Swimming with Dolphins - ZooMarine - 3rd September 2006

Place: Zoomarine
Date: 3rd September 2006
Species: Bottlenose Dolphin
Main Cetacean Name: Hamlet
Other Cetacean Name: Hugo
Trainer: Bruno
Time in pool: 35-40 minutes

At 11:15am, at the meeting point, 2 trainers came out and called out our names. Then one of the trainers, Micael, led us down to the dolphin lagoon. Micael was our guide. There was a group of 11 of us, and we watched the dolphins in the left pool, until the 12th person came.
Lol, in the pool, the dolphins were having sex, hehe. There were 3 in the pool; Dino, Hugo and I forgot the others name – oops! Micael talked to us about some of the dolphins, and answered our questions. We saw the dolphins get separated into different pools and then we went into the Hut.
In the hut, Micael told us about dolphins, and we watched the slideshow. Micael was also cracking jokes. It was very cheesy, but very funny.
We then went into the changing rooms, and were given a wet-suit jacket thingy, and flip flops and a towel, as gifts.
Once we were changed, we were taken to the right dolphin pool.
In the pool there were 2 dolphins: Hamlet and Hugo, and 2 trainers: Bruno and Tiago. Lol, Hamlet and Hugo were having sex in the pool, hehe.
We then got in the pool and were split into 2 groups of 6. I went to Hamlet and Bruno. Once I was in the pool, I couldn’t stop smiling.
We greeted Hamlet and were stroking and petting him. Hamlet is an 11 year old male, not born in Zoomarine.
After the greeting of Hamlet, we each had our photos taken with him. I pet and kissed Hamlet a lot, and after my turn was up, I got to kiss Hamlet on the end of the beak.
We then got to pet Hamlet some more and gave him signals, like splashing, waving and rising up. We then got to splash Hamlet, but he splashed us more, hehe.
We were then combined with the other group, so Hamlet and Hugo could give us all a foot push – with or without a board.
The other group went first, whilst we waited in the water. Micael all gave us goggles, and he said we could watch the dolphins underwater. I used the goggles to watch the dolphins underwater, but no one else did. When I had my head underwater, I could also hear the dolphin’s echo-locating. It was very cool.
It was then out turn for the foot push. I went 2nd and did it without the board. I went into the pool, and laid down in the water, with my hands by my side. Hugo and Hamlet then swam behind me, placed their beaks on my feet and pushed me to the other side of the pool. OMG, it was so great! I really loved it.
We then went back into our groups and pet Hamlet some more. We then took it in turns to do the waltz (?) with Hamlet. I swam into the middle of the pool, held my right arm out, my hand in a cup, and Hamlet swam up to me and put his beak in my hand. He spun me round and round in the water, and he did it for quite a while, lol. It was very cool.
At the end, our groups combined, and we kissed our dolphins on the beaks and then waved them away.

Loro Parque - 17th April 2006

Me, mum and Dave got to Loro Parque at about 11.30am. We tried to book a Discovery Tour but it was all booked up, so I was then pissed.
We walked past the Gorillas and then went into Planet Penguin. I love the slide at the bottom that goes into the toy shop :P.
We then had a quick look at the Chimpaneezs and then had lunch whilst the 12pm Sea Lion show was going on.
After lunch we went into the dolphin stadium and watched the orcas. All 4 of them were playing with a blue plastic float. It was cool to watch. Whilst the 1pm dolphin show was going on, I watched the orcas. Kohana was playing with the float, but then she got it stick on the pools side, bless her. Skyla and Tekoa helped her to get it off the side. They kept nosing at the float which then made it harder for them to get it back into the water. They were trying for a good 4 minutes, and eventually they suceeded.
The float got stuck 2 more times. The firs time the trainer pushed it off for them, and the second time Kohana threw her body onto the float tipping it off.
After the dolphin show, me and mum went on the lil orca coaster in Kinderland lol! It went around 6 times.
We then went into this indoor building which would then lead to the Orca Ocean, but it was blocked off. In the building there was the crapy orca statue, and on the wall I saw a picture of 2 orcas and I was like "OMG its Kiska and Athena!".
Me, mum and Dave then walked about the park for a while looking at the parrots, aligators, jaguars and other animals. We went into the aquarium and Shark Tunnel which was closed last time we went. There were about 5 different shark species.
At 2:40pm i headed back to the dolphin stadium, and once again spent the time watching the orcas. They didn't have their float this time, but were basically relaxing. They got a hose down and every now and then did a few splashes. Once the show was over I said my goodbyes to the orcas and left the park at 4:30pm.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562654532NMHolC

Dolphin Watching - Tenerife - 14th April 2006

Place: Puerto Colon?, Tenerife
Date: 14th April 2006
Boat name: Royal Delfin
Boat type: Catamaran?
How many people it carries: -
Company name: -
Trip length: 4 hours 30 minutes
Successful or Unsucessful: Successful
Who was on trip: Me, Mum, Dave
Wildlife seen: Bottlenose Dolphins, Short-Finned Pilot Whales, Seabirds

The coach picked us up at about 11.45am and arrived at Puerto Colon at about 2pm. We boarded our Catamaran, called the Royal Delfin, at 2:30pm. There was no room on the top deck, so I went down stairs in the indoors bit.
Gosh the journey was awful. I suffer from motion sickness so it wasn't in the slightest bit nice. Our first dolphin sighting was a lone bottlenose dolphin. It was bow riding at the front of our boat which was very cool. It didn't stay around long, and then the boar went out in seach of more dolphins.
We came across about 5. Some were bow riding and leaping. There was also a calf! They disappeared after about 7 minutes and the boat searched for more. We then came across quite a lot of dolphins, I have no idea how many, and they were frolicking about. It was very good to watch. Once again they disappeared and the boat didn't find anymore. I felt very ill so laid down and had a little sleep. After food was served up, which I rejected, the boat set off back, and on the way we saw a few dolphins and 2 Pilot Whales, both alone. The Pilots kept disappearing but occasionally did a few small breaches. They didn't stay long and we then set off back to Puerto Colon. I was glad to back on land.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562810988XTeBin

Loro Parque - 12th April 2006

Woo Loro Parque! It was so cool. But gah, the Orca Ocean was still closed :(.
We got to Loro Parque at 12:15pm. At the entrance, mum bought my a backstage ticket, but I never went because it was gunna be about 1.45 hours on my own, but I don't mind because all 3 of us are gunna do it on Monday.
We started off at the Parrots and walked through the aquarium and sea lions until we got to the dolphins. The dolphin show started at 1.30pm, but whilst we waited, we climbed to the top of the dolphin stadium, looked over the edge and saw the orcas!
Wow. It's so weird seeing Keto, Tekoa, Kohana and Skyla, I really can't tell you how weird it was. Tekoa wasn't around much, but Keto, Kohana and Skyla were in the bigger of the back pools, atleast I think its bigger.
I then watched the dolphin show. It was okay, but y'know, the normal dolphin show stuff. I then checked out the orcas again until the guards kicked us out.
We had lunch and then saw the chimpaneezs and marmosets. Then I saw the penguins. The penguin exhibit is really cool. Apparently it has won 4 gold stars. And there was real ice on the walls as you walked through. I was spazzing about that lol.
We then went to the gorillas, and there was one male running past the glass and throwing leaves and stones at it, as if he wanted to challenge us.
Me, mum and Dave then watched the 3.45pm Sea Lion show. It was quite good. After the sea lion show we walked back to the Dolphin stadium, but had to wait ages until we were ket in. I ran to the top of the dolphin stadium, and watched the orcas. U even missed the dolphin show to watch the guys. They were a lot more interesting whilst the show was going on. I saw them being hosed down and fed. I got some great shots.
Before the dolphin show, though, Kohana and Tekoa weren't really about, Keto was logging and Skyla was chewing on the wall lol. She's a cutie. After the show had finished we left the park at about 6.15pm.
It was a cool day. But wow, I was so close to the orcas when I saw them being fed. It was great. Well I wasn't sooo close, but I was close as possible.

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562651451OJuiJB