Swimming with dolphins - any danger involved?

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CharlesM

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Hello All

another weighty matter - hope you do not mind that I am considering other things besides world hunger and world peace and other world stuff...

Although I have swum with dolphins in the past, they were usually ones that are used to human interaction.

Earlier this year SHE and I were cruising between St. Kitts and Nevis when a pod of 10 or so dolphins joined us and played under the bow for 10 or more min before departing.

I was wondering if there would be any danger in jumping in the water with these creatures - obviously a wild bunch. Of course someone will stay on the boat and perhaps even tether those in the water to the boat.

Are dolphins really as kindly towards humans as we would like to think or is that a common misconception? I know who will come last if a dolphin decides to be aggressive towards a human. - and what about stories of dolphins trying to shag humans... erk.

cheers
Charles
 
We jumped in the water in the med - >400m deep .... the dolphins came within about 3m of us, decided we were boring and b*ggered off....
 
on a boat once in med, a female crewjumped off into a pod of at least fifty dolphins. Then, I think she had the same thought as you - what am i doing?- and she swam off back as quick as poss! If they have young i imagine they might be v protective, perhaps? But i reckon it shd be ok. Not one of the dolphins went for her at all.
 
Hi Charles,
I would treat dolphins, like all wild animals, as unpredictable and dangerous. There have been many reports of dolphin attacks on humans. Even in the controlled environment of the dolphin research centre in Florida a visitor had his ribs broken by a dolphin that interpreted his actions as aggressive and attacked. Apparantly reaching out to dolphins and swimming directly toward them constitutes aggressive behaviour to which dolphins will respond in kind. I'd enjoy these marvellous creatures from deck or dinghy rather than try to meet them in their environment.
 
That's a very interesting question. Over the years when cruising, SWMBO and I have often considered jumping in with them especially when it's been a really hot day.

Each time we've sort of 'chickened' out at the last moment, mostly because of a comment I 'thought' I heard years ago that they could, and sometimes did, react aggressively to humans.

The more we see them though, the more I believe it would be ok as long as we didn't make any specific move towards them, but let them come to us.

From our little boat we have occasionally reached down from the bow and touched their dorsal fins and, far from scaring them away, they seem to love it and swim closer still. SWMBO simply loves them and spends ages lying on the foredeck watching them and tapping the anchor to bring them closer.

I hope there's someone on the Forum who's something of an expert and could give authoritative advice to us, 'cos I can't think of anything nicer to do!!
 
Re: In a book

the humerous author Carl Haasen depicted a "tame" dolphin that tried to mate with anything or anyone. Now that would be an interesting problem.

I'd have no qualms about swimming with dolphins. As with most animals it might be best to let them come to you rather than jumping into their midst though.
Swimming with Basking Sharks is fun too.
 
Re: In a book

Hi Peppermint,

Have you actually swum with 'wild' dolphins then? If so, where, for how long, and what was their reaction to you?
 
Re: In a book

[ QUOTE ]
the humerous author Carl Haasen depicted a "tame" dolphin that tried to mate with anything or anyone. Now that would be an interesting problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wasn't someone arrested a few years back following allegations of a "sexual act" with Fungy the Dingle dolphin? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Re: In a book

Didnt know Gary Glitter came from Whitby /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

He would have got off if the Dolphin was wearing a short skirt or had had a few too many lagers /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
hi never heard of any trouble with them here we have lots .and folk and kids swim with them in certian places here . and they are wild ones .come in every day to beaches get fed played with then off they go .i think youed be ok any where with them as long as you did nothing daft .
 
Re:No

Ref David 123 There is also a beach in Western Australia where Dolphins daily come to be fed and fussed over by holiday makers. However the Wardens there advise any female who is menstrating not to go in the water as the dolphins become embarrassingly attentive and 'nuzzling'.
 
Re: In a book

as i recall, some one was reported and prosecuted for masturbating a dolphin, his defence was that it was something handy to hang on to when swimming with them, thats all i can remember
 
Re:No

hi its called monkeymia and also at tangalooma island brisbane they feed and interact with them but ive never heard that one before .??? also sonsylass comment .ive seen a lot of them here but never seen a BOY one all smooth nothing hanging out of these fellows to hang on to ??? may be only met girly ones must be my good looks ??? and i see 10 20 a day lucky me .
 
Re:No (Re David 123

Thanks for info' I did not visit Monkeymia but learned about it from Documentry film. The warning given by Warders was quite emphatic. Remember anchoring in Tanglooma is it the artificial harbour formed by sinking old ships?
 
Re:No (Re David 123

hi yes that right its a great spot in good weather .was over there the other day they are building houses all over the place supost to be a marine park dont look much like it anymore how long ago were you here???
 
Re:No (Re David 123

May 5th 1993 Was on passage to Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club a place of many happy memories, as was the whole time spent cruising the Queensland coast. (Very glad now I kept a detailed Log)
 
Re:No (Re David 123

Spent a happy hour swimming with one in the Bahamas. It taught me to " fetch " using a bit of black bin liner and a some shiny pebbles. At first I was sure it was an escaped " tame " dolphin which was habituated with humans but in conversation with someone from a research team I learned that lone dolphins seem to enjoy games with humans.

Other similar instances were reported in the next few days, on the morning cruisers net, with no evidence of aggresion.
 
Re:No (Re David 123

hi glad to here you had good time here .im lucky i supose as im here all time you stayed in same place im at in wynnum manly its a great spot close to all islands good fishing . and good weather most days . yes its good to keep photos vidio and a record of everything .
 
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