from that site, it sounds like the dolphins are more likely to keep their distance unless they feel comfortable around you, and they may attack if you persist in harassing them and its more on their terms in initiating contact. keeping up with them isnt an option due to their speed they can travel at . it does sound like they only attack under certain circumstances – mostly being a lack of respect for them which is totally understandable. Im with you on this one. They are loverly beings. and my time on the palmitos show on friday 2nd december afternoon was nervewrecking but fantastic. those dolphins can bring grown men to tears!

i agree about the cat thing – by scratching as a warning to say “get outta my way!” kinda thing … animals tend to interract with humans on their terms more than anything – though cats do tend to get upset when humans ignore them and theyre meowing like mad! is it just me who notices that?

funnily enough im not sure where the lighthouse is but i walk down to the beach often from the holiday world back end of the building section. i think 39 might go from holiday world i will need to double check.

You’ll see the harbours on either side. Puerto Escala is the one on your right but you can also try Puerto Base on your left. The dolphin trips are daily at various times through the day.

The dolphins seem to like the boats because they usually approach (well some of them do, there are bottlenose dolphins which are very friendly, the “Flipper” ones, as well as spotted, striped and other kinds which are less sociable with humans). No one is allowed to feed them but they are very curious. They are also totally used to the vibrations from the boats/sounds of the boats and do not flee. They stay in the vicinity of the boat.

Wild dolphins can be aggressive (maybe like cat who’s had enough of being stroked and scratches you to signify this) but they can also be lovely. Personally I think they’re beautiful and majestic creatures and very special. Thanks for the link.

http://www.irishdolphins.com/webpilot/list/details.asp?contentid=54&l=10

I understand what you mean about wild dolphins. in their defense, they have rescued a few people from sharks and also from drowning in wild seas in new zealand going by what i have seen on the news and on the net and information. but there are definately circumstances when to respect their space – ie:especially when the females are looking after their young, they wouldnt want to be disturbed and would protect them (as humans would do with their young). i think also if the dolphins feel threatened by humans for some reason they may be more likely to lash out then too. thing is, i need to learn more about dolphins first, and observe their body language and sounds that means to respect their space and dont want to be approached.

i dnt know if i would get chance to do so with trained ones as theyre in the parks with people ripping other people off to see the shows, and i dnt trust how theyre treated either

you say they might try to drag you down to the seabed – hmmmm, is there any hope of escape from dolpins in attack mode? they have warded off a white shark on numerous occasions so i wouldnt fancy being on the wrong side of a dolphin – or even a pack of them come to think of it. I strongly believe that dolphins mean human beings no harm as a rule, but as you say, animals have survival instincts and their are times to approach them and times not to – this is the same with dogs in a sense.

id feel safer in a boat with dolphins round it though as opposed to sharks round it. isnt it debatable though that using a boat to sail to where dolphins are could well disturb dolphins? i did read an interesting site about dolphins – one about what many parks do to captivated dolphins where they mentioned this about going on a boat to see them. tbh, i dont think it would be timne for me to swim with dolphins as of yet, as i wouldnt feel safe in the waters as it would be too deep and i only got one badge for swimming at school so im not great at it. id need a lifesaving boat/dingy type thing round me first i think. though how many instances are there of dolphins attacking people? i have no idea of that one (i guess not all dolphins are like flipper ). I think i have alot to learn about these wild n wonderful mammals..

I have heard that swimming with dolphins can heal people and also heal people of disease but again, i dnt know how true this is but if they can heal people mentally then it wouldnt surprise me if they could more t hings to some degree. ive heard they know what parts of the human body is causing humans distress at the time and they have a way of working magical things and they are soo inteligent too and spiritual.

Honestly, I would go to Puerto Escala in Puerto Rico (that’s the smaller of the 2 harbours) and book the dolphin trip there. It should be 25 euros (might have changed a little) and they do offer a free 2nd trip if they’re unlucky enough to find them the first time.

I agree with your comments about how it’s nicer to see these lovely animals in their natural habitat rather than watch trained ones in captivation do tricks. They are really beautiful and special and I also felt very moved the first time I saw them leaping out of the sea into the air. It’s magical.

There is no way at all of guaranteeing a viewing though since they’re in the wild and the sea is big but make sure the boat you book with does offer free trips until you do see them.

You can see dolphins all year around the Canaries, believe me I worked on the boat, since the water temperature doesn’t change much and their prey remains in the same general area.

I don’t think you can book this trip online at all now but if you get yourself to the harbour in Puerto Rico you will find the dolphin desk and you can book there.

As for swimming with them, it’s best to swim with the trained ones. Wild dolphins are wild and a dolphin in a bad mood CAN attack you or try to drag you down to the seabed. They have moods just like us. Swimming with them can be lovely but wild dolphins are not domesticated (that’s like comparing wild cats with house cats).

But I hope you manage to see them on your birthday. That would be wonderful for you!

Victoria