DOLPHIN DAY!!!

Day 6, November 5, 2012, AT Marathon for the Dolphin Encounter

This was the day!

We had a few things to do before getting to the Dolphin Research Center (DRC) here in Marathon.  Of course there was breakfast and we merely got a quick, but tasty breakfast at Burger King. A big meal would be in the evening (see later when we visit the waterfront.). Then we had to secure wet suits as the water at this time of the year is cool. The natives say it is  the air that will cool you off as I think the water temp was 72 F.  This was my first wet suit and getting it on (at the rental shop) was much easier than taking it off later. Those of you who have done this ,will get a good chuckle, I am sure. MY shoulders don’t work that good as they use to and getting the shoulders clear is like trying to get out of a straight jacket (remember those?) Cathy had more trouble as she elected to put on a tee shirt and wear the suit to the Center. 

Now we were ready. Our appointed time was to be there at 11:30 and we were there plenty of time ahead , which was good as she had a “guide” who stayed with her the entire time. Rebecca guided here ,instructed her, smiled a lot and encouraged here when necessary and generally was her mentor the entire time. This Center does a very professional job with all clients. Jim didn’t have (nor need) a mentor!  We were given final instructions and the 12 folks having the encounter were divided into 3 groups each at a different station where certain dolphins were “assigned”. (This is an important part of their training. {There is a tower over looking the dozen or so pens which enclose the dolphins (and a few walrus), in which trained observers take notes to enhance the data collected for the research. So, actually the “encounters” with people are part of the data collection as Kelli (the coordinator of our two dolphins)  stated to us ,”We are as important to the dolphins as they are to us.” 

Four of us were on a platform for much of the 30-45 minutes encounter, a couple (Sandra and Manfred from Germany), Cathy and myself. We were instructed by example from Kelli how to get the dolphins do to various maneuvers and also receive a kiss on the cheek. They let us instruct them to mimic, do flips, tail stands, speed swimming , eyeing, and the ‘coup de grace’ the ride with two dolphins where we swam out a ways, extend the arms outward to the side and let the dolphins come along side and we grasped their dorsal fins and let them come up on either side of us slowly and take us for a ride!. Each of us went in a large circle including yours truly! (see pics) . It was marvelous and e all didi fine  as did the dolphins. Of course the dolphins were rewarded when successful with fish (three kinds... capelin, sea smelt, and herring)  for each performed activity which also supplemented their diet. There is much more to tell, but I will let some of the pictures the next two nights show the story more effectively than me. Cathy did a great job, had a great ride and was on “cloud nine” all day!  (She used a chair lift to access the water as steps with out her brace would have been a “no no”.

The rest of the afternoon included lunch there, and a chance to observe four or five of the other demonstrations. (there are about 12 different levels of activities visitors can get in on from an all day “trainer” to sitting on the side of the water to engage the dolphins.) 

The DRC has been operating this system for about 20 years and was founded originally to study whales, but soon moved to dolphinids and later became a research center.

We ended the day by getting a few souvenirs as a remembrance of the day, (Ruth bought a DVD that they prepared for us of the entire event which can be seen on  photos.dolphins.org     code   AL6Q-34FJ  for two weeks.) and we returned the rented wet suits (just $18.00/day), had supper at a “Seaside Restarant” a  Gulfside outdoor restaurant. The grouper sandwich and shrimp were fresh and excellent ,. I had mine “Cajun” style! YUM!

Tomorrow we have a “down” day (they all will be after today) and  with the big ocean boat races at Key West will avoid the crush, but will try to see the Key Deer at Big Pine Key. Stay tuned ...or whatever it is on the internet! (linked?, hooked?, unwired?)