During our stay in Rotonda, on the West Coast of Florida (Gulf), we decided that we would treat the family to a Sunset and Dolphin Cruise.
It was suggested that we pre-booked the cruise to make sure that we actually went on the evening of our choice. So after reading some information on the local companies that offered the cruise, we decided which one we wanted and booked.
We were told that it would be a minimum of $100 + tax but this would depend on how many people would be on the cruise. We arrived early, all eager and ready to go to find that we would be the only ones on the Pontoon. I expected it to be packed but we were told that it was quiet during the week at this time of year.
They provided life jackets for the twins (Joshua and Jake), and we all sat in the Pontoon waiting to go out on the water. If I am honest, I didn’t expect to see any Dolphins but how wrong I was. Once we got out to where the waterways met the open sea, within a few minutes we were spotting them left, right and centre.
The Captain had already said that most tourists turned up with their digital cameras expecting to catch photo’s of the dolphins but with little success. Fortunately I had just bought a new Digital SLR, so it was an ideal opportunity to try it out. And was I glad I had.
The dolphins swam so close to the Pontoon, it made your heart miss a beat. Dolphin lovers must visit this area all the time. It’s just an amazing sight to see them swimming so free and in open water. I managed to snap some great shots of the dolphins that were all around us.
We were then taken in to the waterways to see some of the water front properties, a spectacular sight especially when the sun started setting. The captain steered the Pontoon back towards the Gulf and turned off the engine. The Pontoon came to a stand still on the water, where the waterways and sea met. The Sun was quickly heading towards the sea, setting before our very eyes.
Obviously one of the best spots around, has the sun approached the sea, the sky around us started to change colour, reds, oranges, yellows all visible, the sun glowing such a warm sweet yellow. When it touched the sea, in a matter of a couple of minutes it changed shape as if melting in to the waves.
My camera was snapping away, catching every second as if it was the last. Right until the very last shot when the sun disappeared in to the sea. On the way back, the captain gave the twins the chance to steer the Pontoon for a few minutes and with such concentration they started to steer us back to the dock.
Two hours seemed to be 2 minutes, has we glided back to the dock. An experience we will definitely repeat and won’t forget for a very long time. One of the highlights of our Florida Trip, and a must for wildlife enthusiasts.
It was suggested that we pre-booked the cruise to make sure that we actually went on the evening of our choice. So after reading some information on the local companies that offered the cruise, we decided which one we wanted and booked.
We were told that it would be a minimum of $100 + tax but this would depend on how many people would be on the cruise. We arrived early, all eager and ready to go to find that we would be the only ones on the Pontoon. I expected it to be packed but we were told that it was quiet during the week at this time of year.
They provided life jackets for the twins (Joshua and Jake), and we all sat in the Pontoon waiting to go out on the water. If I am honest, I didn’t expect to see any Dolphins but how wrong I was. Once we got out to where the waterways met the open sea, within a few minutes we were spotting them left, right and centre.
The Captain had already said that most tourists turned up with their digital cameras expecting to catch photo’s of the dolphins but with little success. Fortunately I had just bought a new Digital SLR, so it was an ideal opportunity to try it out. And was I glad I had.
The dolphins swam so close to the Pontoon, it made your heart miss a beat. Dolphin lovers must visit this area all the time. It’s just an amazing sight to see them swimming so free and in open water. I managed to snap some great shots of the dolphins that were all around us.
We were then taken in to the waterways to see some of the water front properties, a spectacular sight especially when the sun started setting. The captain steered the Pontoon back towards the Gulf and turned off the engine. The Pontoon came to a stand still on the water, where the waterways and sea met. The Sun was quickly heading towards the sea, setting before our very eyes.
Obviously one of the best spots around, has the sun approached the sea, the sky around us started to change colour, reds, oranges, yellows all visible, the sun glowing such a warm sweet yellow. When it touched the sea, in a matter of a couple of minutes it changed shape as if melting in to the waves.
My camera was snapping away, catching every second as if it was the last. Right until the very last shot when the sun disappeared in to the sea. On the way back, the captain gave the twins the chance to steer the Pontoon for a few minutes and with such concentration they started to steer us back to the dock.
Two hours seemed to be 2 minutes, has we glided back to the dock. An experience we will definitely repeat and won’t forget for a very long time. One of the highlights of our Florida Trip, and a must for wildlife enthusiasts.