JoJo the Dolphin

JoJo the dolphin in the Turks and Caicos Islands

JoJo is designated as the national treasure of the Turks and Caicos Islands

JoJo is a male dolphin that loves to interact with people all the way along from Grace Bay to Pine Cay. He is an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin He has been injured several times by boat propellers and jet skis and has many scars. JoJo met Dean Bernal his protector, wild life warden and friend in 1984…..a friendship that lasts till this day. He was declared “a national treasure” of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

JoJo travels alone and seeks out humans and loves to spend time with them. These types of dolphins are known as lone, sociable or ambassador dolphins.

JoJo travels alone and seeks out humans and loves to spend time with them. These types of dolphins are known as lone, sociable or ambassador dolphins.

JoJo and his offspring, Dreamer and Scooter are three of the most famous dolphins in the world, known for their friendly and curious behavior towards humans. During a boat tour, visitors can interact with these magnificent creatures and even have the opportunity to swim with them in their natural habitat.

Dreamer, JoJo's offspring plays in the waters of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Here’s Dreamer playing and swimming in circles

Should you be so lucky as to go swimming with JoJo and his offspring in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it promises an unforgettable adventure that will create memories to last a lifetime.

Dreamer the dolphin in the Turks and Caicos

Dreamer is so playful and often is spotted playing with shells he finds on the sandy bottom.

JoJo the dolphin in the Turks and Caicos Islands

JoJo’s often spotted in the crystal-clear waters around Providenciales

I have to thank Jodi from Snuba TCI for some of these terrific photos of JoJo taken at the Bight Reef (also known as the White House Reef at Coral Gardens). Also my son Mike who was happy to swim with Dreamer one day.

Jodi tells me that when he comes in, he usually wants to play and so it’s hard to get a photo as he is right in and far too close.

JoJo the dolphin in Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

JoJo loves to interact with humans in the waters of Providenciales

Jodi says JoJo loves to play tricks and hides behind her so she can’t see him or he hides behind her divers. One time he was right behind and in between a couple with her and his head was about a foot away from their faces. It was a priceless sight but then the girl put her hand out to touch him and Jodi had to stop her instead of taking the photo. Remember that JoJo is a wild and beautiful sea creature and you should never touch him. Look and be amazed but please don’t touch him.

JoJo is an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin about 7 to 8 feet long and these dolphins can weigh 250 pounds.

JoJo is an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin about 7 to 8 feet long and these dolphins can weigh 250 pounds.

Snorkeling with dolphins in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Dolphins are wild so please do not touch them should you have a chance to snorkel with them

JoJo comes up to Jodi with a big smile and wanting to play........do dolphins smile?

JoJo comes up to Jodi with a big smile and wanting to play……..do dolphins smile?

And now here’s our JoJo story…………….yes, Barry and I were very lucky years ago when we first came to Providenciales. We were snorkeling together at the White House Reef when all of a sudden something huge was coming towards us. I was on the outside and in direct line of the fast  approaching object.  I was terrified and tried to scramble over Barry’s back to get on the other side of him so he could get it first. Nice of me don’t you think???? In a split second JoJo popped up and his head was right in front of us. Wow, my heart was in my mouth hammering away. He was so close that Barry put his flippers up in front of him to make JoJo back off a little. I can tell you we were some relieved that it was JoJo. He stayed but a minute or two and with one flip of his tail he disappeared into the blue. You realize how powerful and fast these creatures are and we wouldn’t have stood a chance if it was anything other than JoJo the dolphin.

A few years ago we heard JoJo has a female mate named Chenoa and together they had a calf named MoJo.

A few years ago we heard JoJo has a female mate named Chenoa and together they had a calf named MoJo.

Dolphins swimming wild and free for all to enjoy

Swimming with dolphins in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Swimming with JoJo, Dreamer, and Scooter, the famous dolphins of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is an extraordinary experience that will leave you in awe.

Remember. Should you be fortunate to see JoJo on your vacation here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, please do not attempt to pet or touch him. Thanks again Jodi and Mike for the photos.

Don’t forget to call Jodi and she’ll take you on a snuba underwater sightseeing tour of the reef .

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Perfect Day in the Turks and Caicos

Cruising the waters of Providenciales with Island Vibes has to be one of the “must do’s” on your next trip to the Turks and Caicos.

We had a glorious, picture perfect day with calm seas as we boarded the boat…..and YES, I’ve lived here for almost 20 years and still am in awe of all the beauty around me.

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Two dolfin came out to play with us today….a mother and her young one.

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Just love to see dolphins swimming wild and free in the seas around the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Half Moon Bay and one spectacular stretch of beach

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Island Vibes Tours are a great outfit with whom to head out onto the water for an afternoon of fun

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Trying to GoPro a lemon shark in the shallows

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Shows you just how clear the waters are!

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Swimming back to the boat after some amazing snorkeling out at the reef

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Breakers on the reef at Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

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A little bit of refreshment………great Turk’s Head rum punch all round

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A piece of heaven on a large sandbar out by Dellis Cay

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Many sand dollars partially hidden in the sand and the sparkling waters

Such scenery can only be found in the Turks and Caicos

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Even a little sea star was taken back out a little further so it wouldn’t get stranded on the sand bar

It was a pretty rough ride for the kids on the way back………..time for some tubing and WOW did they go flying. Such fun as they hung on tight and still managed to fall off.

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Screams of fun as the kids went tubing on the way back

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The hectic ending to a perfect day

What a fun day it was out on Island Vibes. A fantastic time was had by everyone.

Join us won’t you?

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Dolphins on the Way to French Cay

A lone dolphin swims alongside and infront of our boat on the way to French Cay today.

A lone dolphin swims alongside and infront of our boat on the way to French Cay today.

I walked up our hill this morning overlooking the marina at Harbour Club Villas and was greeted with an ocean like a mirror. I took a few photos and shot off an email with photo to friends………It’s a French Cay day! Look at the calm ocean. Let’s aim for 10 am.

It was an amazing sight and the colours of the ocean were unbelievable.

It was an amazing sight and the colours of the ocean were unbelievable.

We weren’t too far out when we sighted a lone dolphin and we played with him for a while as he played in the wake of the boat and skimmed along with his head right between the pontoons of the boat.
He was just surfacing and about to blow the water out of his blowhole.

He was just surfacing and about to blow the water out of his blowhole.

Dolphins breathe through a blowhole located at the top of the head. Water in a dolphin’s blowhole will drown the dolphin so it uses powerful muscles to close the blowhole so that it can dive under the water again.
This is one of my favourite photos taken today and you can see ever so clearly the dolphin that swam along with the boat.

This is one of my favourite photos taken today and you can see ever so clearly the dolphin that swam along with the boat.

 

A great smile and close up of the dolphin.

A great smile and close up of the dolphin.

We also saw a mother dolphin and her baby but she wanted nothing to do with us. She was protecting the little one and so we left her alone. 
I only managed to get the shapes of the mother dolphin and her little one as the water was rippling and distorting the dolphins.

I only managed to get the shapes of the mother dolphin and her little one as the water was rippling and distorting the dolphins.

More photos to come of our French Cay trip today but it will have to wait until the next post.
Marta

Sailing on Provo

Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend

Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend

Captain Tim Ainley and the Beluga were moored off shore at Half Moon Bay. The Beluga is a 36 foot (10.97) catamaran sailing boat,  very unique and distinctive looking and built in 1980 in Canada. It now does sailing charters out of Provo.  As I took photos I saw Capt. Tim’s trusty companion Schooner taking a swim for shore.

Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rocl.

Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rock.

Evidently, Schooner had had enough of being on board and wanted to cool off while the others snorkeled………….yes, apparently they sighted JoJo. How lucky can you be???

Sailing at Half Moon Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Schooner takes a rest on the rocks after his long swim.

I’m not sure if you can see but there’s a speck off to the right of the Beluga and I think that’s JoJo. I zoomed in and cropped  the photo and it does look like a dolphin.

Here's a close up of the Beluga and just to the right of the person in the water is Jo-Jo.

Here's a close up of the Beluga and to the right of the person in the water almost at the edge of the photo is JoJo.

 

Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga

Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga

There are several sailing charters available from Providenciales so just let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Marta

Dolphin pod

Incredible...we played hide and seek with a pod of five dolphins

Incredible...we played hide and seek with a pod of five dolphins

How lucky could we get…………..five dolphins played with us for 45 minutes off Five Cays close to South Dock on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. We took family friend, Jane and Jennifer out for a day of boating. We stopped first at a little cay where the girls saw iguanas and just before the docks we sighted these magnifiscent dolphins. Wow, we couldn’t believe seeing so many of them at one time as they swam and frolicked under the boat and cut through the water with such phenomenal speed. It was really tough trying to get photos. You too may be lucky and see dolphins when you visit us here in the Turks and Caicos.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc