tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83336525006498759572024-03-16T10:20:58.678-07:00JoJo And Jay's BlogJay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.comBlogger388125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-37904512512811366292022-07-13T15:51:00.002-07:002022-07-13T15:51:51.609-07:00Trailer for Discovery ChannelIf you want to see the trailer for the program Discovery did on JoJo and me go to Discovery Plus originals put The Bond in search bar. They did segments on other animal friend ships as well.Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-46092795118825284862021-12-03T03:31:00.000-08:002021-12-03T03:31:45.100-08:00Chapter from my brother's bookhapter 25
The Healing
November 18, 2021
On November 18th the Discovery Channel drove me to Rhode Island to film a segment with my sister Jay. I could get used to this!
Jay is one of those remarkable women who have a unique bond with wild animals. I have seen a young moose come out of the woods and start nuzzling her parka as she spoke to him in an adoring yet authoritative voice. When we filmed her walking into her barn twenty horses came to attention as she told them how handsome they were.
For twenty-five years my sister has also been part of a pod of wild dolphins and special friend with its patriarch who is himself unique among his species.
Somehow in the vastness of the ocean this remarkable woman and this remarkable cetacean have found each other and forged an unbreakable bond in the Bahamian Islands.
Today this bond is particularly poignant because my sister has inoperable cancer and the patriarch is himself old and covered with scars.
Jay has to have regular chemo sessions and undergo dialysis three times a week. However she still wants to visit her patriarch friend so he can introduce her to his latest offspring. He has taught one calf how to approach humans, perhaps in preparation for becoming the next ambassador to our terrestrial species.
Just as the patriarch has introduced my sister to his family, my sister has introduced her husband, daughter; sister and me to the patriarch and I don’t doubt that the patriarch knows exactly how each one of us is related to his special friend.
In addition to being such empathetic social beings, dolphins also have the ability to use their sonar to diagnose and heal disease. Mother dolphins scan their nursing infants with pulses of sonar to see if they are having gastronomical problems. If she detects a bolus of gas she will caress the spot to release the gaseous pressure.
The first time I met the patriarch my back was in pain. Just floating weightless in the warm alien world made me feel better and I found I could exercise strenuously without irritating my back. This was fortunate because the pod was swimming particularly fast that day.
But the patriarch suddenly turned and floated vertically in front of me. He stared fixedly into my pain filled eyes, then abruptly scanned me with a burst of sonic pulses. It felt like a physical therapist had just passed an ultrasound wand over the precise disc that was bothering me.
We know that dogs can use their keen sense of smell to sniff out skin cancer in humans and nip off any lesioned cells. I like to think that after my sister and the patriarch reunite and tell each other about their lives and families that the patriarch will bath my sister in a soothing shower of sonar pulses to draw out the illness lurking in her plasma cells.
It is such interspecific bonds and strong friendships that give me hope that we can somehow heal our polluted planet. If we don’t, I fear future cetacea will warn their great grandchildren to avoid any species with our grasping long acquisitive fingers and large, curiously hypertrophied brains.
####
Bill Sargent is a NOVA consultant and author of 27 award-winning books about science and the environment. His most recent book, CRAB WARS; A TALE OF HORSESHOE released by Brandeis University Press in September and will be available through local stores, WilliamSargent.net and orders@press.uchicago.edu. CRABS, ECOLOGY AND HUMAN HEALTH was
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJSq7Ya_3gw/Yan_magszkI/AAAAAAAAFa8/zLzZI_adc245PDEjdWWPiujuiwwe3V41gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC_0367.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJSq7Ya_3gw/Yan_magszkI/AAAAAAAAFa8/zLzZI_adc245PDEjdWWPiujuiwwe3V41gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC_0367.jpg"/></a></div>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-35563757200075111942021-10-04T04:00:00.000-07:002021-10-04T04:00:13.806-07:00podcast hope you enjoy it!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok7Td7Hsk3gJay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-37213464834184549462021-08-01T05:02:00.000-07:002021-08-01T05:02:52.332-07:00Our last day on the IslandHi All,
The Discovery people have left with all their gear. We get one day to ourselves before heading home. We invite our friends, Robin, Abby and Suz out on the boat. John is adament that we don't stay out long. I had a rough night in dialysis and got home late. The dialysis center insisted I don't go out in the sun (oh well).
We tour around looking for dorsals. I'm just taking in the gorgeous water, the sun, the view. There is nothing like this color anywhere. The thought of the cold dark water in New England is troublesome.
Just as we get back to Leeward, we see some boats clustered together and there are Bo and Scooter. I get in and Scooter comes right up happy to see me. She's playing with a stick on the bottem just like a dog would play with a stick. She then picks up some seaweed in her mouth and swims around with it. Her dolphin jewelry. She wants me to see it. I invite the girls in to swim with her and Bo. My friends are so excited to see them up close. They are so beautiful.They are over the top excited to get the opportunity to swim with a mother and calf and be so close to them. Scooter in the mean time has found my flipper of interest. She's biting at it. I'm very surprised because no dolphin has ever even tried to touch me. John is wondering if he wanted to hold my flipper like we see the calves holding their mom's pecs in their mouths.
I wish I could stay longer and play with her. I would have footage of all this but we had another camera clitch. It takes us awhile to get it all right! Boat, cameras, dolphins and scooters all working at the same time:)
We hope to come back for Thanksgiving. I hope Scooter will still be with Bo. I hope more than anything JoJo will be ok! Next time I write a blog it will be to tell you how to watch the episode on Discovery Channel!!!Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-46646549812584502302021-08-01T04:13:00.000-07:002021-08-01T04:13:11.099-07:00It's a WrapHi All,
It's been a whirlwind 5 days but, we had a great last day with JoJo joining Bo and Scooter. The Discovery Channel under water camera man got lots of great video of the three of them and me.
Our day starts with finding JoJo and taking him up and down the coast until he branchs off at Pine Cay. Matt the camera man and I get in and JoJo spends a long time checking out the camera. He's particularily interested in the bubbles from Matt's tank.
JoJo moves off to check the area or do some fishing. I am so hoping that JoJo is waiting for others because he stays in this area for a long time. We get to sit and watch the laughing gulls as they circle us and occasionally come for closer inspection. I assume people are feeding them off their boats because the gulls get so close. It appears JoJo has moved off so we head back toward Grace Bay hoping to run into JoJo or Bo and Scooter. The Discovery boat has gone ahead and they radio that they have found Bo and Scooter. We rush off to find meet. The dolphins are lazily coming our way. I get in and have a great time with both. Scooter is so playful swimming in circles around me. A ton of boats show up to watch. Scooter puts on a nice show spy hoping, swimming upside down and cavorting about.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="UE_04GKgtlU" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UE_04GKgtlU"></iframe></div>They move off a little leaving the boats behind and I follow. JoJo shows up and we swim together following Bo and Scooter. If they had scripted an ending it couldn't have been better than that!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="nrLMCjSRlCk" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nrLMCjSRlCk"></iframe></div>
I had a first, where Scooter came up and nudged me! I never touch the dolphins ever, but if they want to touch me that's different. I hope Matt the camera man got it on film. She was very deliberate the way she came over and nudged me with her rostrum. She was so close that my camera didn't really get it. My camera is on the left side of my head and she was on the right side when she touched me, making it impossible to see. I really hope people don't start touching her. I know with JoJo that ended badly when an ignorant, probably drunk tourist tried to stick a beer bottle down is blow hole. From then on he didn't want people to touch him. He would either slap them with his tail or bite them if they tried. Unfortunatley, today we heard one boat captain encouraging his people to touch her. I wish people respected the dolphins. We are so fortunate that they let us into their lives. The least we can do is show some respect for them. Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-28424519032754690432021-07-30T04:01:00.000-07:002021-07-30T04:01:28.616-07:00Day Four with Discovery ChannelHi All,
The Discovery Channel has arranged for us to get covid tests for our trip home. The testers come right to our condo. Other than feeling like I have a third nostril that was pretty sweet! I'm not feeling quite as good as the other mornings. I think the late night dialysis is taking it's toll. Perhaps a dolphin encounter will help.
We get on the water a bit later due to covid test. It's a bit blustery today but still really nice. As we come out of Leeward, there are a few boats milling around. There is Bo and Scooter entertaining them. I get in and swim with them for a long, long, time. Scooter has gotten so long she's almost as big as Bo. She's frisky as ever swimming all around me. Her favorite is to let me swim by Bo then whiz up really close beside me, a sort of sneak appearence. Matt, Discovery's under water camera man is able to get in and get footage of Bo, Scooter and me. This is Bo's fourth calf that I have swum with. She's the first one that is fine with other people swimming with her. I expect JoJo wanted that to happen.
In the video you can hear her whistling a lot until the music comes on.https://vimeo.com/580963004<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="XV7fr3FqezA" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XV7fr3FqezA"></iframe></div>
I get back on Spy Hop tired but pumped to see my friends after over a year. Pretty soon we see that JoJo is in Sea Dancer's wake. They are heading toward Half Moon Beach where the tour boats bring passengers for lunch. It's a spectacular long beach over looking the gorgeous turquiose water. There are about 15 boats lined up with tourists piling out to walk the beach. JoJo leaves Sea Dancer and heads out toward us. I get in to swim with him. Matt gets in as well to get footage of us together. I hope for that great greeting I got the other day. I think really that was a, "I haven't seen you for a long time and I'm glad it's you"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="XV7fr3FqezA" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XV7fr3FqezA"></iframe></div>. I did get some video this time and you can see the remorra hitching a ride back by JoJo's fluke. https://vimeo.com/580978781<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtqcEF1wEeWubTb6ZbyWlpCitxUrS_hJT0-IxnLf0QRn9552tuo8C81_kbPE0oM3kWem4YunL1zB-0u7Rljg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
By this time I am really tired and having a hard time climbing onto the boat. We leave JoJo with Matt's boat and head in. I really hate leaving him when he's in such a playful mood but I'm hoping to recharge and come out tomorrow. Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-60443874571198979382021-07-29T04:16:00.000-07:002021-07-29T04:16:49.271-07:00Day Three Discovery ChannelHi All,
The plan is to leave the dock at 7 AM but, it never seems to go that way. There is so much equipment to load onto both our boats and people to get organized. In the mean time, a boat captain coming into the marina for fuel calls to us that he saw JoJo. This is making me nuts to get going.
We finally start our circle of Grace Bay not sure which way he was going. After going past all the resorts and turning around and returning to Leeward, we see two boats acting suspicious. There he is behind a dingy attached to a brand new sail boat from the RItz Carlton, the "Lady Grace". John skillfully manuvers us by the dingy and JoJo comes right into our wake. He is heading toward Pine Cay. He stays behind Spy Hop all the way past Pine Cay, Fort George Cay and Parrot Cay. The Discovery crew sets out a drone to catch the scene. A laughing gull is intrigued by this new sort of bird! He swoops in for some close inspection.
The water gets very shallow as we travel along Parrot Cay and we decide to turn around. I was quite sure JoJo would stay with us and he did. The Discovery crew started telling us to stop and see if he'd swim with us but I didn't want to do that because I knew he wasn't ready to slow down and swim with me.
They had taken the camera men off our boat for the drone shots and they stayed on Matt's boat. We kept going with JoJo and they went off toward the reef to cool off with a swim. Once we got to Leeward JoJo branched off. I knew this was my chance. I got in while John frantically tried to get the other boat to come back. I swam over to JoJo and he came right up. He swam next to me looking at me as if to say, "where have you been I've missed you". I am babbling like a nut telling him how much I love him and missed him. I'm trying not to use my flippers because we are so close I dont want to kick him. He drops back and swims right behind me. I'm in heaven. The other boat has caught up and I figure they must have gotten some great footage of my reunion with JoJo after so long. If not my camera will have it. Not to be, they wasn't there in enough time to get their fancy cameras set up and mine didn't work. Big Bummer but I am so so happy to have that swim with my friend. I didn't think about my cancer, dialysis or of what I've been going through for even a second. Perhaps we will get footage tomorrow but, I got what I really wanted which was to be with JoJo. Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-73878811126894455042021-07-27T04:58:00.000-07:002021-07-27T04:58:40.581-07:00Day one Discovery ChannelHi All,
After a very long time, we are finally here! I have to say getting through the airport in a wheel chair was the way to go. We went right to the front of the massive immigration line in Provo.
Our great friends Abby and Robin pick us up each driving a separate cars so John could get to the Ship Yard where we keep Spy Hop and I could get to the condo to start the unpacking job.
John and Robin get to the marina to find the boat filthy dirty, unfueled and with a shredded bimini. This is after many emails requesting that the boat be fueled cleaned and ready. Abby and I deal with unpacking and charging the 4 scooters. Neither of us were injured by the heaps of stuff crammed into the owners closet. Always a risk that you'll get beaned by a can of WD-40 or a flipper!
We meet with the Discovery crew to go over arrangements for the next day. There are lots of them and they are all so nice. We decide on a 5:45 start to beat the tourist boats. They have hired a beautiful BIG boat owned by Matt Slattery to accomodate a huge crew of audio engineers, cameramen, director, and assitants. They have food and drinks that just couldn't fit on our boat. We'll have two camera men and one of their wives and so many camereras. There isn't an inch of room left over.
We head off through Leeward Cut to start the hunt! I've been waiting for this moment for so long. It's drop dead gorgeous. How I love this island!
No matter how you try to explain that finding JoJo when you come out of Leeward is a bit daunting, it doesnt become clear until they see the great expanse of water to the left and right. We do our dolphin circle past the resorts but neither boat sees anyone. We decide to split up. I think the Discovery people were starting to think we'd never find him. We are up at Pine Cay when Matt's crew finds him back at Leeward. We fly back with me trying to get flippers on without stepping on any of their massive cameras. Once we get there both boats stop and I get in. JoJo was clearly on a mission and not giving the reunion we were all hoping for. I swim with him long enough to see he has another damn remorra attached by his fluke. This never makes him happy. He does eventually get behind our boat and wants a ride to the far end of the island. I thought I'd get a swim once he wants to turn around but he just wants a ride back.
I did get some footage of our first swim but unfortunatly the card broke as John took it out of the camera. Hopefully I'll get some tomorrow and hopefully he'll be in a more social mood! Discovery however got lots of footage of him in the wake and the beautiful flat tourquiose water.
Until tomorrow.
Jay
Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-50400387155134620522021-07-24T16:25:00.000-07:002021-07-24T16:25:21.091-07:00Trip to Turks Hi All,
John and I are heading to Provo to meet the crew from Discovery Channel. We are hoping to see JoJo. It's been a long time and I hope we find him. I am eager to see who else is around. I hope there are new calves.
I'm nervous my cancer will make me so weak I can't swim with them for long but I'm going to give it my best shot!
Stay tuned I hope there's lots to report!
JayJay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-75863192632321173092020-12-13T00:30:00.001-08:002020-12-13T00:30:57.185-08:00Discovery ChannelHi All,
JoJo and I have it into an episode on Discovery channel!!It's about friendships<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZmIKJEFDFw/X9XRGzrf_3I/AAAAAAAAFHg/T9N-5WiOmwMriPrIcHatYkIeVnDL4QrtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/JoJo%2B2009%2B133.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZmIKJEFDFw/X9XRGzrf_3I/AAAAAAAAFHg/T9N-5WiOmwMriPrIcHatYkIeVnDL4QrtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/JoJo%2B2009%2B133.jpeg"/></a></div> between wild animals and humans. I'lllet you know when it will air!Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-10210752292052190312020-02-14T13:25:00.000-08:002020-02-14T13:25:56.471-08:00Quality TimeHI All,
I have somehow managed to get a nasty cold and cough. I Think I can at last try to find the dolphins and maybe swim for a while. I would hate to not try to find them again today seeing we found them yesterday. In years past Bo and swam almost everyday with whichever calf she had at the same time. We went only once up and down the coast before finding them. Once I got into the murky water and located them, they just stayed around me. Scooter of course flying in circles upside down around me as I spun in circles with my scooter. Bo seemed to just make bigger circles around both of us.I really feel she likes having my company perhaps another adult is nice to have around.i'm now really cold and feeling pretty crummy so we pack and leave our friends. I suggest going to the channels where we can get out of the wind. I take off my wetsuit and lie in the sun. We watch the turtles pop their heads up to breath. An occasional barracuda swims by looking for lunch. <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/391586218" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/391586218">Scooter Games</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-91797012854165788612020-02-12T15:22:00.000-08:002020-02-12T15:22:25.425-08:00successHi All,
Finally found them!!!! We look up and down the coast and as we reach the end of Pine Cay, John spots two dorsals. I was getting so worried I wouldn’t see them before we had to go home. The water is really murky and it takes me a while to locate them underwater. There is no doubt however, that this is Scooter and Bo. So great to see them and they seem to feel the same way. Boats start arriving to watch. Some are respectful others barge right in and sometimes over them. I had heard rumors that a young dolphin was very friendly and people were getting way too pushy with it. There’s no doubt this was Scooter. She was very friendly with the swimmers that got in the water. I wish the boat Captains would warn against touching and getting too aggressive before something goes wrong. JoJo originally was also friendly until some jerk was rumored to stick a beer bottle down his blowhole. He in retaliation started biting and slapping people with his tail if they got too close. They all eventually left and Bo and Scooter had a long session of flipper footsie as if Bo was saying there, there every thing is okay!
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwoFgVFZocc/XkR5jFMaFtI/AAAAAAAAEgk/S9x29mP9JjQWSyj16x2wO4AZiUwnkkAIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screenshot%2B2020-02-12%2B14.48.49.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwoFgVFZocc/XkR5jFMaFtI/AAAAAAAAEgk/S9x29mP9JjQWSyj16x2wO4AZiUwnkkAIACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot%2B2020-02-12%2B14.48.49.png" width="320" height="150" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="748" /></a> you can see she is a female by the formation of a division mark where her mammelary glands are.<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/391095020" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/391095020">Bo and Scooter 2020</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-90566885471844350982020-02-12T04:18:00.000-08:002020-02-12T04:18:17.750-08:00Anchor Line ScratchHi All,
The wind is still up but luckily coming from the East. This helps to keep the waves down on the Grace Bay side of the island. We have invited David along on today's adventure. After traveling up and down the coast and even trying past the reef, we find JoJo who happily gets behind our boat. He now has his Uber ride for as long as he wants it! Numerous tour boats come by to view the famous JoJo as he surfaces behind Spy Hop. I'm hoping he may branch off and hang out somewhere so we can get in with him. As we approach Beaches resort with their many boats, our opportunity arises. JoJo has zeroed in on a dive boat anchored not far away. He swims over to get a good scratch on the anchor line. This is always a great time get in and swim with him. Speed is of the essence when the opportunity arises because it might not last long. I get in and David follows. We get to watch him scratching every part of his body as he turns and twists then flips over at the bottom of the line to do it again. He eventually tires of this and moves on I get to swim with him as he looks for another activity. He finds a dive boat heading out to sea. They are more than happy to slow down and let all the divers look at JoJo. JoJo impatiently swims behind waiting for them to motor off. David has gone back to the boat and I join him. He comments on how big JoJo is when you are beside him in the water. This is always everyone's comment when they first encounter JoJo from the water. Funny how the dolphins look small from the boat but so much bigger when you are beside them. Trust me, Jojo is every bit of 7 feet and although he's getting to be an old man he's still impressively strong and fast. We end our day with David practicing on the hydrofoil with hopes that JoJo will want to join him someday.<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/390950995" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/390950995">Anchor line Scratch</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-56892612409366853582020-02-09T03:40:00.000-08:002020-02-09T03:40:06.275-08:00JoJoHi All,
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvIYGZc5Lmw/Xj_i-DxPJnI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/XJjkJj2WTFoWnKn8rSsh3Xhw4gvB-lubACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/8B678C56B63042C0B62ECCF7723169AE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvIYGZc5Lmw/Xj_i-DxPJnI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/XJjkJj2WTFoWnKn8rSsh3Xhw4gvB-lubACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8B678C56B63042C0B62ECCF7723169AE.jpg" width="320" height="214" data-original-width="1199" data-original-height="800" /></a></div>
I have been swimming with JoJo for 21 years. He's picked me out of a crowd of over twenty admirers;he's brought me for magical swims through coral reefs; he's played bang the buoy with me; he's protected me from an angry dolphin; he's introduced me many of his pod members. Last year when he didn't choose to swim close to me I was worried he just didn't like me any more or he figured I now had other dolphins to swim with and he'd done his job. I was hoping it was that remora that just wouldn't get off him that was making him not want to swim close to me.
David has joined us again. He is our official photographer. As we head out of the marina much to their delight the boys spot what looks like a bikini top hanging off the osprey nest! The water looks pretty flat as the sun twinkles off it. There is JoJo, just like old times waiting right at Leewad! He wants to go to Pine Cay. He has trained us well to take him where ever he wants. As we approach the reef at the end of Pine Cay he branches off but doesn't go far. I get in hoping to spend some time with him. He comes up and looks at me for a long time. I try doing a sort of waggle dance to see if he'll imitate me. I am happy beyond belief that our friendship is still strong.
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/390217677" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/390217677">JoJo and I have a heart to heart</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
JoJo starts to swim slowly away. He waits for me to come. We swim over a small reef with a few fish. How great is this swimming way out by the reef with your dolphin friend and guide. We are buddies again and nothing could make me happier. <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/390218774" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/390218774">Magical Swim With JoJo</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-70155832637444228882020-02-07T17:31:00.000-08:002020-02-07T17:31:11.351-08:00JoJo SnoozesHi All,
We come out of the marina a little late. Most of the boats are already off to pick up tourists. I notice the osprey nest is way smaller this year. There is the usual type of junk hanging over the sides. It looks like an Ocean Conservancy add for beach clean up.Ospreys mate for life and I hope they are both okay.
We head out Leeward Cut and head down Grace Bay. As we approach Beaches resort we notice an anchored sail boat by the name of Beauford. John spots a dorsal swimming around it. I get in and find JoJo in sleep mode going around and around the boat. Dolphins can rest 1/2 their brain while the other half watches out for predators (or tourists!). This is always a good time for me to hang with JoJo. His gash is already improving. He actually has three gashes side by side. JoJo swims around for over two hours. Boats, kayakers and swimmers all come to see him.
The Captain wants to sail to Turtle Cove and wonders how that will effect JoJo. I tell him to go ahead I figure JoJo will go along with him. They head to Turtle Cove and the captain drops anchor before entering the channel. We go off to see what's new in the harbor. As we come out JoJo takes a ride in our wake back to Grace Bay. We decide to keep trying to find Bo and Scooter and head to Pine Cay.<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/390081236" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/390081236">JoJo Sleeping</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-15157787285606347482020-02-06T04:14:00.000-08:002020-02-06T04:14:56.543-08:00Whales dolphins and more dolphins!Hi All,
The sun is shining brilliantly and the wind has swung around to the East. David has joined us again for hopefully another cetacean filled day. We head to the fuel dock to be sure we have plenty of gas. There are lots of tour boats filling up. Everyone's joking around and discussing where they have seen whales!!! We want a full tank of gas because we plan to go to North West Point where many whales have been seen. We motor out Seller's cut and John notices most of the channel markers are gone. One really must know the water around here bacause not much is marked! The water turns a deep dark blue as we get farther out. John sees a spout and we try to get close enough for David to get in. He couldnt find the whale so he climbs back into Spy Hop. We see more whales but David wasn't able to find them when he got in. I decide I'll show them and put on my wetsuit. Kind of like yesterday the moment I have it on a pod of spotted dolphins come by! What is more fun than a spotted dolphin! David and I get in and swim beside them. They love it when I spin in circles with my scooter. They are of course the party dolphins! We get out and go back on the hunt for whales. They however seem more intersted in continueing their journey toward the Silver Bank than entertaining us. The Humpbacks make this journey from the North to have their calves and mate every year.
I'm getting anxious about trying to find JoJ, Bo and Scooter. I have also heard there is a new calf and I want to know who the mother is. I figure they maybe near Pine Cay which is a long way from Northwest Point. John who is having a great spotting day spots another whale. Admittedly I'm sleeping in the back of the boat! We are having a banner whale sighting day they just aren't being interactive. As we motor around Pine Cay David sees JoJo and we go to see if he wants a ride. He gets in our wake and we take him to Grace Bay. Second day: dolphns, whales and Jojo how cool is that!<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/389707255" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/389707255">Spotted Dolphins</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-62858960937808384072020-02-04T17:09:00.000-08:002020-02-05T04:28:52.509-08:00Oh Happy Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JbpH6yXoM8I/Xjq0eTMRYkI/AAAAAAAAEfo/s-X6uUTkito6pxHt63io5B0GOlA2ops9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2023.mov" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JbpH6yXoM8I/Xjq0eTMRYkI/AAAAAAAAEfo/s-X6uUTkito6pxHt63io5B0GOlA2ops9wCEwYBhgL/s320/fullsizeoutput_2023.mov" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="320" data-original-height="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhpTbS9VHQ8/XjqeEBJYoJI/AAAAAAAAEfc/olNRMVC50GYtkwPKKjl5Vs8ijOY-nzSWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhpTbS9VHQ8/XjqeEBJYoJI/AAAAAAAAEfc/olNRMVC50GYtkwPKKjl5Vs8ijOY-nzSWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/image0.jpeg" width="180" height="320" data-original-width="747" data-original-height="1328" /></a></div>Hi All,
John and I made it down here after a year of medical issues. We only get three weeks before I have to return to the hospital so, I plan to make the most of it!!!!
We head out and start traveling up and down the coast looking for dorsals. I know it's my first day out but we only have three weeks and I'm dying to see JoJo. Last season, he seemed distracted by a remora that would not leave him alone. I'm hoping the remora will be gone and that he'll be more interested in swimming with me.
We've been out all day with no luck. It's been windy and cloudy but we carry on. As we approach Leeward, I suggest one more trip to Pine Cay. I have a feeling that JoJo might be there toward the end of the day. I put on my wetsuit just in case. The water is murky and its hard to see anything. Suddenly, JoJo pops up at the bow and glides under the boat. I hurry into my snorkle gear and climb in. He comes right up. Due to all the wind the water is incredibly murky. If he is more than an arms length away I can't see him. He took a close look to be sure it was me! I noticed he had a fresh cut on his left side. He followed me for a while then swam ahead indicating he wanted a faster ride. I swam to the boat and we gave him a ride to Grace Bay. I'm a very happy and lucky person to come to Turks and in our first afternoon find this wonderful dolphin that I've known for over twenty years. Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-42440171821799236312020-01-18T04:50:00.000-08:002020-01-18T04:50:28.242-08:00arriving in FebHi All,
Unfortunately my cancer is still thriving despite all the chemo. The doctors however have given me the ok to travel to Turks. With any luck the next blog will tell of a happy meeting between me and the dolphins. I'm hoping all my equipment will work after our hasty departure last yr. I don't think the dolphins will have forgotten me but it has been a long time. I hope Scooter is still with her mom. I will be hoping Lemon Lips will drop by to visit. I don't imagine that pesky remora is still heckeling JoJo. Stay tuned!
JayJay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-60830467508804837542019-09-17T04:15:00.003-07:002019-09-17T04:15:59.021-07:00Hi All,
After so many trips to the hospital, needles and other nasty stuff I'm starting to feel a little better!I now have a fistula in my arm so I can swim! Once the cancer numbers come down a little more they can tell me how often I have to go to Boston for chemo (nasty stuff). I have heard some reports about JoJo and his friends that are making me crazy to get down there! Apparently JoJo has convinced another dolphin to play with him and Mark's water ski boat!I cant wait to see who. There has also been a sighting of another calf. This is all great inspiration to get well so I can go!!
Lets hope the next blog will be from the island with video of the new calf! Fingers crossed.Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-22705928091272784832019-02-10T12:24:00.001-08:002019-02-10T12:24:17.442-08:00Very Sad PostHi All,
I'm afraid you haven't heard from me for awhile because what I thought was a bout with the flu is worse. I went to Dr Slattery's clinic and his team of doctors told me I needed a hospital so I was airlifted by Leer jet to Miami! My kidneys have failed. They are doing all sorts of frightening tests to figure out why. When I'm stablized they will send me home to RI. You will have to wait til next year for more dolphin reports :(<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akfMXF6Nbuc/XGCITWAAO_I/AAAAAAAAEQQ/g8ccd1pKDVIhfEnZPPU9qifFd6P3cRfmQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-02-10%2B14.40.53.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akfMXF6Nbuc/XGCITWAAO_I/AAAAAAAAEQQ/g8ccd1pKDVIhfEnZPPU9qifFd6P3cRfmQCLcBGAs/s320/Screenshot%2B2019-02-10%2B14.40.53.png" width="320" height="164" data-original-width="1462" data-original-height="750" /></a> Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-69866529853965522412019-01-23T06:19:00.000-08:002019-01-23T06:19:33.277-08:00It's a dark and Stormy DayHi All,
This morning the water is flat. Great for looking for whale spouts however, there is a huge, dark bank of clouds coming our way. It is heralding a large and nasty storm system that will keep us off the water!<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/312950031" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/312950031">It's Dark and Stormy Day</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
We got back to the marina just about 10 minutes too late and got totally soaked.
I'm so glad I don't have any friends here for this week. This is the Caribbean winter not the paradise we know and love!
The weathermen are telling us the weather won't be good until Friday.
Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-83098641398863003332019-01-21T04:58:00.001-08:002019-01-21T04:58:35.671-08:00WHALES!!!!Hi All,
The wind is up this morning from the south. We have invited our friend David to join us. With the wind like this its great next o shore with the island sheilding you from the wind. It isn't so great past the reef, however. As we head out Leeward Cut Panoply a big fishing boat is ahead of us. John radios Bruce, the captain and undoubtedly the best fisherman on island. Bruce tells us where he saw whales yesterday. Wind or no wind we are off past the reef! After a lumpy ride we drop the hydrophone in and this is what we heard!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAl60vlL0bA/XEXBafmvYqI/AAAAAAAAEOo/_jbF4kntgK81YdwLZhGtY-jS0Y0ElNCCACEwYBhgL/s1600/whales%2B1%2B-%2BSmall.mov" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAl60vlL0bA/XEXBafmvYqI/AAAAAAAAEOo/_jbF4kntgK81YdwLZhGtY-jS0Y0ElNCCACEwYBhgL/s320/whales%2B1%2B-%2BSmall.mov" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="320" data-original-height="240" /></a></div>
It took us forever to actually locate them! We did eventually find two whales. Despite the rough seas it was totally worth it!Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-74068566412840359322019-01-16T04:51:00.001-08:002019-01-16T04:51:44.446-08:00Richard Meets JoJoHi All,
JoJo was a star yesterday. He was waiting right at Leeward and got in our slip stream. We taxied him around for a while with Richard getting to see our famous JoJo in his element. Richard has seen thousands of dolphins but has never witnessed a dolphin riding in the slipstream of the boat the way JoJo does. Dolphins have big brains and have so many different ways of dealing in their different environments.
We then looked for whales with no luck. However, we know they are around Gran Turk!We finished the day finding Bo and Scooter. Bo was fishing and Scooter was staying right with her. <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ccr3Yx_-g-4/XD8oi7wMqAI/AAAAAAAAENk/TIDcqX5E-ocz_jtexyFeLYVM6fyAO0nsgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ccr3Yx_-g-4/XD8oi7wMqAI/AAAAAAAAENk/TIDcqX5E-ocz_jtexyFeLYVM6fyAO0nsgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2525.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWpixqcybQE/XD8oihuxInI/AAAAAAAAENg/9SEwRddjJKgCIca7X6yS4rEkHvv8k-EGACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWpixqcybQE/XD8oihuxInI/AAAAAAAAENg/9SEwRddjJKgCIca7X6yS4rEkHvv8k-EGACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2527.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUt4IxehybQ/XD8oitN84RI/AAAAAAAAENc/xywbS1CFf_095ewcm2J2SoktxKodRxLZACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2532.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUt4IxehybQ/XD8oitN84RI/AAAAAAAAENc/xywbS1CFf_095ewcm2J2SoktxKodRxLZACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2532.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-13506638830896036362019-01-15T04:35:00.000-08:002019-01-15T04:35:27.127-08:00Finally Found Bo and ScooterHi All,
After not finding Bo and Scooter since I returned, I was imagining the worst! We set out early didn't find JoJo and traveled to Northwest Point hoping to hear a whale with our hydrophone. I have invited Richard Connor down to meet the dolphins and for the last two weeks we havent seen Bo or Scooter and JoJo isn't staying with our boat as much. Oh great, what if he comes here and I can't find a dolphin! Richard has done a very long study of the dolphins in Shark Bay Australia. There are many, many dolphins there and they have some amazing alliances politics going on between groups. He has documented this in a book called "Dolphin Politics in Shark Bay". He really knows his stuff!
We are scheduled to pick up Richard at 2:30 at the airport. So after going to Northwest Point and not seeing anything but the occasional piece of trash (which we picked up diligently hoping to create good Karma), we headed to Pine Cay. I'm thinking of telling Richard "at least it's warm and pretty here even if we can't find a dolphin!" The Parrot Cay boat comes by and tells us he has seen the two dolphins a few days ago. Major phew! We start heading back toward the marina to tie up Spy Hop and to the airport when John spots two dolphins. You have no idea how happy I was to see these familar dorsals! I get a chance to swim with Bo and Scooter making our time really tight getting to the airport. When I tell you John floored it the whole way, I'm not kidding. We not only made it in time but but brought Richard back for a quick turn around in the condo then back on the water. We even found Bo and Scooter again. Must have been all that trash pick up karma!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TkinxX9t1o/XD3OMcA7eTI/AAAAAAAAEM8/80WnSCIAvDI3HdUsxUmtJGzDOV3MVHyjwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TkinxX9t1o/XD3OMcA7eTI/AAAAAAAAEM8/80WnSCIAvDI3HdUsxUmtJGzDOV3MVHyjwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2501.jpg" width="264" height="320" data-original-width="1318" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8333652500649875957.post-48702149397131589812019-01-11T04:52:00.000-08:002019-01-11T04:52:29.558-08:00Remora Still hanging OnHi All,
The boat is in the water and we have been going out. JoJo still has that tenacious remora glued to his peduncle. I'm in panic mode because I have a certified dolphin expert coming to meet these guys and I havent seen Bo or Scooter since I came back!!!Perhaps we will find them today!!<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/310772830" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/310772830">JoJo and Remora 1</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user38911674">Jay Sargent</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jay Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14355006552040598574noreply@blogger.com0