue backdrop. Some surfaced briefly, but most remained underwater. A calf hugged its mother’s side (in the attached picture, one can see two protective adults flanking the calf).They continued passing us in groups of five or six. As the last group passed us, three left the formation and began circling 20 feet above us, splashing at the surface. As if this scene could get any more impressive, the sun suddenly burst out of clouds and the frothy frolic on the surface was highlighted by shafts of shimmering light. This experience was taking on Disney-esque proportions, a variation of a “When Flipper met Nemo” theme. Fortunately we had canned air; otherwise we would have been left absolutely breathless.
Although the dolphin experience left us maxed out on our novelty quota, Neptune was gracious and pulled out all the stops on this dive, providing an awesome hawksbill and green sea turtle experience on the return to the ladder. Oil Slick has never been our favorite location, but it now has a cult-following of at least two devotees. And Atlantis has always been near the top of our list, but on this trip it was dazzling. (We were observing a pair of mating hawksbills here when dolphins interrupted the romantic interlude). Salt Pier also outdid itself. There was a spring tide during our stay that coincided with it a cold upwelling (73degres), and maybe that was a factor in terms of which critters were hanging out where and for how long.
This was our best experience in Bonaire, which may be a somewhat hollow statement as we say that after every trip. It was our first time at Lighthouse Beach Resort, and the accommodations and location were perfect. (On two evening, a hawksbill nested a stones throw away from our back porch) We had 2 weeks jammed with rich experiences. With the exception of Sipadan, Bonaire is our absolute favorite dive spot for our style of diving. Even though the American Eagle propeller is still vibrating between the eardrums and our backsides are numb from 18 hours of travel, we’re already planning our next trip. Where else on this planet can one awaken to flamingoes in flight, by 9 am be encircled by 12 tarpon in the shadows of towering salt pyramids, after lunch play tag with a giant, elastic, mercurial ball of glimmering silversides followed by an interlude with an octopus, entertain a donkey in the living room during dinner, and have an endangered species nest by your doorstep…in the same day. Bonaire rocks. More later.


description

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1226) on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 3:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Awesome report! Tell us more! :-)

jealous niki

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1461) on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 3:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh how lovely. We saw a HUGE pod yesterday moving from north to south near the Aquaspace dock. It was magical. Unfortunately Aquaspace and three other boats were tagging along annoying them no doubt..But, it was simply magical. They were leaping out of the water and frolicing ...AMAZING..

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Burdette (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 4:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Greg and Lani- Thanks for a GREAT trip report. And your dolphin photo is fantastic (what kind of camera do you use?). We're going to Bonaire for the first time the last week of September and the thought of even possibly seeing anything close to what you did has us really excited (I know it's remote, but you never know). Looking forward to Trip Report-Part 2!!

Richard

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise Kacavas (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #785) on Saturday, July 31, 2004 - 6:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

that is so awesome!!!! I was happy when I saw them jumping and spinning in the air, but it is a dream to see them uw while diving !!! THANK YOU for sharing and the picture !! THIS is what I love about BT....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3863) on Sunday, August 1, 2004 - 3:05 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Welcome to the board, Greg and Lani! What a capture!! I can't imagine how exciting that was when you realized it was NOT an equipment failure....what an outrageous trip you had!! Any more photos to share with us?? Thanks! Carole

The pods have been cruising the area for a while now...Janice and Renee' spotted about 30 of them on one morning's snorkel in June....terrific!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (BonaireTalker - Post #46) on Sunday, August 1, 2004 - 6:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

WOW...Quick...Run out and buy a lottery ticket before your luck changes!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6148) on Sunday, August 1, 2004 - 7:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

WOW!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By T-Shirt Divers John and Sue (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #128) on Sunday, August 1, 2004 - 8:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hope they stay around for a few more months.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ina seavey (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Monday, August 2, 2004 - 4:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

oh wow....!

how long do dolphins usually stay? Are they there in specific months?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Burnham (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Monday, August 2, 2004 - 5:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

What a treat it is to see dolphins while diving!

In all my years of diving, I've only seen it twice.

The last time was on 22 July 04 at Red Beryl, about 9:00am, while diving with the Queen Angels. We saw them just as we arrived at the drop-off.

Dolphin pic 1

Dolphin pic 2

Dolphin pic 3

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1103) on Monday, August 2, 2004 - 11:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

What an experience it must have been!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3876) on Monday, August 2, 2004 - 12:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Unbelievable! Gorgeous. I just can't imagine being with them like that....how awesome!! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2585) on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 - 5:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Woooowwwww!!!!
I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous
:-)

Booohhooooooo, I wanna go back :-( sniff
Great now I do not only suffer from PBD but also from NDD (No Dolphins Depression)

(Message edited by Igor on August 3, 2004)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill and Donna Goodwin (BonaireTalker - Post #30) on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 - 8:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Exuberant, erudite, exciting writing with excellent pictures... Thank you for an inspiring report.

 


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