dolphin watch

While searching for things to do in Manteo before we left, I found a link to a website for cruises.
Bear in mind, I've always wanted to go on a deep-sea fishing cruise. Not a whole day one, but just half a day. But it's simply not realistic. Nevertheless, I clicked on the link to Captain John's to see what he offered and I saw this: 2 hr dolphin cruises. The prices was doable, so I called. I asked him if by chance his boat/dock was wheelchair acceptable. He not only told me yes, but told me his pontoon-styled boat had a cover over it so he could be out of the sun if he needed to (something only wheelchair-bound people realize the seriousness of!), AND there was a bathroom on board that was wheelchair accesible. I made reservations right away.

When we arrived in town, we discovered that not only were dolphin cruises common, but that many of them were a cheaper than what I had signed us up for. But after arriving at the dock, I realized this boat was the only one I saw that was wheelchair accesible. So I'd gladly pay that price again. The cruise came with a guarantee that we'd see a dolphin or get a voucher for a free cruise later in the summer. I expected to see one or two. Were we both surprised!

Captain John had a very dry sense of humor, which we both found quite funny (especially when he told the group if there were any siblings on board they were not allowed to look at each other). And we learned quite a bit (including that mahi is a type of dolphin - which we ate the night before!).

Headed out...the sound was only 3-5 ft deep!

They told us to watch for fins and water sprays. :)

I was surprised to learn there were different colors of dolphins, that dolphins didn't have to live in the ocean (the sound is half salt water and half fresh water), and that one of the two groups of dolphins we saw that day had never been to the ocean.

One of the "blue" dolphins. There were also dark gray ones.

Couldn't believe how close they swam to the houses, boats, and bridges!

And the best shot I got all day. I probably took 166 pictures, but the dolphins move so fast that I missed a lot of them. I ended up deleting 120 pictures that were nothing but water, waves, or splashes. We did learn that dolphins give live birth, the babies start out riding on the mom, and then they swim alongside her for 2-3 years before venturing on their own. Not sure if this is a mom with children or not, as they tended to swim in groups. A few were solo, but they were never far away from the group. The captain said a herd could have as many as 45 dolphins. We saw 2 different herds while out.