Kealakekua bay is a large (0.8 mile diameter) bay half open to
the ocean. On the far side of the bay in the trees is a white
monument near where Captain Cook was killed. Spinner dolphins are
commonly found here, and if you swim a third- to a half-mile out
you may find yourself surrounded. Don't chase them though: they
are a lot faster than you'll ever be and it's not nice. Be
patient: they'll come to you. (Aug 1998)
In August, I swam to the Cook monument (which has a nice reef).
Halfway there I had this great encounter with a small pod of
dolphins which almost surfaced into me. (Aug 1998)
There was a great morning with about 100 dolphins. (Jan 1999)
Dolphins play the "leaf game" where they catch large
leafs in the water. They use their snouts (left picture), fins
and flippers (right picture). When they drop a leaf they come
back and get it. We watched this for a couple of hours. (Jan
1999)
The dolphins were very playful that day, often leaping from the
water. Here's one doing a 360. (Jan 1998)
Here's a visit from
a playful guy checking me out. Note the leaf on his flipper in
the first picture. (Jan 1998)
Here's another close encounter. He's about six feet away. (Jan
1998)
Some very nice light shots. (Jan 1998)
The Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin
by Kenneth S. Norris, Bernd Wursig, Randall S. Wells and Melany
Wursig
with Shannon M. Brownlee, Christine Johnson and Judy Solow
A 20-year study of the Spinner Dolphins of Kealakekua Bay by a distinguished dolphin expert and his associates. Comprehensive in content, it includes the daily patterns of behavior as well as the visual, acoustic, reproductive and breathing experience of dolphins.