Photo by our own Mary Ann B!
Dolphin watching in Virginia Beach.
If you sit on the beach at the bay or the oceanfront – it is likely that you’ve seen the dolphins frolicking just off shore. If you are lucky enough to be on a boat…then you’ve seen the dolphins following you, playing in your wake and more!
The dolphin that you see is the bottlenose dolphin. They have a slender, streamlined body that is grayish in color. Its sides and belly are slightly paler. It has a short, beak-like snouth with a slightly longer lower jaw than upper jaw. It has a blowhole on the top of its head. Bottlenose dolphins can grow to 12 feet in length and weigh 300 to 400 pounds. The best way to dolphins watch and get up close is on a boat trip. Keep in mind it is unlawful to steer a personal watercraft into a pod of dolphins
Dolphin Facts:
- The bottlenose dolphin is the most common dolphin found along the Atlantic coast.
- Dolphins are extremely social, intelligent mammals. But even though they look friendly, bottlenose dolphins can be aggressive. They have been known to attack sharks and porpoises.
- They spend about one-third of each day sleeping, usually just below the surface of calm waters.
- Dolphins come up for air 1 to 2 times per minute, although some bottlenose dolphins have been known to stay underwater for more than four minutes.
- They usually swim 2 to 4 miles per hour, but can swim nearly 18 miles per hour.
- Dolphins consume 13 to 33lbs per day of a variety of fish
The best way to dolphins watch and get up close is on a boat trip. Keep in mind it is unlawful to steer a personal watercraft into a pod of dolphins.