Come meet Ripples, Buttermilk, and Crusty and yes Flipper with the Dolphin Explorer near Naples Florida.
“Let’s go find some dolphins,” enthuses Captain Chris Desmond as he steers Dolphin Explorer’s 36’ Bellecraft catamaran away from the Marco Island Marina.
While Tursiops truncates or Atlantic Bottlenose are the main focus on the three-hour journey an equally fascinating world of Gulf wildlife and botanical wonders also abound.
Swiftly one leaves the high-end real estate of Marco Island and heads toward the Rookery Bay Reserve. The reserve is located on the northern boundary of the Ten Thousand Mile Islands, off the Gulf of Mexico. It is considered one of the most pristine mangrove estuaries in the United States. Estauaries consist of coastal waters with several rivers, creeks or streams emptying into it prior to it opening into the sea.
Here depending on day you can find manatees just below the murky waters’ surfaces, ospreys nesting in navigational markers, snowy egrets or great blue herons hidden in the tangle of red and black mangroves.
The best part of being with Dolphin Explorer is the freedom they allow for exploration. On a recent trip a wading bird with a distinctive bill -the roseate spoonbill- was mentioned. Within minutes the boat was speeding to an area known for sheltering the birds.
Master naturist, Kent Morse keeps small group’s jovial mood by passing around photographs of animal life and offering fun facts on the surrounding wilderness.
Did you know?
- Dolphins can sleep eight hours daily in a position called “logging”.
- 70% of sea life spends some time in an estuary.
- Red mangroves block salt, while the black variety sucks and secretes the mineral.
- The large green pods looking rather like green beans of the sea are actually seedpods from the red mangroves. Snag it on an underwater oyster bed, and eventually you can grow your own piece of Florida real estate.
Speaking of real estate, the region is renowned for its white sand beaches, and midway on the tour 45 minutes are allowed for some free time on a barrier island. With complimentary bags let the beachcomber in your soul roam free. Conches, sand dollars, paper figs, and tulips are just some of the Gulf’s bounty waiting to be collected.
Sightings of some of humans’ favorite marine mammals is primary, however it is important to remember this is Mother Nature’s show.
Suddenly, the yell of “there they are”, and the resulting wave of euphoria is tangible.
Among the turquoise blue waters dorsal fins appear and then gracefully arc downward.
Excited chatter erupts and in keeping with the Dolphin Explorer’s current five year study of regional bottlenose dolphins - from Bonita Bay to Everglade City - photos are taken and compared to previous sightings.
Dorsal fins are the easiest point for identification. Often scarred or missing chunks, many of the injuries occur during the dolphins’ own playtime. Encounters with sharks and man are other major reasons for disfiguration.
Once loaded into the on-board computer comparisons are made and often as the dolphins are frolicking around the catamaran their history is being gathered and shared. At present 17 pairs of mothers and calves have been identified and the current baby of the group is Buttermilk, a female calf born in February 2007.
Should you be on board and discover an new dolphin you will have the honor of naming it, and starting its tracking with the Dolphin Explorer scientific study.
Keep the name universal. Past namings like Victor had to be altered to Victoria upon the arrival of newborns.
An eco tour with Dolphin Explorer is more than just a day trip.
As Captain Desmond states;
“The whole show is out there.”
For more info: www.dolphin-explorer.com/
More area articles: florida-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/cycling_in_naples
More area info:www.paradisecoast.com
