Dolphins!

We went to the Roatan Marine Institute at Anthony's Keys Resort to swim with the dolphins. But before that we got a tour by Dr. Paul at his clinic there which has Roatan's only hyperbaric chamber. He said they are very busy and decompress hundreds of people a year. Mostly these are lobster and conch divers, and very few recreational divers. Luckily a rescue diving class came in and we got to watch as they put 3 guys in and pressurized them to 165 feet to simulate nitrogen narcosis. They began laughing and singing with distorted high voices. Nitrogen narcosis causes people to act dumb, goofy, and be unable to perform simple tasks. To get out of it you just decrease in pressure (go up) a little bit. 

The dolphins were incredible. For a half hour Nicole, Robby, Rachel and I played with a 4 year old Atlantic Bottle Nose dolphin, Kenny and a trainer who had him show us his tricks. We got to pet him, learn dolphin facts, see how fast he can swim, etc. 

 

Next, we snorkeled with the 37 dolphins in the park. They love to play with people and would swim right up under you in groups. One surprised me by sneaking under me and tapping my foot with its nose. The trainer showed us how you can get a piece of sea grass and put it in their mouths (which they open right in front of your face) and they will spit it back out at you. They will play that game over and over. At one point a dolphin pretended to bite me and I got nervous; the dolphin knew he scared me so to make fun of me did it again! Then the trainer told me to relax or they will keep playing like that. Who knew dolphins have a sense of humor. It was really cool snorkeling so we could see what they naturally do under water.