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Photos by Rich Garrett and Larry Naylor
The last
several summers we have booked live-aboard boats for week long trips,
diving with pods of wild Spotted Dolphins in open water some forty
miles out to sea off Grand Bahama Island. This has been as fantastic
and exhilarating an experience as I have had in my more than fifty
years of diving. Wild dolphin encounters have been an average of four
hours per day long, and every week we've been able to get in the water
with the dolphins at night while they're hunting--an absolutely
spectacular experience.
Contrary
to popular belief, dolphins do not avoid divers on SCUBA, although they
are more likely to spend a greater amount of time with good freedivers
who have the grace, mobility and endurance to join in their dance.
Most of
the published and broadcast dolphin shots you have seen on gallery
walls, television, and in theaters have been taken at our dive site on
the Little Bahama Banks 40 miles off Grand Bahama Island, where the
wild dolphins have been seeking out human contact for the past dozen
years. These images are taken at this same time of year when the
weather permits our boats to remain on the ocean surface (we will visit
a couple of boats that didn't on our wreck dives); and without humans
hanging over the rail of said boats the whole week.
During
one encounter, one of our passengers (That's her in the pictures above)
had a dolphin place a pectoral fin on her calf, and a second dolphin
place a pectoral fin on her opposite shoulder. They swam like this for
several minutes while the dolphins stroked her gently with their fins.
Come by the store and see some of the photos of her with the dolphins
taken by people on the trips. You'll see why taking her along works for
everyone.
The
dolphins have always made a special point of visiting with each diver.
They come as individuals, in pairs, and in small or larger groups,
frequently bringing babies with them. They especially love kids, ladies
and skin.
We will
board the Caribbean Explorer II at Pompano Beach, Florida for the Gulf
Stream crossing to Grand Bahama Island for 5 days
diving and swimming with the dolphins. Just imagine the photo and video
opportunities, not to mention the spiritual experience of a lifetime.
The cost
of the trip is $1800, and it goes without saying that we will have all
of the hi-definition digital video cameras, and digital still cameras,
lenses, strobes, etc., etc.,--not to mention the latest Oceanhaus video housings--for your use as
needed or wanted. Consider yourselves backed up - to the max.
If any of
this sounds good to you, please email us at info@absea.net,
or call us at (310) 645-8992 for more information. If you can't make
it, let's hear how you're doing anyway. We like to keep track of our
serious photographers.
Good
diving,
Alan and
the crew
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