Dolphins

[blue]

We were on Gale beach yesterday & were so lucky to see a large school of dolphins swim by, some of them very close to the shore & leaping in & out of the water, everybody on the beach was very excited. The dolphins were heading west towards Armacao de Pera. About 15 - 20 minutes later loads of dolphin watch boats turned up, unfortunately the dolphins had gone by the time they arrived. I've never been lucky enough to see dolphins in the wild before & won't go to see them in a zoo so I was absolutely delighted.
Was anyone else lucky enough to see them?

[laserblazer]

[fmm]

How fantastic! We did one of the dolphin boat trips from Lagos a few years ago - had to go out 6 miles to find some (they were really friendly) - but I felt sooooo sick - would much rather watch them from the beach!!!

[Bruce Wallis]

It's a wonderful sight........

We never forget seeing a massive school of 50 or so from the clifftop near Rocha Brava, one lovely day last February.

It was a wonderful one off......we have walked those clifftops maybe a 100 times, and only ever had a sighting in that one instance.

We later learned that they migrate down to Cap Finesterre,from Gibralter following the mackerel shoals.

[James Faro]

Such graceful beautiful wonderful creatures. I also took one of the Lagos trips out to see them but when you are facing no coastline in front and the coastline you leave from is out of sight it does become a tad disconcerting!

[TomUK]

Just think how Henry The Navigator must have felt!

[mac]

How wonderful! And to see them from shore as well. We went dolphin watcing in Madeira and we were lucky to see loads of them. We also got to swim with them. They interacted or they didn't which was fine.

We also went whale watching in Monterey, California and were lucky enough to come across three which were feeding. It was wonderful seeing them coming up out of the water and then plunging back in again. And what was more interesting, we were only a few hundred yards away from a beach so if you'd happened to be walking along the shore you'd have had a marvellous view.

I love seeing animals in their natural habitat.

[cereza]

When we had our place on Rocha Brava we had a clear view of the sea and we were lucky enough to see dolphins several times. On one occasion I was sure that we saw a false killer whale - I had seen one in Sea World Florida and it looked the same - fantastic.
We also had a great view of a school of humpback whales from the beach on the northern tip of Cape Cod 2 years ago.
It really is wonderful to see these marvellous creatures in their own habitat.
I've never fancied a trip on the dolphin watching boats from Portimao or Lagos.

[scottishstacey]

You guys are so lucky id love to see a school of dolphin! the only dolphin ive saw in the wild is fungi the dolphin in county dingle in ireland. im not even sure that counts cos hes became so friendly that he follows the boats etc and im sure hes the only dolphin there, could be wrong tho. I went to florida last year and swam with the dolphins, wouldnt do it again, id much rather watch a wild dolphin from the boat or shore

[pato]

You guys are so lucky id love to see a school of dolphin! the only dolphin ive saw in the wild is fungi the dolphin in county dingle in ireland. im not even sure that counts cos hes became so friendly that he follows the boats etc and im sure hes the only dolphin there, could be wrong tho. I went to florida last year and swam with the dolphins, wouldnt do it again, id much rather watch a wild dolphin from the boat or shore

You can swim with the Dolphins in the Aquamarine, great!

[scottishstacey]

I went to aqua marine in 2009, to be honest i didnt like it. maybe its changed now so would maybe go back if we brought daves newphew next time

[EMM]

If swimming with captive dolphins in a tank is your idea of fun you can do it at Zoomarine, cost from 150euros/person.

[fmm]

If swimming with captive dolphins in a tank is your idea of fun you can do it at Zoomarine, cost from 150euros/person.

Actually, it is in a series of large pools out the back - not a tank. My young son did it last year and although I agree it is not exactly in the wild, the children spent a couple of hours learning lots about dolphins and then getting to meet them up close which was an experience he found fascinating. The wild ones we came across 6 miles out of Lagos swam all around the boat and were happy to be touched. As far as I could see (and I was watching closely) no food was doled out by the people running the trips, so the dolphins were there because they were interested.

Zoomarine appears to look after all its animals and sea life very well - with a breeding record among the best in the world. It is a lovely day out for children as the swimming pools and rides offer a huge amount of fun away from the conservation side of things and the adults can sit and relax! My son goes twice a year and always seems to have a good time.

[blue]

Quite often when we're swimming in the sea a big shoal of small fish (sardines?) coming rushing inshore swimming all around the bathers & I think uh-oh what has driven them in? Being the eternal pessimist that I am I don't think Flipper I think JAWS!!!.

[EMM]

Research is one thing entertainment is another.
I feel the same about Dolphins and seals being used as entertainment as I do about wild animals in a circus.
There is really no difference,