Dolphin Watching - Wales - 30th May 2003

Place: New Quay, Wales
Date: 30th May 2003
Boat name: Ermol 5
Boat type: Smallish, low to the ocean
How many people it carries: -
Company name: -
Trip length : -
Successful or Unsucessful: Successful
Who was on trip: Me, Mum, Dave
Wildlife seen: Bottlenose Dolphins, Gray Seals, Harbour Porpoise?, Seabirds

At 9:30 am we went down to the beach and saw some Bottlenose Dolphins! It was soooooo amazing! Even though they were far away I saw Dolphins in the wild for the first time in my life! At 10:30 we went to the boat (Ermol 5) and just after 5 minutes we saw some Dolphins! They disappeared for a while but then we saw some more and I saw a mother and calf! Then we sailed round for ages not seeing anything except seabirds. Someone told me we were really lucky to see dolphins because there weren't any yesterday(29/05/03)! When we started to go back we saw loads! Then when they went I looked behind the boat and saw a Gray Seal poking its head out the water! Then we saw a few more Dolphins and I caught a rare glimpse of a Harbour Porpoise!!! When the trip ended my Mum saw a Dolphin follow us into the Harbour! I climbed some rocks and was really close! It stayed for 30 minutes and I used a whole film on it! Then I went back to the beach and saw more Dolphins that were closer this time and I also saw two mothers and calves! Then I took a wonder to the Harbour and saw a mother and calf there ( I wanted to take a picture but my film had ended ) Then my dad went to some rock pools and I stayed on the beach hoping to see more dolphins but didn't. Then my dad came back and said he saw a whole school of 10 Dolphins feeding! I was really jealous!

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562800625dKfvyt

Swimming with Dolphins - ZooMarine - 23rd February 2003

Place: Zoomarine
Date: 23rd February 2003
Species: Bottlenose Dolphin
Main Cetacean Name: Hugo
Other Cetacean Name: Luna and Marco
Trainer: -
Time in pool: 45 minutes?
- There were only 8 of us and we were put into groups of 4 with a dolphin. The pool was a lot smaller than Discovery cove. Our first dolphin was called Luna. The trainer showed some of there sensitive parts and told use not to touch them and then we were stroking her. We were then being moved away so everyone could take there turn of petting her on there own and having photo opportunities. But when it got to the girl before me, the dolphins were getting a bit sexual so we were taken out. Then we tried again but again they were getting sexual so we had to swap. We got the youngest called Marco he was so cute, but he wouldn't cooperate so we had to change pools. We got into the left pool and we were introduced to Hugo. The girl before me finally got her go then it was mine. The photos were great! Then I was taken out to deeper water and the trainer told me to put my hand under water in a cupped position. Hugo came racing up to my hand then he was spinning me round and round. Everyone else got there go. Then the other group and ours used both dolphins, so they could do a 2 dolphin ride! Then it was my go. The trainer told me to bend down then Hugo and their dolphin, Gorky, came racing past me and I grabbed the bottom of there dorsal and took a 2 dolphin ride! I then asked the trainer if we could make Hugo sing, to prove the sound comes from their blowhole and not there mouth. Then that was it!

Swimming with Dolphins - Discovery Cove - 11th February 2002

Place: Discovery Cove
Date: 11th February 2002
Species: Bottlenose Dolphin
Main Cetacean Name: Rascal
Other Cetacean Name: Oscar
Trainer: -
Time in pool: 45 minutes
-This was my first time and I was so excited. Me, Mum, Dave, Keir and lots of other people, were taken to a pool as big as a football pitch. Then were put into groups of 8 with 1 dolphin. We first had to crouch down and our dolphin Rascal swam past and we touched him! He felt so smooth and rubbery. Then the trainer chose me to put my hands under his chin and kiss him! Then everyone else did that but my mum totally freaked (she isn't a big animal fan). Then we had a photo opportunity. We then waved our hands in the air and Rascal rose up and danced! Then Dave, Keir and me were taken out to deeper water and had another photo. Then we had to find his ticklish spot on his back and I found it! Then again we waved our hands in the air and Rascal rose up and danced. Then the trainer told me to put one hand on his dorsal then the other on his flipper and he took me for a ride! Then everyone else got a go but he was getting too excited and we had to swap him with another dolphin called Oscar. I kissed Oscar and I’ve got this brilliant picture and then I hugged him! Then the trainer gave the command for them to give us a little show then we said good-bye. The 45 minutes were up!