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Project Noah Nature School
Stenella longirostris
Slender dolphin with a long narrow beak or snout. In Hawaii they have a dark mantle, grey sides and a white belly. Sleek fast swimmers that leap and spin and dive in the water.
Generally feed off shore to 5 miles in the night and spend the days near the shore in bays like this one we were snorkeling in at 2-step. They don't seem to mind the presence of snorkelers and swim in the same areas without concern. They jump above the surface of the water often and swim down to the sandy bottom over 100 feet below. Spinner dolphins range around the world. please see link for exact range.
Dr Kenneth Norris has studied Spinner Dolphins for 30 years and I love some of the information he gives in the Hoover's Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, These photos are a few of the dolphins from a large pod that was swimming in the bay where we were snorkeling south of Kona. A very magical experience and we just hung out on the surface and watched them diving, jumping, swimming - gradually fading away into the dark blue around us. Memorable!!
Spotted on Nov 26, 2013
Submitted on Dec 3, 2013
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