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| SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPHINS IN CUBA’S BAHIA DE NARANJO By Habeeb Salloum Continued next page. |
| WAVE Journey.com Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
Our boat sailed smoothly through the waters of Bahia de Naranjo, located on the coast of
Holguin province in eastern Cuba. Our group of 18 enjoyed the morning cool breeze enveloping
our bodies. Our goal was Cayo Jutia, a small island in the middle of the bay – part of which had
been turned into a natural aquarium.
Holguin province in eastern Cuba. Our group of 18 enjoyed the morning cool breeze enveloping
our bodies. Our goal was Cayo Jutia, a small island in the middle of the bay – part of which had
been turned into a natural aquarium.
I was thinking of the lush green landscape around the
bay when someone from our group shouted: “Who is
going to let the dolphins kiss them first?” One of the
women in our group snickered, “It’s not a kiss one will
cherish.”
Soon we stepped ashore on a complex, which besides
a bar and restaurant includes a series of wired pens in
the waters edging the island. The natural aquarium
housed in a series of large pens only two types of sea
animals – dolphins and sea lions, trained to entertain
visitors.
bay when someone from our group shouted: “Who is
going to let the dolphins kiss them first?” One of the
women in our group snickered, “It’s not a kiss one will
cherish.”
Soon we stepped ashore on a complex, which besides
a bar and restaurant includes a series of wired pens in
the waters edging the island. The natural aquarium
housed in a series of large pens only two types of sea
animals – dolphins and sea lions, trained to entertain
visitors.
In the distant past, during Spanish times, the cove
where the aquarium is located used to be an excellent
refuge for corsairs and pirates that roamed the Spanish
Main. In our times, it has become a shelter for tourist
boats protecting them from the winds and waves, while
visitors enjoy romping with dolphins and sea lions.
In a few moments those of our group who wanted to
swim with the dolphins had put on their life jackets and
were in the water while the trainer stood by waiting to
start the show. For the others like myself who had no
wish to swim with dolphins, we sat down on the
surrounding seats and watched the performance,
discussing the attributes of these aquatic mammals.
where the aquarium is located used to be an excellent
refuge for corsairs and pirates that roamed the Spanish
Main. In our times, it has become a shelter for tourist
boats protecting them from the winds and waves, while
visitors enjoy romping with dolphins and sea lions.
In a few moments those of our group who wanted to
swim with the dolphins had put on their life jackets and
were in the water while the trainer stood by waiting to
start the show. For the others like myself who had no
wish to swim with dolphins, we sat down on the
surrounding seats and watched the performance,
discussing the attributes of these aquatic mammals.
Swimming with the dolphins is a wonderful one-day outing – a family attraction that can be
enjoyed by the young and adults or by a whole family together. In a scenic natural setting, the
aquarium offers the joys of nature in a controlled atmosphere of trained dolphins and sea lions -
an ideal world for picture taking.
enjoyed by the young and adults or by a whole family together. In a scenic natural setting, the
aquarium offers the joys of nature in a controlled atmosphere of trained dolphins and sea lions -
an ideal world for picture taking.
At a signal from the trainer the dolphins swam in a
graceful fashion before and around the men and
women in the water, often stopping to be petted. At
other signals they would leap out of the water,
twisting, turning and performing other movements for
the benefit of their audience. They would then kiss the
swimmers on the cheek or playfully nudge them -
amusing both children and adults. In-between, every
few minutes the dolphins would swim back to the
trainer who gave them pieces of fish for their efforts. If
visitors were game they could swim along with the
dolphins for a few moments before the dolphins left
them far behind.
graceful fashion before and around the men and
women in the water, often stopping to be petted. At
other signals they would leap out of the water,
twisting, turning and performing other movements for
the benefit of their audience. They would then kiss the
swimmers on the cheek or playfully nudge them -
amusing both children and adults. In-between, every
few minutes the dolphins would swim back to the
trainer who gave them pieces of fish for their efforts. If
visitors were game they could swim along with the
dolphins for a few moments before the dolphins left
them far behind.
It was truly a joyful scene of humans and animals
enjoying themselves, enacted every day in the
aquarium. For many ‘swimming with the dolphins’ is
on their must do list when travelling on vacation to
Holguin’s beaches – a once in a lifetime experience to
be cherished.
Leaving the dolphins joyfully playing in their pens, we
walked a short distance to where the sea lions were
to perform. No sooner did we sit in front a stage
then three sea lions entered to stand behind chairs
and, at a signal from their trainer begin to clap with
their fins. Looking around at our group the trainer
asked for volunteer to come on stage. Nelson, an
apparently adventurous man in our group leaped on
stage to sit on one of the chairs before a performing
sea lion.
Our group gave him an ovation when at a signal from
the trainer the sea lion began to hug him with his fins
and kiss him on the cheek. “Kiss her back!” a woman
in the audience called out as the trainer threw the
sea lion a piece of fish.
enjoying themselves, enacted every day in the
aquarium. For many ‘swimming with the dolphins’ is
on their must do list when travelling on vacation to
Holguin’s beaches – a once in a lifetime experience to
be cherished.
Leaving the dolphins joyfully playing in their pens, we
walked a short distance to where the sea lions were
to perform. No sooner did we sit in front a stage
then three sea lions entered to stand behind chairs
and, at a signal from their trainer begin to clap with
their fins. Looking around at our group the trainer
asked for volunteer to come on stage. Nelson, an
apparently adventurous man in our group leaped on
stage to sit on one of the chairs before a performing
sea lion.
Our group gave him an ovation when at a signal from
the trainer the sea lion began to hug him with his fins
and kiss him on the cheek. “Kiss her back!” a woman
in the audience called out as the trainer threw the
sea lion a piece of fish.
In a minute the sea lion was back, hugging and kissing Nelson, “Look! Look! She’s in love!” A
man sitting next to me laughed looking at the sea lion seemingly enjoying his acting. The
cameras began to click away from all sides. As I took my last picture, a woman passing by
said: “You can pose besides them for a picture. It will be a great souvenir.”
man sitting next to me laughed looking at the sea lion seemingly enjoying his acting. The
cameras began to click away from all sides. As I took my last picture, a woman passing by
said: “You can pose besides them for a picture. It will be a great souvenir.”
