# Dolphin Pictures--Florida 2003

I've always wanted to swim with dolphins, so we took a short vacation to
Florida and went to *[Discovery Cove](http://www.discoverycove.com/adventure.asp)*.
It was pretty neat, though as homogenized and orchestrated as you would expect
in the States. They have a fake coral reef you can snorkel around that has some
really big spotted rays, and a stingray pool containing about 50 (when
we were there) smaller rays that you can touch if you're patient and
fast enough. There is also a very boring "tropical river" that runs
through an aviary. However, if you are alert you may find an underwater
window from the "river" into the "reef" that is neat.

The main point is the dolphins though. I think they had about 30 or so.
They were very protective of the dolphins, which is good of course, but
limits how much free-form fun you can have to, oh, about none. Still, it
was a very interesting experience to see them up close, to feel their
skin (like a wet, slick, latexy, smooth velvet) and be taken for a short
ride. In that 30 feet or so, I was almost washed off by rushing water\!

We met Diego, who was about 5 years old. He was born in captivity in
California (the San Diego zoo, I believe, hence his name).
Interestingly, he likes ice cubes quite a lot, of all things. Maybe it
was because they were fish flavored, since there were small food fish
mixed in to the can of ice the trainer had. I wonder what he thought of
all of this? Does he get bored, meeting humans and doing the same thing
every day? Is he just humoring the trainer when he feels like it; does
he think he is clever for conning fish and ice cubes all day long for
doing just about nothing? I'd love to know.

-----

Each swim group has two trainers and a couple of photographers. They
have a pretty nice operation. The photographers have digital cameras and
after the half hour swim, they upload the memory sticks into a LAN. They
have a bunch of Mac's sitting around in fake rocks and after a while you
tag all the pictures in your group with you in them, then go through a
slide show and pick out ones you want, if any. It's insanely expensive,
of course, but what the heck...

But I couldn't help wondering. Sand, water, Florida weather, clueless
tourists--**NOT** a good combination. I wonder how many mice and Macs
Tech Support goes through in a year... And the downtime figures on the
LAN must be really interesting.

 

### Introductions to Diego

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/intro.jpg" alt="intro.jpg" >}}

 

### Getting friendly

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/friendly.jpg" alt="friendly.jpg" >}}

 

### Splash Fight\!\!\!

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/splash.jpg" alt="splash.jpg" >}}

 

### Dolphin ride

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/ride.jpg" alt="ride.jpg" >}}

 

### Diego and friends flying

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/dflying.jpg" alt="dflying.jpg" >}}

 

### Stock closeup

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/scloseup.jpg" alt="scloseup.jpg" >}}

 

### Stock flying

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/fflying.jpg" alt="fflying.jpg" >}}

 

### Discovery Cove Sign (note person swimming)

{{< figure src="/images/dolphins/dscsign.jpg" alt="dscsign.jpg" >}}