Next Trip TBA We have been
running these trips to swim with wild Spotted
Dolphins in the Bahamas for over 10 years now.
There is simply no better bang for the buck in the
diving world! We snorkel with the dolphins, dive
pristine reefs, and even do a couple dives with the
Caribbean Reef sharks! All on a fantastic
live-aboard boat with a great crew and a laid-back
attitude. I love it! I like the
springtime best! It's prime dolphin season.
Bring your still or video camera and get
eyeball-to-eyeball with a pod of Spotted dolphins
every day for a week. We'll also do some reef
dives, night dives and some shark dives. It's
awesome and inexpensive. FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS What are the
accomodations like? What are the
chances of seeing dolphins? What are the
dolphins like? What about the
diving? How is the
food? How do we get
there? Are there any
hidden fees? What about the
crew and boat? Will I get
seasick? I want to go!
What do I do? READ ABOUT IT: •Jonathan's
May
2002 Trip Report with
pictures! •Jonathan's
May
2007 trip report with
pictures •Bobbie's 2007
trip Blog •Also, check out
Barry
Lipman's pictures from
the April, 2002 trip. • Ralph Cohn's
Trip
Report (with pictures)
from the May 2003 trip! Frequently Asked
Questions about Adventures with Jonathan... More
Dive Adventures with
Jonathan Bird
You will spend the entire trip on the
Dolphin Dream, an 85 foot live-aboard dive
boat, where your gear will be taken care of, your
food and drinks are included and you can do
unlimited diving all for one price. The boat has 6
double staterooms (each can hold 2 guests) and 2
heads. The boat is air conditioned and the food is
outstanding. Tanks, weights and belts provided. I
have been enjoying this winderful boat for several
years now, and in the years before that I used
their previous boat the Dream
Too.
Prime dolphin season is April-June. The later
into the summer you get, the more people are out
there playing with the dolphins and they seem to
get less interested in people. The weather is a bit
more predictable later in the spring so my trips
are usually in May, overall probably the best
month. So far my trips have had a 100% success
record in finding dolphins.
The dolphins are used to people and exceptionally
playful and friendly. Like people, they all have
personalities. Most like to play with people and
come right over when we hit the water. Most prefer
not to be touched, but some actively seek physical
contact with swimmers (mostly women!) Swimming with
wild dolphins that choose to interact with you is a
truly wonderful experience that most people will
agree is one of the most magical experiences of
their lives. And playing the bandana
game is
really fun!
This trip is primarily for people interested in
photographing and interacting with dolphins, so
that will be the main goal of the adventure.
However, we will do a reef dive or two everyday as
well depending on the dolphin action. We can do
several night dives as well. Diving is exceptional
and the reefs are incredibly healthy because we go
to very remote locations where few divers get to
visit. Dolphin interactions are done primarily with
a snorkel, so even non-divers can participate. I
highly recommend a good quality snorkel like the
U.S. Divers Impulse.
Delicious! A member of the crew is on board as
a full-time cook! Don't plan on losing any weight,
even if you swim a lot!
Here's the good part. The boat leaves from West
Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday night and crosses
the gulf stream to the Bahamas while we sleep. The
next morning, we go through customs without even
leaving the boat. Then we head out to the Little
Bahama Banks (an area of shallow water where the
dolphins hang out) and go diving!! At the end of
the week, we head back and arrive Friday morning in
West Palm Beach. This means you buy a cheap ticket
to Florida, not an expensive ticket to the
Bahamas.
No. Your Bahamas entry/exit fees are included
in the charter price. Don't forget some cash for a
tip for the crew. You
will need your passport.
This is a U.S. Coast Guard approved vessel with
two licensed captains on board. Wayne "Scott" Smith
is the primary captain. Andy Pickrell is the second
captain. Scott and Andy are the two most
experienced dolphin trip leaders in the Bahamas.
Scott has been leading these trips for 20 years and
has an almost mystical relationship with some of
these dolphins. They actually know the sound of the
boat and will come to Scott like puppies! That's
why all the pros go out with Scott, from David
Doubilet to Howard Hall. And us, of course
;-)
If you tend to get seasick you would want to
take dramamine for a couple days until you get your
"sea legs." The seas can be flat calm or rough,
depending on the weather and there is no way to
control that. No guarantees on mother nature! I've
had success with the "patch" to prevent seasickness
during rough seas. The Dolphin Dream is a
VERY stable boat.
A $300.00 deposit holds your reservation. This is a
popular trip. Book early and don't miss
out!
Payment Schedule
Deposit
$400.00
Payment 2
$700.00
Final Payment
$799.00
Husband and wife Scott and Robin, the best dolphin
wranglers in the Caribbean!
Wild Dolphins in the Bahamas!
Frolicking at the bow of the boat.
Come on in!
Mother and calf.
Capt. Scott with the dolphins! This
can be YOU!
The "Dolphin Dream," your home away from
home for a week!
A dolphin hunting in the sand.
The salon is the common room where we all hang
out when we're not diving.
Captain Scott (in the blue shirt) explains how
his dolphin ID guidebook works. Captain Scott has
been cataloging dolphins for nearly 20 years. He
has more than 100 individuals in his book and he
can recognize more than 30 on sight.
The rear deck, perfect place for a
picnic!
Learn to play the Bandana
Game!
Jonathan (Left) and Barry prove that it is
possible to drink a "juice box" during a dive. Yum,
fruit punch!
Donna gets up close and personal with a couple of
curious dolphins!
Last Update 7/23/10