Diving with dolphins

[Blackrock]

I'm going to Bonaire in January. What do you mean it's "snorkeling only?" How wide is the channel? Can I access the area without a boat?

The prospect of seeing a dolphin in the wild has gotten me excited. I do think it would be the highlight of my life to date. I have dreamt of diving with dolphins since I was a child.

I did a paid dive in an enclosed area in Acapulco...but that is obviously a whole different experience.

If must find out where to see these dolphins in Bonaire. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm going to Bonaire in January. What do you mean it's "snorkeling only?" How wide is the channel? Can I access the area without a boat?

The prospect of seeing a dolphin in the wild has gotten me excited. I do think it would be the highlight of my life to date. I have dreamt of diving with dolphins since I was a child.

I did a paid dive in an enclosed area in Acapulco...but that is obviously a whole different experience.

If must find out where to see these dolphins in Bonaire. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

Thanks!

The channel between Bonaire and Klein Bonaire is more than a half-mile wide at the closest point between the two islands ... it's much more than that in most places. I wouldn't consider attempting to get to Klein without a boat.

I believe the snorkeling area being discussed is off a beach over on Klein ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Teamcasa]

They always have spinner dolphins just of the Kona coast. We had a close encounter.
Here is a short snipit

 

[diversteve]

I'm going to Bonaire in January. What do you mean it's "snorkeling only?" How wide is the channel? Can I access the area without a boat?

If must find out where to see these dolphins in Bonaire. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

Thanks!

What Bob (NWGratefulDiver) said...

We saw wild dolphins twice off Bonaire. Once the Bonaire Dive & Adventure boat stopped offshore from Bari Reef (too far to swim) and everybody got into the water to Snorkel (not dive) with them. I don't think the DM's let you dive with them unless they happen along while you're diving - especially not with BD&A - most of their staff are naturalists also.

Down farther south in Belnem it's common for them to swim by in the afternoon off the house reef at BelMar condos. We saw them at least once from our patio. Close enough for pictures.

Close to Bonaire, a guaranteed dolphin encounter is the Dolphin Dive at the Sea Aquarium on Curacao. Ocean Encounters takes you 500 yds. offshore to a 40-50' reef past the breakwater and then brings one or two dolphins out to play for 1/2hr. Costs $200pp.

It's done in the morning so theoretically you'd only burn one no-fly day if you landed on Curacao first the afternoon before - on the AA flight - did the dolphin dive the following morning, then flew DAE to Bonaire the next day.

Stay at Lions Dive, it's next door, relatively affordable and near enough to town/restaurants. One can be amused on Curacao for at least an afternoon without having to dive, there's the Sea Aquarium complex, casinos, shopping downtown etc.

DAE has a 7AM departure/7:30 arrival on Bonaire so you could still make your BMP orientation that 2nd morning and be diving by 10AM or so.

I may take my own advice next trip to Bonaire, AA through San Juan is such a hassle.

 

[superstar]

Bimini Bahamas.
YouTube - Brads scuba cam, wild dolphins #3, Bimini
YouTube - Brads scuba cam, wild dolphins #2 bimini
YouTube - Brads scuba cam, wild dolphins #1 bimini

 

[monica.kraj]

I don't know much about dolphin diving in America, but I can tell you more about Africa. In September I've spent two weeks in Egypt, Hurghada on diving. And I had two experiences with dolphins.

The first one was after a day of boat diving. We were on our way back to the scuba centre when the captain realised some dolphins. Our boat approached them and after getting the "yes" from the instructor, I jumped into the sea right where the dolphins were. And I was swimming with 11 of them: 9 adults and 2 babies!

The second time was my last dive during the holidays. I was diving alone with the divemaster at the depth of 20 metres when I saw 2 huge shades getting closer. I was wondering whether these are sharks, but when they got closer I was amazed to see two beautiful dolphins. And they were swimming all around us for about 15 minutes. I couldn't have imagined of a better ending of my diving vacation.

 

[sea nmf]

Believe it or not, in the spring and fall, there are wild dolphin encounters in British Columbia waters. You have to have the right boat Captain that knows how to bring 'em in close with engine noise. Then, jump in!

When I did it (granted, it was years ago), they seemed to love the divers during the giant strides. These are Pacific Whitesided dolphins.

 

[redrover]

The Spinners are common off Kona (Hawaii) coast but not a guarantee. Tuesday a pod was at the 2nd tank site.
What is nice is where I’ve been with them the most, you can see them in the bay from shore doing their rest cycling, gear up, head out, wait peacefully and enjoy.
Maybe it’s just the Spinners that frequent here are used to divers but never felt there was much trepidation to approach. Being surrounded repeatedly by the pod and watching them accompany free divers is a real joy. On the surface and seeing them leap and spin a couple of feet away is a whole different perspective.
Best wishes finding them.

 

[mohave_steve]

I had the oportunity to spend several minutes in the company of wild dolphins (10-15) in Honalua Bay on Maui. It was AWESOME! An experience I will never forget.

My wife & I also swam with captive dolphins in PDC. We had a great time. It was quite an experience but I would much rather see them in the wild.

Good Luck.
Steve

PS:
I also saw a dolphin while we were diving at 125fsw in Lake Mead. Unfortunately I was the only one in the group that saw it. I think we were at 120......I was having a little trouble reading my SPG as the dolphin talking to me was quite distracting.

 

[robint]

wild dolphins or captive?

Wild - diving Bimini Bahamas, you are pretty much guaranteed to see wild dolphins. We had a group show up to play with us on a dive from the Nekton in Cay Sal bank, Bahamas also. REally, really fun. We had encounters (actually just fly-bys) in Kona, Hawaii twice during the week last year.

Captive - lots of places have dolphins kept in cages that you can pay to play with, like Cozumel, Roatan, Keys, etc... not my thing though. I want them to come play with me for the fun of playing, not because that's the only way they get fed.

robint