Dolphin Journeys

Does anyone know anything about Dolphin Journeys??

www.dolphinjourneys.com

Leaving next week for our honeymoon - 10 days on Big Island -- and I%26#39;d really love to swim somewhere with dolphins -- this is the only place I can find online.

Reviews? Comments?

Thanks - maureen

Dolphin Journeys

Never heard of this place......

The only place you swim with dolphins legaly is at the Hiltons dolphin quest.

You need to know that this practice is very harmful to the dolphins and I know no tour here is going to promote or permit you to do that. Dolphins have begun agressive behaviour toward kayakers who jump in with them.....as they are resting and tired. ( the dolphins)

As a matter of fact there are lawspresent and in the works, here that prohibit this, and approaching a dolphin or whale closer than 1/4 mile. for no longer than 30 min. The fine is over $10,000 to harrass a dolphin whale ot turtle. Swimming with is considered harassment.

This has become a huge problem both hereand on the other islands.. Please reconsider and go with one of the many fine touurs that will allow you to observe without harming.

Dolphin Journeys

Aloha babe, yes I have heard of Dolphin Journeys and the owner Nacy Sweatt is very well known on the BI, having several ocean related degrees, plus a legal business liscense I%26#39;m sure she knows the advantage of swimming with the dolphins. I have known of programs that have taught deaf children using dolphins.

I had the opportunity to visit with Karen, at Dolphin Journeys, earlier this week. A few of my notes:

They%26#39;ve been doing excursions for the past eight years and abide by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Opinion; I imagine there are do-it- yourself cowboys out there that do endanger dolphins, but these folks merely travel to the vicinity and wait for the dolphins to initiate ';contact';.

Just a guess, but it seems reasonable to assume that the engagement rules are similar to Whale watching; tours may only get so close, but do not need to move away if the animal initiates a close, non-aggressive, encounter. I ask the question: why deny their right to curosity fulfillment? (To quote the company%26#39;s website: ';if something upsets them or they do not want to be with us, they have the whole Pacific Ocean to be in';.)

Sharon %26amp; I took a similar tour on Oahu several years ago and it was a wonderful experience; would hate to think we had done something harmful.

The protection act applies to dolphins.. there was a big article here in WestHawaii today last week and in it explains the problem better. It took to task those who have been doing this activity. It cited agressive behaviour developng in the dolphin pods because of excessive human contact.. both on Oahu and the Big island

NOAA and the dept of natural resources are asking for stiff laws for this because the voluntary requests fall on deaf ears when ther is a chance for money to be made. the new laws will prevent approach to any dolphin or whale closer than 100 yards, limit time to watch to less than 30 min, prevent swimming with, prevent chasing or followiwng.....

Read the article......

I personaly spoke with Jean Michel Cousteau on this topic last month at a class on the subject and this is where I get my feel for this subject. Dolphin swimming is much akin to the old fire falls at Yosemite valley..... it seemed like a good idea at the time but not now.

Located the article Dan; westmauitoday.com.

Would provide link, but you have to register first. It was in the 12/19 edition.

';Do not touch or swim with the animals, even if approached';. Just a proposal at this time, but seems like it%26#39;s for the best....

Looks like it%26#39;s Dolphin Quest or Sea Life Park.

Mahalo Local Expert.

I did some checking today and found that dolphin journeys has a very solid reputation here.

The reputation is that of a person who violates all proper restrictions and does whatever they pelase...... yes she has a lot of credentials..... too bad she does not adhere to what she learned. Her tours are ALL illegal and the reason that stricter lawmist be passed..... to patornize this person is to help destroy HaWAII DOLPHIN life.

This company is the black eye in our eco-system.....a real flake out for your money..

I am livid at tours that pertend to care and dont have a clue.........This is a very very bad company..... don%26#39;t fall for its lines.

And , I dont say this lghtly.....

if youu care for dolphins annd the ocean... steer clear...very very clear of this operatrion till us locals and NOAA can shut it down for good.

Aloha, wow HD that%26#39;s quite a statement about Dolphin Journeys. Your an attorney%26#39;s dream. The State of Hawaii is very strict in perserving their wildlife and fish perserves and I%26#39;m sure they are fully aware of any improprieties of this company. After all surfers see and swim with dolphins all the time. All over the world even Calif. More dophins are killed in fish nets then ever meet human hands.

I am sorry but this is an irresponsible and and act one distained by all the tour operators on this island.....99% all follow the ethic and word of the law.....1% does not.

This is why we have to pass laws with teeth in them....Why some don%26#39;t get the picture is beyond me...... Surfers dont swim with dolphins and chase them.....and the dolphins have long established places to rest... they cant just go somewhere where else with a lot of trauma to their system......This is why we see dolphins starting to act agressive .. to protect their homes. we visit the sea they live in it..... we need to understand this. Dophins and WHALES can be observed.. they doont want too be our companions. There are times when they do choose to make human contact.... let them choose.... it is their world.. not ours. You cant buy nature.

Major tour companies and cruise lines are at this time divorcing their relation with all companies, world wide, that offer swim with the dolphins. Radisson Cruises was the latest in Tahiti. They nolonger book or offer any activities that do this. ( ask them why) They do now offer observing programs... at a distance as an alternative.

The Ocean Futures Society headed by Jean Michael Cousteau has condemmed them.

NOAA in Hwawaii want it stopped here with manditory laws and stiff penalties. It is not just me...I report what I see.

This would not be necessary un-less the actions of a few forced it. We are laid back in Hawaii.. forced to action only in extreme cases. This is one of those cases.

San Bruno has no dolphins... and your perspective from san francisco bay 2400 miles distant leaves a lot to be desired as it is almost dead from human activity....

Compassion works well on any vacation... you come here to see nature... not force yourself on it..........

Hey, looking your window, do you want to invite everybody you see in for dinner????...

Dolphins might just feel the same...... love them at a distance.. let them choose you, not you them..

Aloha, I%26#39;m glad this topic has inspired you HD. Your initial response to babedame was you knew nothing of this company. I also surmize you aren%26#39;t a surfer or friends with any to know the Calif coast does have dolphins and they do encounter and inner mingle with surfers.Liten up bro.

Hawaiidan: as always I appreciate your insights and wisdom. I enjoyed immensely a raft tour for snorkel at Captain Cooks (Dolphin Discoveries I believe) at your recommendation. in fact, I loved it so much, I did it twice in one trip! given that they were very respectful of the dolphins we did see (hundreds!) we didn%26#39;t swim with them, but they were indeed very close to the boat. wonderful trip. you can do a search and see my review, from last April

my question: I am going to Maui this time, in a couple weeks. is there a similar rafting tour to enjoy from there? I have done, and hated, the Molokini tour. would like something very similar to the one you recommended for the Big Island. do you know of such a gem for Maui? thanks so much!