Dolphin encounter and snorkel

This week Nonna (my mom) and Mutti (my gran) were onboard with us (more about that in another blog), but what i wanted to say was that it gave Kim and me the opportunity to do a shorex in Roatan...one that I have been wanting to do....dolphin encounter and snorkel....meeting point was 11 on land...i say on land cause we were anchored and hence we had to take the tenderboat ashore. Mutti and mom were going to Jack's ceviche bar while we did our trip.

So....we had a small mini van which transported us to the Anthony's key...about a 10min ride...not bad...from there we took a boat to Bailey's Key....literally 3min...we received clear instructions on how to board the small ship...one at a time...sit alternating sides otherwise boat will tilt...hmmm....sorry, i forgot to take a pic...wish i did not....cause i must say, it was quite an experience...now let me share the view upon arrival at Bailey's Key:

Bailey's Key
Upon arrival we were told to get into our swimming costumes, lock up our valuables (except cameras), get snorkel gear....then we were told some basics about the dolphins....."do not touch, unless told you may", "do not touch gentiles area", "when snorkeling do not go after dolphins, let them come to you"...we were also told about the pics which would be taken....one would be taken alone....called the kiss...and the other would be taken in couples or families...holding the dolphin....here is pics of how they explained to us the areas of the dolphins....
The various dolphin parts
Female vs male
I did not think i would do the snorkelling because i thought it was snorkeling and looking at fish...however, i thought never mind, let me take my gear of fins, mask and snorkel just in case....we were divided into groups of about 7, and then one trainer came with us....the trainer explained that they each have one dolphin that "belongs to them". Our trainer had Tilly...she is 4 years old and still considered a baby...apparently they reach puberty at about 6. A dolphin, in fact, can get up to about 60 years of age.....our trainer had been with Tilly for 8 months and says sometimes she still does not wanna listen...she is, after all, still a baby...hahaha. Tilly weighs abput 105 lbs and is about 1.2m. When it was time for the kiss, i was the lucky first. Oh my....when she kissed me...she was stronger than what i expected...hahaha....meaning, she almost caught me off balance, but it felt so cute...have a look at the pics...
Kim and Tilly
Me and Tilly
After that...time to do a couple pic with Tilly....have a look....head up...tail up...and smile.
Kim, me and Tilly
There was a specific way we had to hold her, below the in front of the dorsal fin, but on the tummy side. For the kiss we were instructed to have both hands behind our back...interesting....i guess it is not to frighten her.
After all the pics were taken, the trainer explained some more facts about dolphins, including:
They have 28 dolphins at the moment
They can jump up to 10 feet
They have between 80 and 100 teeth (we even got to touch them...sharp and tiny)
They have to know 100 signs
Tilly also made the various sounds that dolphins make, in fact, she even told us her name. The trainer explained that the names have various lengths of short and long sounds as well as various amounts of sounds....it was truely interesting. Tilly also showed us various tricks, how fast she can swim, how high she could jump and this time we were allowed to take pics with our own cameras....have a look...
Tilly going backwards
Tilly opening her mouth
Tilly jumping
Very beautiful...and what i loved...when Tilly did not wanna come back after her trick, the trainer just let her be until she decided she wanted to come back, hahaha. After the encounter it was time for snorkeling WITH the dolphins, when i found out it was WITH, i definitely did not wanna give it a skip. I loved it....the dolphins came...and i even got to touch them once more, really special. I believe they really look after their dolphins. After our experience, we went back to the Anthony's Key and managed to see our photos at the souvenir shop....but before that, of course Kim and I had to take a pic together on the beach at Bailey's Key.
Kim and me at Bailey's Key
After the trip we ended up back at the pier where we were starving...so a quick mixed seafood ceviche at Captain Jack's...and then back onto the tender boat and back to the ship.....Sofia was happy to see us...but I am sure she loved her time with her nonna (my mom) and Mutti (my gran). For now...good-bye....chat soon.. W

 

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