Poneering Island Tours Whale & Dolphin Watching & Diving in Dominica

since 1972

Be part of our whale research program. Help curb the effects noise pollution is

having on Dominica's whales. Why Motor when you can Sail?

Its not just about making money...let us give the children a future

For the resident whales help us monitor behavior,

record new offspring, numbers, visiting Males etc.

Other whales sighted are Orcas, Pseudo Orcas,

Pilot whales, Dwarf Sperm whales, Beaked,

Spotted and Spinner Dolphins...

You never know you may be the first to record some thing new.

June 26 2006

Another national asset has been born.

Lestrad (my latest trainee from Portsmouth) saw it first.

Normally such a calm personality, he was so excited, that

he could not contain himself. It was Wednesday 21^st June 06, we

were passively observing the three female sperm

whales resident in the waters west of the Cabrits.

With the silent wind as our renewable energy source, it was

actually possible to hear the spout.

There it was throwing its head out of the water with every tiny spout.

This sperm whale calf was clearly no mor than a week or

two old it was affectionaly being protected and nursed by the three adult females.

By the extreme effort it made to through its snout out of the

water with every breath, it was clear it needed the calm sheltered

waters afforded by Waitikubulis west coast.

Lestrad ran for the GPS, his pen and paper. eager to

document his findings, his observations after-all

how many people in this world will ever get to see such rare animals?

How many have the opportunity to conduct a whale and Dolphin research safari?

How many would pay to be in his place?

At that age its tail is so large, almost out of proportion to its body.

It is designed to help survive in a hostile environment.

In such a small pod its chances of survival are much lower than a calf born

within the "G7" pod resident south of morne Diablitin. Can three females fend off Sharks,

Orcas, Psuedo orcas or even a large squid?

Lestrad explains to his clients why we must keep a good distance so

as not to stress this newborn. He explains that if it survives it will be nursed

for the next 3 to 6 years. During this time its mother and wet nurse(s) will

not be able to get pregnant as lactation inhibits ovulation.

This natural form of contraception ensures population control,

reduces morbidity and mortality of both mother (cow) and calf.

Although born without arms and legs, with eyesight of no use at great

depths the sperm whales brain is the largest on earth, 9 times the size of mans.

All cerebral cortices have been shown to have a homunculus (an invisible map)

designating regions of the cortex to receive sensory input from and voluntarily

control body parts via motor neurons. Scientist to, establish a hierarchy of

intelligence, the ability to learn, analyze and process information

within the animal kingdom use the size of the cortex. Why then is its brain so large?

Is there no scope for our youth to undertake high-level

research projects while attaining intellectual and financial advancements?

Does this not represent true synergistic sustainable use of our marine resources?

Dr Fitzroy W Armour. M.B.B.S., Dipl. Agri., PPL,

Underwater photographer, Capt., PADI Spec. Instr.1989,

Pioneer Whale watching and Dive industries.

When Dominica's economy was on the brink of collapse in the 1980's

Fitzroy introduced his already established Snorkeling,

Scuba Diving and Whale and Dolphin research tours to the Government

as a sustainable form of development.

Fitzroy is happy to see now that even those who (D. Perryman et al.) publicly apposed

the efforts to save the whales, the environment and the economy are now conducting whale-watching tours.

Dominica being a whale nursery we ask that clients discourage operators from whale chasing.

any abnormal stress disturbs a mammals hormonal balance,

which includes lactation, nursing, menstrual cycle, social behavior and feeding of these endangered mammals.

The result of this negative practice of whale chasing is

poor fertility, increased spontaneous abortions, high infant mortality

and morbidity, poor growth, a weak immune system and decreased ability to defend against predators.

Realizing the negative effect that power boats are having on Dominica's whale population

Sharon, Fitzroy and their four children have once again taken the lead by approaching near zero

Emissions and minimal noise pollution by using highly efficient sail power

One of Fitzroy' s many dives...

On this one he was alone retrieving a fish-pot for a fisherman in his dug out Carib canoe

Summit

By (c)Fitzroy Armour MD

Dominica's 1st (PADI) Dive Instructor

Over 17 years as a PADI instructor

Dr. Fitzroy W Armour has been awarded by the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association and IFAW

for his efforts in pioneering the Whale watching industry

in Dominica & the Caribbean.

        Summit

    Back roll, assisted by gravitational pull of the scuba tank.

    Splash, reentry.

   Return to earths womb.

   Breaking her skin, her amniotic sac

   Reentry.

   Inner space

Within the rain bowed sea.

Looking up now below

This magic carpet

Rolling, undulating.

Shimmering silver.

Transparent

Refracted view of the clouds, the hull.

Silhouetted fisherman looking down from

His dug out Carib canoe

Riding ocean swells.

Weightless supported, cradled.

Suspended

Neutrally buoyant

Trails dancing bubbles

Chasing each other, growth

Expanding ascent

Racing to their freedom

As if excited to be

Released from

Freed of water pressure

A journey to their fate

To join to pop to become one

One with the atmosphere.

Piercing, dancing shafts of light

Rays refracted, separated by mobile swells

Reaching extending to the abyss.

Blue blue and more blue

Deep, regal Royal

Ascending to a promise

Lonely blue.

Alas faintly visible

The summit

I now at thirty feet,

Hints of where we will meet.

She is finally revealed by her

Halo

This holy mountain,

Seamount

Descending to her summit

90 feet below the swells

Where no man has been

Non-have seen.

Descending with every exhalation.

Heart pounding,

filled with exhilaration.

Greeted,

Joining her halo,

Rainbow Creole wrasse

Like sparkling precious stones

illuminated by darting

Swooping solar rays

Thousands at school, disciplined

Synergistically waltzing,

Synchronized swimmers

surround their home

Her summit at 90 feet deeps.

Such unity prevails even when

intermittently interrupted by swooping jacks

and graceful sharks.

Listen!

Plank tonic crackles,Snapping micro crew stations

Subtle yet piercing

Deeper behind

A song of seduction

The ultimate courtship

Singing distant male

Humpback whale.

His song,

How long? Hours, days, weeks

Beyond, how far?

20 maybe 80 miles away.

Transmitted amplified by

This ocean realm.

Singing until she can no longer resist

Till she finds him.

Their journey to warmth

4 maybe 5 thousand miles.

To meet to mate

A courtship that may last weeks

In Hope of continuity

Escape extinction.

One with, accepted by

Joined with the schools

In this visual feast Moments become eternity

8-foot barrel sponges filter

Feeding on plankton suspension

Visible currents steam like steaming craters

Piercing eyes of the rice grain sized whip coral shrimp.

Iridescent pinks and purple vase sponges

Gigantic tube sponges camouflage yellow frogfish

White Sea horses tail twisted sway to the rhythm

of gigantic black coral branch.

.

Stealthy investigation, undulating towards me, a stingray.

Curious stingray stealthily investigates my intrusion

Shy reef sharks keep at visual limits

Bold barracuda smile repetitively inches away

Their numbers forming a tornado cone around ascending bubbles

Gazing upwards my mask becomes a mirror

Enticed by her reflection

Or is it my eyes

So gentle a barracuda kisses the glass

Looking beyond the row of conical teeth

As flaring pink gill slits allow momentary light shafts

To reveal her throat.

Tickled, shivered by my exhalation

She twists and turns away

What were her thoughts?

Piercing the blue

High-pitched whistles induce a universal reaction

All dart for shelter, for safety of the reef.

Entire Schools seek refuge.

Spotted dolphins

Young and old appear

They are everywhere

Squeaking, screeching

Sonar clicks reverberate against my chest

Echolocation Aquatic ultrasound

Surely, seeking an acoustic picture of my organs,

My heart my soul

Can they tell my thoughts? My feelings?

My vibe?

Must it end? At this depth

Time the limiter

Almost forgotten

My mission

To retrieve the fisherman's fish pot.

Controlled breathing changes my buoyancy

Severing my umbilical cord

Time has come

I must leave what felt like

Home

This summit of Sea Mountain

I shall return

Yes

Not only in my memory