True or false, Stingrays

If you have been to one of our Dolphin Cove locations you know we have stingrays as a added attraction.  You are able to snorkel, swim, and touch these beautiful creatures.   Here are some interesting facts for you to decide if they are true or false.   (Hint, they are all true)  Never fear because at Dolphin Cove we do NOT remove the barbs that can kill you,  We clip them (for your safety and because it is cruel to remove them) Stingray Facts Stingrays are diverse group of fish characterized by flattened bodies. They can be found in oceans in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Stingrays like warm and shallow water. Most of their time, they will be hidden on the ocean floor. There are 60 different species of stingrays. Some of them are threatened.

Interesting Stingray Facts:
Largest stingrays can reach 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to 790 pounds.
Stingrays are close relatives of shark. Like sharks, they don't have bony skeleton. Their skeleton is made of cartilage, same material that builds our nose and ears.
Their flattened body ends with long tail that usually contains spine and venom. Spine can be serrated in some species.
They use spine and venom to protect against predators. Stingrays can kill a lot of different animals, including humans.
Ancient Greek dentists used stingray's venom as anesthetic.
People that live in the areas where stingrays can be found use their spines to make a weapon (daggers). Venom remains deadly even if it is extracted from a dead stingray.
Their eyes are located on the top of the head, but they don't use eyes to find prey. Stingrays have electro-sensors which help them detect electrical charges that prey emits.
Mouths are located on the bottom side of their body. When they catch clams, shrimps, and mussels, they will crash and eat them using their powerful jaws.
Besides mouth, they have gill slides and nostrils on the bottom side of their body.
They swim by moving flippers up and down. These movements are similar with movements of the wings in birds and it is sometimes said that stingrays "fly" through the water.
They are usually solitary, but they sometimes swim in the groups. Group of stingrays is called "school".
Most of their time, they will be hidden on the ocean floor. Shape and color of their body allow them to slip under the sand and become invisible for enemies.
Stingrays give birth to 2-6 young stingrays each year.
Baby stingrays are born fully developed; they look like miniature versions of adult animals. Babies take care of themselves from the moment of birth.
They live 15-25 years in the wild.

The bucket list

The other day I watched the movie the bucket list.  It caused me to think about my life a bit.   Here is what I have found on the web as a bucket list.  I will also point out the ones I have done.  I will go one step further and point out how coming to Dolphin Cove in Jamaica can help you clear a few things off this list.

•   ride: in a hot air balloon 
•   see: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) 
•   see: Grand Canyon, Arizona 
•   swim: with dolphins   (um we are here I have done this.)
•   go: on safari  (we have the jungle trail its close enough)
•   see: Great Barrier Reef 
•   go: on a helicopter ride 
•   Travel to the seven continents 
•   Sleep under the stars   (many times as a child and a few times as an adult.  Jamaica is great for this)
•   Make a difference in someone's life  (we do this every day but bring them to Jamaica and its done for ever)
•   Shower in a waterfall.   (again very easy and fun to do in Jamaica.  Dunns river is across the street)
•   do: scuba diving   (we have sea trek here so you can interact with the dolphins at the same time)
•   do: sky diving    (was fun but would never do again)
•   see: Great Wall of China 
•   Travel: Italy 
•   Get married 
•   ride: on an elephant  (was at the zoo though)
•   Travel: Australia 
•   Raise a happy and healthy child ( she is only two though so I have a long way to go)
•   go: whale-watching   (have done this in jamaica many times)
•   see: Seven New Wonders of the World 
•   see: New Years Eve at Times Square (New York) 
•   learn: a foreign language (or 2 or more!)  (patois does count)
•   see: Broadway play (New York)   (saw cats)
•   do: white water rafting   (done this in Jamaica too)
•   see: Amazon Rainforest  
•   donate: blood 
•   go: on a road trip. 
•   do: canoeing or kayaking   (dolphin cove offers this as well.)
•   Travel: France 
•   Find the love of my life 
•   go: camping 
•   see: Stonehenge 
•   see: Mona Lisa at the Louvre 
•   visit: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
•   create: a loving and happy home 
•   ride: a camel  (can do this at dolphin cove Negril)
•   Travel: Greece 
•   visit: Machu Picchu, Peru. 
•   do: a bungee jump 
•   Experience weightlessness 
•   see: Iceberg 
•   see: Yellowstone National Park 
•   Sleep in a castle 
•   see: Olympic Games (summer) 
•   Maintain my ideal weight 
•   see: Mardi Gras, New Orleans 
•   see: Great Sphinx of Giza 
•   see: Sistine Chapel 
•   see: Louvre Museum (Grand Louvre) 

Views from My Desk

Here I sit.  Nearly four pm,  I look out the window of my office and see the happy faces of customers playing in the water with the sharks, Dolphins,  and stingrays.  I see a family eating Ice Cream and yet another couple having a nice cold Red Stripe.   I must say that I have a great view that only serves to tease me about the fun I could be having.   I could continue to write this post about the adventures that could be had at Dolphin Cove Jamaica however I would rather go outside and chat with a Pirate, while waiting for a kiss from a dolphin.   Why don't you Join me.

Dolphins, Getting personal

Ok people,  A bit of a confession.  I was not born a yard.  I moved here many moons ago from a land far far away,  a land of snow and cold.  A land where you could not walk around in slippers all day.  A land where your best friend was either your significant other or a heating blanket.  A land where you wanted to have the dog on the bed as it helped keep you warm.  When I first moved here I was like nearly everyone else.  I was in awe of what I saw.  I loved the nature and loved the whole concept of island life.   Soon it started to wear on me though.  I wanted more.  I was tired of just seeing the mongoose running around.   I was tired of just hearing the parrots in the trees or the tree frogs making their noises.  I wanted more.   Then I learned to sail.  I started to have fun,  it opened a new world for me.   I learned to appreciate nature more. Then I saw it.  A sea turtle in the water.  What a site.  I learned to slow down and appreciate things more.  The turtle did that for me.   Another day we were greeted by dolphins,  seeing a dolphin at sea is a great experience.  It was like their energy feed me.   I learned to look for them.  Alas sightings at sea in Jamaica although fairly common are not a daily thing. However I am blessed.  I get to work with Dolphin Cove Jamaica and I see them every day.   Why not join me sometime.

DR, Dr, Dr, I need a Nurse!!!

Are you aware that we have nurse sharks in Jamaica?   We do, but never fear they keep to themselves most of the time.  They prefer to be in their own little world and keep to themselves.  They are not man eaters they prefer to eat crustaceans as well as molusks.   Though they do have teeth they are not prone to biting.

At Dolphin Cove Jamaica LTD we too have nurse sharks.  They are at our Ocho Rios location and are considered by many one of our most exciting attractions.   Each day you will see our well trained handlers put on a bit of a show and you can have the chance to feed and interact with them.   For the adventurous spirit you will have a tremendous opportunity well worth the trip to Jamaica just to see.   Why not come and give one a cuddle?   For those of you looking to learn a bit more please check out this page.  http://schools-wikipedia.org/wp/n/Nurse_sharks.htm  For those of you interested in seeing one for yourself please check us out www.dolphincoveja.com

Dolphin vs Human how alike are we.

I have to admit that I borrowed this from the wiki.  The other day I was watching TV and I saw the mermaid documentary on the Discovery Channel.  It got me thinking about how they say that humans evolved from the sea.   Then I thought about dolphins (as one does when you work here)  I wondered what we all share in common.  This is what I found.  I felt that it was important enough to share with you.     Dolphins and humans more alike than you think.  

Both are mammals, so both have mammary glands, and hair on their skin, and they have 7 cervical vertebrae as humans do. 

They are touted to be one of the only 3 animals that mate for pleasure (humans, dolphins, bonobos), and socially with many partners as many humans do. They also mate face to face unlike other animals. Dolphins do give birth to live young, and as mammals, they nurse their young with breast milk. 

They have very high communication skills amongst themselves. They are very social and prefer to live in pods rather than alone. Females will create a communal/ family creche for the young, so that others may go to hunt and feed. They show emotions of happines and sadness. They mourn the death of a member of the pod, especially an offspring. They also display working in teams to achieve a common goal. When hunting, they create tight balls of sardines by circling and herding them, and then diving straight through them to feed. Pods are very protective of each other and sometimes show compassion, and may adopt a young out of another pod if it has been left behind or lost its mother. 

Additionally, they have mirror neurons, being able to pass the mirror test and detect themselves in a mirror. Mirror neurons may also indicate empathy. 

In short, they display more "human" emotions and behaviors than any other non-primate mammal.  Here is what I have found may be what the human dolphin combo may look like.

Lets walk with the dolphins

We at Dolphin Cove (Ocho Rios location only) offer a very special opportunity for you.  We have the Dolphin Trek experience.   

Dolphin Trek, with Sea Trek helmet, is the ultimate sea trek program where participants can walk underwater while surrounded by dolphins.  Dolphin Trek offers the most innovative intimate dolphin encounter on the planet!  Dolphin Trek is all dolphins, all the time.You participate in a brief presentation after which, you descend 12 feet under water to begin your interaction with these amazing creatures

Let me describe this for you in a bit of detail.  You don this cool looking helmet and walk under water while you interact with our dolphins.  Better yet.  Take a look at this video and see for yourself.  Jamaica Gleaner video with Dolphin Trek

I know that there is a lot of interest in people trying or learning to scuba dive so maybe take two things off your bucket list and try a Dolphin Trek.  You can walk with the dolphins and have a experience quite similar to scuba diving but with a lot less gear and danger.