Swimming with the Dolphins

Here’s hoping that the dolphins won’t go orca on us! Rich Dworsky really liked that expression. Maybe I should trademark it! I am sure that at some point Garrison will use it since he does openly admit to “borrowing” from the passengers.

The emergency alarm was just sounded. The captain reassures us that the small fire in the galley has been extinguished. Everything is under control according to him. He apologized for the inconvenience. I heard it and continued writing so I wasn’t inconvenienced at all.

More later.

5:06PM Ship's Time

I was conflicted about the dolphin swim and ride excursion before we went. I pictured them captured and confined to small pools but then thought how they would be safe from predators and fishing nets. In captivity they live to 40-60; in the ocean about half that. The saving grace for me is that these dolphins were bred for this purpose; however, I still wonder about their quality of life.

The dolphins we frolicked with were a mother and her two-year old daughter. They swam under our hands so we could feel their skin. They kissed us on the cheek and on the mouth. They shook fins/hands with us. They took us for a belly ride while we held onto their fins. Because I am not comfortable in water over my head (even with a life jacket), for the second deep water experience I stayed on the ledge in the shallow part next to the trainer and played with the baby. I tickled her and she wiggled her fins. I placed my hand above her blow hole to feel the “sounds” coming out. As I scratched the top of her head, she would send out little huffs from her blow hole.

At the end the two of them entertained us by jumping together over and over while we applauded.

We certainly enjoyed our time with these gentle creatures. We both left with huge smiles.

And not one dolphin went orca.