Trip Report and Beluga Interaction Programme - SeaWorld Texas - 30th December 2009

Wuhay. We went to SeaWorld today. Finally done all the SeaWorld's!
Hm, this one had the least there tbh. There's a dolphin feeding pool. God, there was this really fat dolphin, t'was huge! But there was a Wolphin! That was pretty rad. A false killer whale/dolphin hybrid I presume. But yeah, I hate the whole feeding concept. I didn't participate.
Yeah, there's also sea lions, horses, alligators, otters, penguins, fish and rollar coasters. The beluga habitat was under construction apparently, so no show.
The only show there really was, was Shamu stadium. Me, mum and Dave got a seat right infront of the right slide out. The show was Miracles rather than Believe. Lool there were all these pre-show carol singers.
Yeah, so in the show were Unna, Tuar, Keet and Kyuquot. Weirdly no Takara. Tuar mostly and Keet were used on our side of the slide out. I noticed Tuar had what looked like a new cut across his right eyepatch. And there looked like blood came out of his mouth, at the start of the show. Weird huh? Maybe it was fish...?
Huh, the show was alright. Thankfully we didn't get wet :P. So after the Shamu show I did a Beluga Interaction Programme :). We went round the back of the Viva stadium and saw the Pacific White Sided Dolphins. There was a really young calf too, so cute! So we got wet suited up, there was a group of 4 of us, and we got divided into 2's. I was weith a girl called Kristen. Our 'luga's were Oliver, Sikku and Luna. Sikku was Oliver's mom, Oliver was only about 2 and Luna was 9. OMG the water was freezing! Lol.
We got to do plenty of rub downs and tossing fish. It was alot of fun, we got to make them wave, sing, splash, find tickle spots, 'walk like a dolphin' and 'cat walk' and photo opportunities - like a kiss from a 'luga, holding their fin and posing. There was also a few in-water encounters. I had to step off the ledge, hold on to Sikku's pecs and she spun me around. It was rad :). And I layed on my front and back and kicked and the 'luga coped too.
At the end, both groups combined to say bye and the 'lugas completely soaked us lol. And there was this young baby, Keano?, having his own session and kept knocking around a bit lol.
Yeah so after the encounter, I got dressed, picked up the photos and then left!

Dolphin Watching - Galveston - 2nd August 2009

Place: Galveston, Texas
Date: 2nd August 2009
Boat name: Harbour Tour
Who was on trip: Me, Mum, Dave
Wildlife seen: Bottlenose Dolphins, Pelicans, Seabirds

At 3pm, we went on the Harbour Tour. Tis a boat that show recks and oil cranes about the harbour. But we saw dolphins =)! There was a long crater ship, that we were riding alongside and in the bow wave of the crater was roughly 3 bottlenose dolphins =). A few did some leaps which was cool.
The boat then took us away from the crater, back into the Harbour.

Pics here: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/575561615qFIzLV

Swimming with Dolphins - Mediterraneo Marine Park, Malta - 14th August 2008

Place: Mediterraneo Malta
Date: 14th August 2008
Species: Bottlenose Dolphin
Main Cetacean Name: Lucas
Other Cetacean Name: Estella
Trainer:
Time in pool: 30 minutes?

Eee, Golfiños swimming!
Me and mom had to wake up kinda early, and were then driven on a crazy death ride to Mediterraneo.
Anyways so we got there and I was scheduled for the 10am session. At 10am we had to be at the meeting point, to watch the presentation talk.
Once that was one, the 12 of us were given wet suit jackets and had to take showers.
Everyone was taken over to the dolphin lagoon, where we were split into 2 groups of 6. There was a french/italian group and I was in the younger group.
We got into the pool, and the first dolphin we had I think was named Estella? We were allowed to pet her. Then the make dolphin, Lucas, came over and we ended up having him =]. We were allowed to kiss him. He camr to me first, and I kissed him on the beak and went 'Mwah!' lmao. We were allowed to pet him, and did waving tricks.
Everyone then took turns to have an individual photo and give Lucas a command. My command was to make Lucas wave his tail. I think I kinda did it wrong, because the trainer made me do it with her lol.
We also lifted Lucas up, which I was waey about because I was beacause I was near his back end, and i think i may have touched his genitalia =S. We then had to swim out to a platform where we all leaned against, and Lucas came around to rest his head on our shoulder, and kiss him for a photo. Apparently I didn't kiss him long enough, so I got to kiss him at least another 2 times =].
I can't remember the entire order of the swim, but I think next was when both groups were given masks and we were allowed to swim out into the pool, and the dolphins swam around us. Because everyone had their heads in the water, watching the dolphins, there was a bit of bumping into each other lol. I even tried diving down to see them better. I was able to hear their clicks =]. That was quite a nice experience.
We then re-grouped and out group went to the other side of the pool. We had Estella. I noticed she had a longer beak than Lucas. Our group had to swim out into the middle of the pool, and make a circle with spaces for Estella to swim in between and past us. She swam past me, and I touched her =].
But during this task, we were given back Lucas. We then swam back, and were sent out in two's to spin around with our right arm in the air, so that Lucas would raise up and spin around too =]. Me and the little girl got to do that twice for some reason.
When we swam back we got to give Lucas a fish. Then I think that was about it, and the last thing was to make him wave.

Marineland France - 20th February 2008

Marineland! Damn, 4 years exactly since one of my first trips.
So we got there, roughly 10.20am, methinks. Mum booked me up for a Sea Lion encounter at 1.30 =].
So, headed straight for the orcas. I noticed the bottom section was all chained up, so I couldn't even get down to the glass for interactions - gutted! Wikie and Inouk were in the show pool, Valentin and Freya in the back, and Sharkane in the middle. The trainers came in, and got Wikie to do some moves, like her full flip and speed swim. Val was also being worked with, and involved in a backstage thing. I then lost mum - ha. Well she went off without telling me, so I went around to the dolphins. No one there, just me. I brought out my pink dolphin stuffie, and not long, the guys were at the glass =]. About 3 of them. They all came over, wide mouthed, looking at the stuffue, and rolling about abit =). I also trailed around the class and they followed. They then started to lose interest I think. They'd come over, look, then go away. So I got out a dolphin stencil thiny, which gained some interest back.
I then noticed alot of people at the orca stadium, So I went back. It was an educational show. I found mum! and sat with her. Well it was all spoken in French, but in English on the boards. About orca communication and stuff. They then 'proudly presented an extract of the afternoon show'. After the show, it was possible to have your photo taken with one of the orcas. Had to pay of course. I was first in que, and I had Freya =]. I had to lean against the glass, and the trainer made Freya pose wide mouthed, and with her tongue out =). I'm glad I got Freya.
We then had lunch - stone cold chips. We then went around the park, and at 1.20 went over for the Sea Lion interaction. It was me and a younger boy. We were taken into an enclosed room. They had trouble getting the right sea lions in :P. Both girls, both 14. One from Argentina, one from South Africa. The SA one was called Nelson, heh. So we had to pose a photo with Nelson, holding her flipper. I was taken to the Argentina one. I was told facts about her, fed her fish and made her wave. Then I got swapped to Nelson. I was allowed to stroke her, and again was told facts, fed ger fish, and got to give ger the clap signal, tell her off signal, but she wouldnt do the handstand one correctly. Instead she like held her flippers out heh.
So then it was over. Twas nice, and something different. The dolphin show was on next, so we ewnt over to that. I watched, no photos. There were 8 dolphins, and 2 young ones ^_^.
After the show, we hung about a bit, and then it was time where we could get our photos. I picked 2 Freya ones and a Nelson one.
It was time for the orcca show, we watched that and then we left the park.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562576663eKovIo

SeaWorld California - 28th October 2007

Woo, so we went to SeaWorrrld!
Arrived about 10:30am. Headed straight to the orcas =]. Orkid was in the pool. At the close up I recognised Ruka (fellow orca lover). I was too scared to speak to her lol. She had her interaction stuff out abd was trying to interact with Orkid. Orkid did come over, but I fucked it up by getting out my pink dolphin lol! Ruka later went, and so I was at the glass. Orkid was just lapping, and I did manage to get her to come over, for like 2 seconds lol. She was looking at my orca stuffie =]. She resumed lapping, and I realized I wasn't likely to get another interaction, so I went to the skywalk. From then I watched individual training sessions in the show pool. I saw Ulises', Kalia's, Corky's, Nakai's and Sumar's training sessions. Very cool =].
They lasted a while, and then eventually the show's gates were open. I sat infront of the slide, then moced to the left side of it. The show was much better today. I mainly think because Ulises was in it this time =]. But there was alot more going on, and it was more exciting. In the show was Ulises, Sumar, Corky, Nakai and Orkid. So when the show was over, we had to leave straight away, to go to the airport.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562797394hOuZRb

Whale Watching - Monterey Bay - 24th October 2007

Place: Monterey Bay, USA
Date: 24th October 2007
Trip length: 3 hours
Who was on trip: Me, Mum, Dave
Wildlife seen: Californian Sea Lions, Humpback Whales, Seabirds

Wowie. Went Whale Watching. Saw 2 Humbacks =D. It was a 3 hour trip. About 1 hour was spent searching for them, 1 hour tracking and 1 hour going back.
It was really cool. Yeah we followed them. They'd come up to the surface, dive for about 4 mins, come up and it was repeated.
One time, they did this like lunge out of the water. Real cool. I guess they were feeding.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562811370ooKmkk

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - 21st October 2007

Went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo - Shouka!
Went on most of the rollar coasters, saw the Shouka show - and I got splashed by her lool. I went on an elephant ride! And I fed some seals =]. Goood day.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562796108SrgBiy

SeaWorld California - 19th October 2007

Today we went to SeaWooorld. Well, I was kinda unimpressed :/. I was expecting it to be bigger.
When we got there, I headed straight for the orcas. In the Dine With Shamu pool was Orkid and Nakai. They were doing a Dine, so I didn't bother trying to get an interaction. I then went to the skywalk. Sumar was practising a slide and squirt. Ulises was alone in a back pool, and Corky, Kasatka and Kalia were together in the other.
The dolphin show was starting in 15 minutes, so after the orcas we went there. That show has not changed since the first time I went there, and that was 9 years ago haha! The kid tried to jump in which was actually pretty funny. It was about time someone tried to :P.
After the show we headed to the Penguin Exhibit and the Wild Arctic. Just did the walk through. Polar bears, belugas + walruses. All good.
The Atlantic ride was shut, but I went over there to see the Commersons. Those guys are so cute and diddie x3.
I got out my pink dolphin stuffie and waved it about the glass. They came over and looked at it - before, they were just lapping. It was cool, one guy went upside down to look at it =]. They then went into the other pool, and it was about then I decided to head back to the orcas, because of our DWS. Had to be there 30 mins prior.
Ulises was in close up. Gosh that guy is so big! Real bulky. I didnt bother trying to get an interaction.
Soo we were let into the DWS area. We had a great seat, right by the pool =]. So yeah, obviously we had Ulises for our Dine. The trainer spoke about each of the orcas, how to become a trainer and gave Ulises signals. He did a belly breach, side breach, a froggie, slide out and a few other things.
At about 2pm, I left DWS, to go take my place in the stadium. I swopped places about 4 times hehe. Finally fot a place infront of the slide out.
So the show - effects and background: great. Show itself: poor. I was expecting way more. It wasn't very upbeat or exciting - I'm used to the shows of MLF i guess!
Anway, the guys in the show were Nakai, Corky, Orkid and Sumar. After the show I went to Rocky Point Preserve. I didn't get any food, but I watied and touched a few dolphins =]. One kept butting its head a bit =S.
After the dolphins i went back to the orcas. Nakai was in the show pool, Kalia and Orkid in the med pool, Corky and Kasatka were in a back pool, and Sumar and Ulises were in the other back pool. Sumar and Ulises then got moved into Shamu close up.
They were doing a dine, so I waited til they were done. I got my dolphin stuffie out, but they took no notice. Very gutted about that. I was even standing next to some woman who had clealy been quite a few times, because she knew their names, and she was saying how weird it was that Sumar wasn't coming over.
So I gave up, and went to the stadium for the 4:30pm show. I was pretty much the same, except I noticed the Breakspin this time, and another behavious. In the show was Nakai, Corky, Kasatka, Kalia came in with Kasatka but didnt do anything, and I can't remember if Orkid was there or not :/.
Soo after the show we went and saw the Sea otters, and then went back to the Hotel.
Still very unimpressed though. No intereactions! Atleast I got one with the commies though.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562660210rQHngL

Dolphin Watching - Madeira - 19th August 2007

Place: Madeira
Date: 19th August 2007
Boat type: Dinghy boat
Who was on trip: Me, Mum
Wildlife seen: Bottlenose Dolphins, Sperm Whales, Seabirds, a strange fish

Woop yeah. So me and mum did the dolphin watch =]
We arrived at the meeting point, which was the shop. There was roughly 22 other people in there, all on the same trip as us. We were lead into a cinema like room, where we had a presentation about cetaceans. All the stuff I knew really =P
We were then lead into the Marina, and the group was split up, into groups of 12, to go on 2 dinghy-like boats. On the boats we had to wear orange life jackets.
So the 2 boats set off. The ride was pretty cool. Not too rough, and the waves were fun to ride.
It felt like ages, we were out at sea, seeing nothing but..sea. Saw the occasional sea bird.
The first dolphins I sighted were jumping out the water right alongside the other boat =o. It was not decided were Atlantic Spotted Dolphins or Bottlenose. I personally thought they were Bottlenose.
We saw alot of dolphins. I mean alot. The school was huge. They were all porpoising in and out of the water.
The company offered the chance to swim with the dolphins, which we paid for. It was a limit of 2 people a time. So me and a German woman were up to do it first. We stripped to our bikini's, shoved a mask and snorkel on, and sat on the boats side. Everytime we were given the signal to go in, we'd lose the dolphins. Has, one time we were moving off, and the German woman fell in! I almost fell backwards lol. So the boat was stopped to le ther back on lol. She was ok.
We found some dolphins again, and we got in, but we were only in the water for about a minute. The dolphins had disappeared, and neither of us got to see them underwater =(.
The dolphins clearly didnt want to come near us, which is why every time we were near they dived, so the dolphin swim was called off. Gutted =[. It was possible the group had calves. The group was huge though. There mustve been about 30! It was really amazing to see. Some were only like a few meters to my lift. Really cool. So we left the dolphins, and went in search of some Sperm Whales that had been sighted.
Our first sighting of the Sperm Whales, were of their blow, really far in the distance, which was then followed by their flukes. From where we were, they only lliked like pygmy ones lol.
We got a bit closer, and saw about 3. Then they dived down, and we saw their flukes go up =].
We rode about in the sea for ages, and we finally caught sight of them again. About 4 this time. We slowly approached. The other boat was closer to the whales which sucked for us lol. The whales were generally swimming at the surface, and we saw their blow/spout alot. When we got our closest yet, the whales dived. So we got to see their tails go up again =D. Superb, like the french said lol. It was very amazing. So when the final whale dived down, we headed back to the Marina. We caught some really cool waves =P.
Yeh so great trip. Gutted about the dolphin swim, but I did see them, and alot of them which was gute. And the Sperm Whales were a real bonus!

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562810729zTBLJk
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voJLuNnLnxY

Swimming with Dolphins - ZooMarine - 3rd September 2006

Place: Zoomarine
Date: 3rd September 2006
Species: Bottlenose Dolphin
Main Cetacean Name: Hamlet
Other Cetacean Name: Hugo
Trainer: Bruno
Time in pool: 35-40 minutes

At 11:15am, at the meeting point, 2 trainers came out and called out our names. Then one of the trainers, Micael, led us down to the dolphin lagoon. Micael was our guide. There was a group of 11 of us, and we watched the dolphins in the left pool, until the 12th person came.
Lol, in the pool, the dolphins were having sex, hehe. There were 3 in the pool; Dino, Hugo and I forgot the others name – oops! Micael talked to us about some of the dolphins, and answered our questions. We saw the dolphins get separated into different pools and then we went into the Hut.
In the hut, Micael told us about dolphins, and we watched the slideshow. Micael was also cracking jokes. It was very cheesy, but very funny.
We then went into the changing rooms, and were given a wet-suit jacket thingy, and flip flops and a towel, as gifts.
Once we were changed, we were taken to the right dolphin pool.
In the pool there were 2 dolphins: Hamlet and Hugo, and 2 trainers: Bruno and Tiago. Lol, Hamlet and Hugo were having sex in the pool, hehe.
We then got in the pool and were split into 2 groups of 6. I went to Hamlet and Bruno. Once I was in the pool, I couldn’t stop smiling.
We greeted Hamlet and were stroking and petting him. Hamlet is an 11 year old male, not born in Zoomarine.
After the greeting of Hamlet, we each had our photos taken with him. I pet and kissed Hamlet a lot, and after my turn was up, I got to kiss Hamlet on the end of the beak.
We then got to pet Hamlet some more and gave him signals, like splashing, waving and rising up. We then got to splash Hamlet, but he splashed us more, hehe.
We were then combined with the other group, so Hamlet and Hugo could give us all a foot push – with or without a board.
The other group went first, whilst we waited in the water. Micael all gave us goggles, and he said we could watch the dolphins underwater. I used the goggles to watch the dolphins underwater, but no one else did. When I had my head underwater, I could also hear the dolphin’s echo-locating. It was very cool.
It was then out turn for the foot push. I went 2nd and did it without the board. I went into the pool, and laid down in the water, with my hands by my side. Hugo and Hamlet then swam behind me, placed their beaks on my feet and pushed me to the other side of the pool. OMG, it was so great! I really loved it.
We then went back into our groups and pet Hamlet some more. We then took it in turns to do the waltz (?) with Hamlet. I swam into the middle of the pool, held my right arm out, my hand in a cup, and Hamlet swam up to me and put his beak in my hand. He spun me round and round in the water, and he did it for quite a while, lol. It was very cool.
At the end, our groups combined, and we kissed our dolphins on the beaks and then waved them away.