Diving with dolphins in Vrsar, Croatia

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• published: 07 Aug 2016
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I have never dived with dolphins before and the experience was overwhelming. I focused on the experience and therefore the footage is not of the best. I freedived as well, so all of the footage is from the surface. This took place in Croatia about 10 km off shore from Vrsar from 0500 to 0600 in the morning when the fishing boats drag in their nets full of sardines. The dolphins come to have their breakfast every morning and sometimes bite holes in the nets to get to the sardines. Needless to say, the fishermen do not like the dolphins, but get a sixpack of beer from us for tolerating us watching them struggle. Music: MUUG (muugart) with "Silent One" https://soundcloud.com/muugart copyright Magnus Lorvik DISCLAIMER: (!) It has come to my attention that this kind of swimming with dolphins is illegal now. None of the participants in this video or any affiliated persons were aware of this at the time of the filming. I was the only person in the water and did my best to act as if I was not there - as I would have done with any animal encounter. As should you! Why it is illegal to swim with dolphins: It is seen as physical harassment and person may be punished by a large fine. Secondly, dolphins are wild animals that live in an environment unfamiliar to humans. In other places direct human-dolphin interactions has created dangerous situations for humans. While socialising, it is common for a dolphin to push or pull an object underwater, where the dolphin spends most of its time; bear in mind an adult bottlenose dolphin can weigh 300kg. Moreover, since dolphins are wild animals, it is better that they don’t become used to human contact. If dolphins become used to the presence of somebody in the water, they may become more vulnerable to any hostile action or physical abuse. Dolphins are mammals similar to humans and as such there is a possibility of the ransmission of disease, either from the dolphin to humans or vice versa. Diseases include herpes and pneumonia. Finally, one of the main objectives of this project (Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation - ADRIATIC DOLPHIN PROJECT) is the study of the dolphins’ behaviour under natural conditions. It should also be understood that, because the objective of this project is to understand the ecology and sociology of dolphins in relation to their natural environment, no dolphin assisted therapy studies or direct human-dolphin interactions are allowed. Wild animals will co-exist with humans but familiarity becomes a danger to both animals and humans. Wild animals are not pets, please respect their wildness. Just looking at the beauty and elegance of the dolphins, observing the variety of their behaviour without imposing on them, is a unique experience. Let the wild stay wild! (Copied directly from http://www.plavi-svijet.org/media/files/ADP_Volunteer_info_2016_.pdf )