Whale watching

Killbot has found some amazing video footage of the humpback whales that have been sighted off South Shore recently. Reminds me of the pod of dolphins I was lucky enough to see while out sailing in a similar location last May.

Comments

[SmokingGun on 18.04.06 at 17:39]

"We're going to need a bigger boat!"

[Adjustah on 18.04.06 at 17:48]

WIFAC - Whale Induced Failure of Anal Control.

"Oh fock!"

[Combat Banker on 18.04.06 at 19:17]

Looks like ZBM's footage of last week's "Miss Big & Beautiful" Pagent.

[SmokingGun on 18.04.06 at 20:01]

Bermuda truly is another world. I tip my hat to the lad that jumped in with them. It must have been one heart pounding beautiful sense of enthrallment. Fantastic fun!

[ace on 18.04.06 at 20:46]

I was working in the Turks & Caicos Islands, ferrying contractors from Provo to a building site on one of the smaller Cays a number of years ago. On our way back to Provo one evening a dolphin, named JoJo, leapt out of the waters about 100 meters ahead and to the right of us.

As I was driving I couldn't fail to see it. Magnificant sight. I pointed and yelled out "Hey, did you see that?" One of the guys said "See what?" and right then JoJo leapt out of the water right next to the boat, almost landing in it. I quickly cut the engine so he wouldn't get hit by the prop and we sat there for a second while he swam around us.

I had heard of JoJO, who used to frequent the Club Med area and was famous for playing with the guests who swam at the beach there. So, I jumped up, took my shirt and shoes off and hopped onto the side of the boat to jump in to have a swim with a wild dolphin.

Just then JoJo swam right along side the boat..right where I was about to jump in. For a second I really hesitated. JoJo was a BIG dolphin! This was a huge ocean living mammmal that was incredibly beautiful but kind of scary in a weird way. Then I jumped.

JoJo swam around me for a bit, but never got close enough to touch or anything. When I swam towards him he would swim away and kept a constant distance bewteen us. One of the locals said "He's tired of playing...it's his bedtime" and sure enough a few seconds later he vanished.

Amazing experience though.

The videos brought that memory back nicely. Thanks.

[Heather on 19.04.06 at 15:06]

This is the coolest whale video!! I'm so proud of my sister in law and husband who helped taken this footage! Such an awesome experience!

[Lisa on 19.04.06 at 23:11]

Hey Limey - I've been swimming with wild dolphins here too ;-))

I am am thrilled as a Bermudian to have the opportunity to see wild dolphins and whales on my own doorstep!

So why do we allow a captive dolphin facility to remain here when there is ample opportunity to see wild dolphins and whales for at least 2 months of the year? These facilities are banned in the U.K on ethical grounds. While Dolphin Quest pride themselves on their research and environmental education they are ultimately a commercial (and non-Bermudian) business that trap and bribe dolphins in order to entertain us.

Dolphins in the wild live for an average of 40 years but in captivity this is cut in half. Dolphin Quest recently discovered that wild dolphins in Bermuda waters can dive down over a thousand feet yet they keep their own dolphins in less than 15 feet of water.

So many people think that dolphins must be happy in captivity because they appear to be smiling all the time. I wonder if there would be a dolphinarium still existing in the world today if their mouths didn't look like that. It is only when you see dolphins swimming wild and free that you really know what a happy one actually looks like.

(This is actually part of a letter I have just submitted to the RG - so you may see it in there tmrw or over the next few days).

[Lisa on 19.04.06 at 23:18]

Great video I might add! Am very jealous or whoever got it.

Can you believe Japan plans to kill 50 humpback whales this year?

L.

[Bill Cook on 20.04.06 at 09:48]

Lisa,

Yes I can.

I also beleive that men can kill a baby seal and skin it while still alive.

I also believe that men can put electrodes up the rectum of Minks to kill it so the Mink coat will not be flawed.

I sometimes fantasise that it would be interesting to try that method on one of the furriers !

[Somers on 20.04.06 at 11:42]

Oh boy!
Here we go...
Where's my popcorn...

[Lisa on 21.04.06 at 16:57]

Popcorn? Do you know what they have to do to popcorn before they kill it? I can't BELIEVE you eat that stuff!!

He he :-D

[Adjustah on 21.04.06 at 18:28]

"Popcorn? Do you know what they have to do to popcorn before they kill it?"

Yeah, but it tastes just like chicken... :p

[Lisa on 21.04.06 at 18:50]

Oh I forgot to say before that it is actually against the Department of Conservation's guidelines to go swimming with whales here.

It's not like you'll get a fine or anything, but it is a "no-no".

You'd have to arrest me to stop me jumping in if I ever had the chance... but I just thought I would mention it so that if anyone does plan on doing it they might want to take extra care.

Please don't chase whales in your boat so you can get close to them and jump overboard with them. Wait for them to come to you!

I am going whale watching for a second time this year, this Sunday. Can't get enough!

L.

[SmokingGun on 21.04.06 at 19:02]

"Oh I forgot to say before that it is actually against the Department of Conservation's guidelines to go swimming with whales here."

Hmmm.... I wouldn't jump in just for personal conservation. Knowing my luck the thing would be blind in one eye and take me for a jumbo shrimp.

[Lisa on 22.04.06 at 02:50]

LMAO SmokingGun :-D

[Jesse on 06.06.06 at 04:28]

Dolphins at dolphin quest are a shallow coastal water species; dolphin off the coast of Bermuda that dive to depths over 2,000 ft (not the previously thought 1,000 before their ground breaking research), are a much different OFFSHORE species. They are nearly twice the size, and anatmoically VERY differnt. Their bodies are adapt and equipt for diving at depths UNLIKE coastal bottlenose dolphins.
I totally agree that seeing dolphins in the wild is an amazing experience, but one that many people will never have. Allowing a few number of organizations, and those that actually CARE about the animals, such as Dolphin Quest, is vital to the conservation of the speices.