DUNK 'N DOLPHINS

Liveaboard adventure in search of wild dolphins

Monday 7th July - Tuesday 15th July 2003 (9 days)

Leader: Linda Dunk

Group size limit: 11 plus leader

Have you ever been aboard a boat when the cry 'dolphins' is called? Everyone rushes over to enjoy the wonderful antics of these playful, incredibly appealing and inquisitive creatures. Can there be anyone who is not fascinated by leaping and frolicking dolphins? Inquisitive though they may be, dolphins usually take off at the first sight of a scuba diver with all those frightening bubbles, so few people have had the privilege of observing them for long underwater. This unique liveaboard adventure is designed for those who want to interact with wild dolphins using snorkeling techniques. There will also be ample opportunity for diving (but not with the dolphins).

The majority of the trip will be spent in the waters to the north of Grand Bahama. There will be some spectacular wall diving at Mount Olympus. There will be opportunity to dive both day and night on the one hundred year old Sugar Wreck, a large freighter carrying molasses, which ran aground on the reef. The marine life here is quite spectacular. Turtles, rays, eels, barracudas and large groupers can be found as well as spectacular schools of silversides hiding in the dark crevices of the wreck.

The main aim of the trip will be to connect with the wild dolphin pods that live in the White Sand Ridge area. Shear Water has had 15 years experience of working with these Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, many of which they know by sight, others which are recognized by their behaviour. Instruction on the best way to work with the dolphins in the water will be given. As the boat cruises along, the dolphins will hear the purr of the engines and come to find you. They know the sound of the boat and love to ride the bow wave. Once the crew are confident that the dolphins are up for a swim with humans, you will calmly get in the water and the interaction begins. The dolphins swim in circles around the snorkelers, clicking and whistling and may even make eye to eye contact. It is all up to them. Dolphins often find a person or couple in a group with whom they particularly enjoy 'playing'. It seems that dolphins find humans as interesting as humans find dolphins and with luck you will be treated to their playful antics so reminiscent of primary school children in the playground who have spotted a visitor: showing off, spinning around, squeaking with excitement and whizzing past just out of arm's reach. Watch them as they surge to the surface, or dive to great depths at unbelievable speed (and clearly no decompression worries!). There will be opportunity to take part in amazing night swims with the dolphins as they feed on flying fish and squid. Photographers and videographers, make sure you have loads of film or tape! These will be unique occasions that few will have had the opportunity to experience (let alone photograph!).

Encounters can last from 5 minutes to 5 hours. It really is up to the dolphins. There can be from 2 to more than 20. Nothing is predictable. These are truly wild animals ­ not fed, not trained. Indeed it is impossible to give a 100% guarantee that the dolphins will turn up, but it would be a very rare if they did not.

The weather should be hot and mostly sunny and the water temperature around 29-30°C. Bathing suits or dive skins are recommended for dolphin encounters. Wetsuits will create too much drag and are not recommended.

Linda's tips for photographers include keeping the camera kit as small and easy to handle in the water as possible, as 'shooting from the hip' will be essential. Fast film, up to 400 ASA, is recommended, together with using the shutter priority setting at a minimum of 1/250th, in order to capture these beautiful fast moving creatures to the best advantage on film. For photographers with housed systems, zoom lenses, such as the Nikkor 24-50 mm and 17-35 mm, and perhaps even a very wide-angle full frame fish-eye lens such as the Nikkor 16 mm, will all come in useful. Those with Nikonos V systems will want to bring along the 15 mm lens if available. Pre-setting the focus at about three feet/one metre and then switching to manual focus for the shoot is another suggestion for those housed system users normally devoted to autofocus!

Itinerary

Monday 7th July: Continental Airlines morning flight from London (Gatwick) bound for West Palm Beach via Newark, arriving in the evening. Transfer to Shear Water. In the evening the boat will steam across the Gulf Stream towards West End, Grand Bahamas.

Tuesday 8th July - Sunday 13th July: Six days of diving and snorkeling.

Monday 14th July: Shear Water returns to West Palm Beach in the morning. Continental Airlines afternoon flight from West Palm Beach bound for London via Newark.

Tuesday 15th July: Morning arrival at London (Gatwick).

£2195

Includes:

· Scheduled flights London (Gatwick)/Newark/West Palm Beach/Newark/London (Gatwick) with Continental Airlines.

· Transfers between the airport and Shear Water.

· 7 nights full board accommodation on Shear Water including soft drinks, fruit and snacks.

· 6 days diving and snorkeling.

· Services of Linda Dunk as leader.

Important: Accommodation on the boat is in 3 cabins with 2 bunk beds and one cabin with 6 bunk beds (with 'privacy curtains'). Single occupancy is not available. Furthermore, we are unable to guarantee separate sex accommodation, although we will do our best within the obvious constraints. Anyone having to share with a member of the opposite sex will be notified and will be offered the opportunity to accept or withdraw without penalty. Two heads with hot water showers are available. Cabins are air-conditioned.

Deposit: £700