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The number of people who want to swim with dolphins is at an all time high. Fuelled by a spate of TV
programmes showing TV personalities getting in the water with them, and
revealing how friendly dolphins can be, many people now have the desire to do
the same. If you've ever thought how great it would be to swim with
dolphins read on...
An understandable love for dolphins may encourage people to want to get close to them. This desire may stem from the belief that close contact with these special animals can provide, at the very least, a release from day-to-day stresses and boredom and, at the other extreme, some sort of miracle cure for physical and mental illness, and disability. Such beliefs have helped encourage the growth of interaction programmes by both commercial interests and alternative therapists.
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is reviewing details of dolphin therapy programmes and investigating
if the benefits of using this kind of therapy exceed those of less controversial interactions with pets, horses and other domesticated animals.
Putting aside these alleged benefits for a moment, just imagine you're a dolphin, and you're swimming in the sea around the U.K. In order to survive you've got to avoid polluted waters,
and at the same time keep an eye out for predators who may see you as their next meal.
If you're going to avoid starvation you've also got to find food. Fish is your
favourite, but if you go after fish you've got competition. If you go where the fish are, you need to be careful not to get caught in the giant fishing nets of trawler ships.
Some of them are big enough to swallow a Jumbo jet. If you accidentally swim
into one of those you'll be trapped underwater with no way out. You'll be dragged along in the net, and unable to surface, you'll
slowly drown.
If you manage to catch a few fish you'll probably want to rest afterwards, but of course you've still got to watch out for those hungry predators.
Just as you're starting to relax, you're suddenly confronted by a crowd of humans.
They're diving into the water from a boat just above you. Some are trying to grab your dorsal
fin and ride on your back. Others are shouting and screaming and trying to pet you like a dog. How do you think you'd react.
At best you'll find it all a bit stressful and confusing.
It's important to remember that the dolphins which swim around the coast of Britain are wild animals. Although they will allow us to get very close to them, their actions can be unpredictable.
When you see things from the dolphins perspective it's easy to understand why.
Dolphin numbers around the U.K. are not what they used to be. The reason for
their decline is as a direct result of human activities, so it's altogether much kinder to give them some space and simply observe them from a distance.
Instead of trying to jump on the back of a wild dolphin, like it were some sort
of fairground ride, a more intelligent option could be to take a dolphin watching boat trip instead. The 'Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society' organise dolphin-friendly holidays and trips through their travel wing called
"Out of the Blue" in Scotland and many other destinations around the world. Not only are you able to get close to the dolphins without upsetting them, but the profits go towards dolphin conservation,
helping to ensure their future survival. In case you're wondering we're not connected with Out of the Blue and we receive no commission for recommending them.
The recent popularity for swimming with dolphins, appealing as it first seems,
is spawning a whole new industry. Recent news reports have shown dolphins taken from the wild and kept in captivity, purely for the
"swimming with dolphins" experience, and for the money they generate for their owners. Do you remember the days when animals were kept by circuses and made to perform tricks to earn their keep? Do you ever get the feeling history is repeating itself?
What Does a Dolphin Sound Like?
Where Can I See Dolphins in the UK?
How to Help a Stranded Dolphin
UK Safari Marine Mammal Section
 The
Blue Planet - Box Set
Explores every aspect of marine life from polar waters to tropical reefs
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Photo:
Tom Walmsley