Thursday started off like most days, with a few hours of data processing, and then the regular routine of lunch and getting ready to go out on the water.
However, the forecast was a bit murky – just like the sky! As we headed out on our normal dolphin route, we noticed some intimidating clouds to our west. We continued for a little while before the clouds were above us, leaving us scrambling for our raincoats. We turned the boat around and anchored it to a mooring line on a nearby dive site to wait the storm out.
Category: Bimini 2013
Making the Best of a Windy Day
Wednesday began with all three of us heading over to the Sea Crest Hotel to chat about dolphins and DCP with Bimini Adventures’ international guests. Everyone was very involved and asked lots of questions. The interns also felt confident enough to step up and answer a few questions this time. All in all it was a great morning!
We then headed back and worked on some data processing until the boat was scheduled to leave. It was a bit windier than Tuesday but the interns once again set off on a boat full of excited guests.
Rougher Waters Won’t Stop Us
Tuesday was another day out on the water for DCP. Though it started off with data analysis and office work, like most other days, it took a different turn when it came time to go out on the water.
The wind was a bit strong, and so that called for rougher waters. However, Bimini Research manager Kel Melillo-Sweeting had enough faith in the interns to give them a crash course on how to collect underwater focal-follow video data. We hadn’t been out for very long when we came across a group of spotted dolphins.
A Day of Surprises and Luck!
Monday was a day of surprises and good fortune. It began as a clear sunny morning and we worked on data analysis before getting ready to head out on the boat. Two hours before the boat was supposed to leave, it began pouring rain! Salma and Nicole were quite concerned about the possibility of not being able to go out on the water but Kel explained that the weather here can change in a short time.
Dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins!
The majority of Friday and Saturday was spent indoors analyzing data and hiding from the sun due to our burns from Thursday’s long boat trip. By Sunday, however, our noses were peeling and we felt less afraid of the sun, which was good since we needed to head back on the water to look for more dolphins!
But first, Sunday morning was spent doing some office work and continuing analysis of video data for social quality.
A Successful Day in the End!
Thursday was quite a day for the DCP crew. We left at 11 a.m. to start our search for dolphins. We went on a smaller vessel this time as we only had two guests, visiting Australian photographers, with us as opposed to our earlier large group of high school students. It was a beautiful day, though a bit choppy out on the water, and we had high hopes of finding a group of dolphins early in the day….Six hours later we were still looking with absolutely no luck.
Adventures with Bimini’s Bottlenose Dolphins II
Tuesday was a full day for DCP! We started off with a quick meeting, debriefing from yesterday. Then we headed to a Q&A session with the high school students from yesterday’s & today’s dolphin trips. We introduced ourselves and DCP, then let the kids ask questions to their hearts’ content; they were very eager and inquisitive and we answered the various questions that the kids threw at us. Topics varied from dolphins to sharks to just ocean preservation and conservation as a whole. The kids were really interested in learning all they could.
Adventures with Bimini’s Bottlenose Dolphins II
Tuesday was a full day for DCP! We started off with a quick meeting, debriefing from yesterday. Then we headed to a Q&A session with the high school students from yesterday’s & today’s dolphin trips. We introduced ourselves and DCP, then let the kids ask questions to their hearts’ content; they were very eager and inquisitive and we answered the various questions that the kids threw at us. Topics varied from dolphins to sharks to just ocean preservation and conservation as a whole. The kids were really interested in learning all they could.
An Exciting First Day with the Dolphins of Bimini!
Monday was an exciting day for our new interns.
Visit to the Coral Reef II
On Thursday we boarded the Coral Reef II to talk to a group of high school students who were doing a program with the Shedd Aquarium. While Kel was really the main attraction, Nicole and Salma were asked a couple of questions about colleges and majors/degrees. Kel gave a wonderfully animated presentation about the goals of DCP and the research that DCP conducts. The students asked lots of good questions about the dolphins, really showcasing their genuine interest and curiosity on the subject.
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