Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins

If you’ve ever been to an aquarium and watched the dolphin show, you more than likely have seen the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin.

These dolphins are probably the best known – and best loved – of marine mammals in the world!

And there’s good reason: dolphins are highly intelligent, social and gentle. Plus, their curved mouths form a “smile” on their faces (from the side) and that’s just pretty darn hard to resist!

Dolphins are fast swimmers (they’ve been clocked at more than 18 mph) and they’ll often travel in schools of several other dolphins and talk to each other through a sophisticated system of squeaks and whistles (many researchers believe dolphins have a distinct language and are working to crack the code).

Bottlenose dolphins are meat eaters and eat bottom-dwelling types of fish (although they are known to also eat squid and fish). They find and track their meals by using echolocation: making up to 1,000 clicking sounds per second. The sounds travel through ocean water until they come upon an object. The sounds then bounce back to the dolphin, which shows the dolphin the size, location and shape of its target (rock, fish or pool of shrimp).

Dolphins thrive in warm waters, such as those in and around the Bahamas. Take a ride on a sailboat or even on a sunset cruise, and you very well may get the chance to see these extraordinary creatures. Some of them may even follow your boat as it moves along!

If you’d really like to get see meet dolphins, several Bahama companies offer visitors and residents the chance to go on a “swim with dolphins” encounter. Dolphins appear to enjoy human interaction, so don’t worry – the dolphins probably will enjoy swimming with you as much as you do with them!

Go swimming with the dolphins in the Bahamas, and find more fun things to do in the Bahamas!