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 Photo courtesy of ATLANTA DIVERS |
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| A diver has a close encounter with a dolphin, not an uncommon event off the shores of Panama City. It seems that dolphins like playing with humans about as much as humans like playing with dolphins. | |
Close encounters of the aquatic kind are usually quite rare. While dolphins do not seem afraid of boats or people, they usually are not around when divers are in the water. Usually, if one wants to swim with dolphins, one has to go to a place like The Dolphin Institute, where humans are allowed to interact with captive dolphins. In some places, however, dolphins welcome human company, and seem every bit as interested in the divers as the divers are of the dolphins.
One of these places is Shell Island, less than a mile offshore of Panama City, Florida. According to the locals, the seaward side of the island used to be a dumping ground for excess bait and for cleaning fish. One rather resourceful pod of dolphins made this their feeding ground, and it wasn't long before boaters crossed St. Andrew's Bay for the express purpose of seeing dolphins.
Often, the human visitors brought food to entice the dolphins to come closer to the humans. This was generally regarded as a bad idea, and the state of Florida made it illegal to feed marine mammals. While this has deterred some of the more pragmatic dolphins, there is still a sizeable pod of dolphins that is curious enough to seek out human contact.
While it is possible to see dolphins while on one of the many tour boats or while on a personal watercraft, this is generally not the best way to see them. Dolphins have this nasty habit of performing the most spectacular feats of acrobatics just out of view from any given vantage point on a tour boat, and personal watercraft are not allowed within 50 yards of any boat that has divers or snorkelers in the water. The dolphins seem almost as interested in the divers as they used to be by the free fish, so snorkeling is the way to see these animals. Not only is one more likely to actually see a dolphin, but one stands a very real chance of swimming with one, or even making contact.
A snorkeling trip will cost about $15. The only equipment required, a mask, a snorkel, and a pair of fins, which can be purchased or rented inexpensively. Boats usually leave in the early afternoon, but the schedule is somewhat dependent on the weather and how the morning offshore diver trip is scheduled.
Before getting to the seaward side of the island and the dolphins, the boat usually stops on the inshore grass flats where the water isn't as deep, and the shell collecting is better. After about an hour, the boat will move in search of dolphins. Most of the time, at least one dolphin will make an appearance. According to Panama City Dive Center, dolphins are found about 95% of the time.
Florida law stipulates that people are not to initiate any contact with dolphins, so it is advisable not to chase after dolphins once in the water. This is usually not a problem, because the dolphins in this area are quite used to humans, and have come to tolerate, if not positively enjoy, human contact. Dolphins usually swim right up to and amongst snorkelers. The dolphins are quite curious, and will swim around for as long as the snorkelers can hold their interest. When they start to leave the area, it is inadvisable to swim after them. Not only could that be considered harassment, dolphins can easily outswim even Olympic swimmers.
The area where most dolphin encounters occur is just offshore of Shell Island, and usually is in about 20 feet of water. While no special instruction is needed for snorkeling, individuals wishing to snorkel should be competent swimmers, as there can be a mild current, especially after high tide. One should also be quite cautious of personal watercraft and other boats while in the water. While most boaters are cautious and conscientious of divers, some boaters are not aware of the 50-yard exclusion zone around dive boats, and snorkelers are hard to see while in the water. If one is planning to swim away from the boat, be sure to bring along a floating dive flag, which can be rented at any dive shop. It is safer and more enjoyable to stay near the boat while in the water.
For more information on dolphin encounters, point your browser to www.pcdivecenter.com, e-mail pcdc@pcdivecenter.com, or call 850-235-3390.