Spring Break, Day Six


"So long, and thanks for all the fish!"

The highlight of the day was my visit to Dolphin Cove. This was a three-hour excursion off site, but well worth the time. It is essentially a marine research centrer supported by tourism. They do shark and sting ray behavioral research and research into dolphin socialization. I found out some neat things.

(1) Dolphins from differnet pods speak different dialects (I knew this), but put tjese different dolphins together for a while, and they learn a new language which all of the dolphins canspeak. This seems to me to be very Internet Protocol:
Computer One: Here's a data packet! Do you understand that?
Computer Two: I have no clue what you just said.
Computer One: OK, here's the same data packet in a new format. Did you understand that?
Computer Two: Hey! I know what you're saying! Send me more!

(2) Only two places i nteh world have managed to train sharks, Dolphin Cove and the other place. Which is why they let you swim with their nurse sharks. Their 14' nurse sharks. With teeth! Youget to feed them, tooo, if you pay to swim with them. I did not swim with the sharks.

(3) They sting rays they study have also been trained. They are the first location to do so, and are finally being able to get some accurate growth readings on the rays because they have trained th erays to come to the trainers and be still while they are measured. It's a marvelous opportunity for research.

(4) Dolphins are amazingly strong swimmers. I know this now from personal experience. I got to touch several, swim with one, kiss another, and then get pushed into the air by two of them, one on each foot! It was amazing! I have pictures and vid of the experience that I will post as soon as I can.

It was an amazing day, and will be a highlight of my life for quite a while.

Posted: Sat - March 29, 2008 at 09:11 AM          

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