A Visit from the Clowns of the Sea

Whoosh, the long powerful body flew skyward. It turned six feet above the water and smacked down into the sea with a huge splash. The mist sprayed over my smiling face. Standing on the bow of Sila, I watched the dolphin twist and curl in the bow wake. It leaped again, showing off the remoras on its stomach. A remora is a fish with a sucker on its head. They stick onto large fish and eat some of their prey. The fin broke the surface and it raced off after its buddies.

Three minutes earlier, four bottlenose dolphins had been playing in the bow wake. Three disappeared, while the fourth stayed to execute two leaps and shoot off to his comrades. I have always wondered how dolphins survive with all their leaping and playing. You would think they would run out of energy and time to find enough food. But still I am happy that they like playing around boats. We never get tired of seeing them. 

– Porter

 

 If you look carefully, you can see the outline of a remora on the dolphin's side

There is a remora just under the dorsal fin. It surprises me how long the remoras hang on to a dolphin that is twisting, turning, leaping, and splashing down hard on the surface of the ocean.