Wild dolphin swim in Hawaii

Swimming with wild dolphins in Waianae
by Diane Ako

Waianae (KHNL) - We're taking a walk on the wild side this morning. There's a place on Oahu where you can swim with wild dolphins. And I got more than I bargained for when I jumped in the water.

Early in the morning, we board this boat in the Waianae Harbor, and motor towards Electric beach, in search of a big adventure.

Marine biologist Kara Benstrom describes what were seeking: Hawaiian spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, and whatever reef fish we can find."

We gear up, go down, and snorkel first, checking out all the reef fish. Benstrom says, "This gives people a chance to see what nature should look like."

Then we drive over to where the dolphins play. Soon, they show up. Benstrom says, "Some days weve had swims for over half hour, where the dolphins want to swim, play, and check out the people. The dolphins can be tricky; if they're not in the mood we have to respect that."

But I got lucky. I was 5 feet from a pair of dolphins who were circling and playing with a plastic bag. They were treating it like a toy and trying to get me to play with them!

Elizabeth Hartford, office manager for Wild Side Specialty Tours, watched me from the boat and described what she saw after: "The dolphins came around and were dropping it in front of you and made circles around you. This was their indicator they wanted to play. Women who are pregnant and they're in the water, sometimes before they're ever aware they are pregnant the dolphins will come and make circles around them as if they can sense the fetus."

She says I was the person the dolphins came closest to. Are they trying to tell me something that I dont know?

Dolphin pregnancy test aside, the rest of the guests say they had a great time.

Rachel Jacobson was visiting from Washington, DC. " This was adventurous to be swimming with the dolphins. I felt safe at all times and the crew was professional. It was fantastic!"

Betsy Glick was visiting from Virginia and agrees. They were cooperative. We got to swim alongside a mother and baby. It was wonderful."

It's an adventure that certainly is... wild!

Wild Side Specialty Tours offers more than dolphin tours. There are other tours for whales, turtles, or just boat rides. It's all on its website, sailhawaii.com/wildside.html

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• WIld
• dolphin
• swim
• KHNL
• Diane Ako
• Waianae
• Oahu

[BrokenSoulGlass]

I'd actually be more angry that the dolphins brought me a garbage bag because it shouldn't have been there in the first place.

[BrokenSoulGlass]

Ugh, as if humans didn't have enough fun polluting land, they just had to move onto oceans. The comment she made over the dolphins playing with the plastic bag should have been made as a clear assumption. For all we know the dolphins might have seen the plastic bag as something else. And yeah sure animals can take care of themselves, but humans meddling with pollution by leaving garbage around makes that difficult for them.

[lanigrl]

Diane, Next time swim from shore.... the boats who CHASE these dolphins are breaking the law.. harassement... its all about the money Diane.. These boats are VERY disrespectful of swimmers in the water..

[lanigrl]

Ginger how would you know thisdolphins think like humans? No Elizabeth .. we as humans PRESUME the dolphins are playing with plastic bags... We study dolphins held captive , we chase dolphins in our boats and think we are seeing normal behavior.. we charge people to get on a boat and GO.. see a dolphin... WE THINK we know what a dolphin thinks... whose stupid?? If a dolphins doesnt come to you... stay away from them.. we invade their lives.. with our garbage.

[STILLNAKEDBULLWINKLE]

no white balance on your camera? the fish looked washed out. Did you not have a camera in your hand for your amazing encounter with two dolphins playing with you? Too bad...

[gingerisevil02]

Omg I went on a boat like that!!! But it was the summer:-/. Not whale season.:-/ I gotta do that before I die!!

[gingerisevil02]

Ian your stupid. Dolphins think a lot like humans. Very intelligent animals. There non human persons. Anyway cool I hate it when dolphins are kept captive. It's cool program because the dolphins can interact with us as they choose freely

[ElizabethSSSinger]

@lanigrl so your point is saying that dolphins are stupid to play with the plastic? because you said and I quote "DOLPHINS donot THINK LIKE HUMANS." I actually think that they are SMARTER than humans in some ways.And I believe that they want to play because I read a lot of dolphin books and all of them like plastic objects it just cant be very big. The plastic bag was not very big.So the dolphin can take care of themselves. Animals know how to take care of themselves.

[minghan05]

Hawaii is too close to Japan. They shouldn't be so close or the hateful Japanese who eaat all types of sea creatures, will eat them up. That includes whales and dolphins which they kill in great quantities to satisfy their primitive hunger. I think the Jap in Hawaii is no exception, it's in tejir blood.

[lanigrl]

Maybe just maybe the dolphins are trying to get us to understand that PLASTIC IS KILLING THEM. Only a human would think a dolphin thinks this is a TOY! THESE are wild DOLPHINS and for a MARINE biologist to suggest dolphins view these bags as toys just blows my mind. DOLPHINS donot THINK LIKE HUMANS. good grief!