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26 Jul 2021
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Fun Facts about Dolphins on Okaloosa Island

 

Okaloosa Island is home to some of the largest populations of dolphins in the world. This means that you can find dolphins all along the 30 miles of coastline that Okaloosa Island has! 

Ready to learn more about these beautiful creatures? Keep reading for some fun facts about these intelligent mammals!

 

  1. There are around nine species of dolphins in and around the Gulf. The most common species found around Okaloosa Island are bottlenose dolphins. They have curved mouths which give them a cute smile. There are about 10,000 bottlenose dolphins around the Gulf. You can find other dolphins here but they like to stay further away from the coast.

  2. Bottlenose Dolphins are bigger than people. Yes, you read that right. Bottlenose dolphins can range from 6-13 feet long, weigh up to 1,400lbs, and can live up to 60 years old. Not only are they big but they are pretty fast with a top speed of about 20 miles per hour only surfacing two to three times per minute to breathe through their blowhole

  3. Dolphins love to eat. This doesn’t mean feed the dolphins because that is illegal and will result in a large fine. Aside from that dolphins love to eat fish, squid, and crustaceans like shrimp and crab. They are such smart hunters. They will work together in “pods” to “herd” fish, then take turns blasting through the schools of fish to feed. They even have two stomachs, one for eating food and one for digesting it. 

  4. Dolphins are incredibly intelligent. Dolphins’ brain-to-body ratio is right behind humans. Not only do they love to socialize and play but they can recognize themselves in a mirror and learn incredibly quickly. They even care for the sick, old, and injured in their group, making them one of the most caring mammals in the sea. 

  5. Dolphins communicate and travel through echolocation. Dolphins can make up to 1,000 clicking noises per second which bounce off of objects and prey alike. This “echo” tells dolphins the location, size, and shape of the object reflecting their clicks. They also communicate with a whole barrage of sounds. 

  6. Dolphins name each other. Scientists have found that dolphins give each other names and develop their own whistles that correlate with their names and can even recognize other dolphins’ “names”.

  7. Dolphins can be found year-round at Okaloosa Island. Warm waters and abundant seafood means you can see dolphins year-round! However, the best times to see them are around 10 am-noon and 2 pm until sunset. You can even catch some dolphins right outside your condo on the gulf side and you may even come across some in the Choctawhatchee Bay. You can often spot them swimming with sea turtles near the Okaloosa Island Pier!

  8. See Dolphins on a Cruise! Want to make sure you see a dolphin? Book a sunset cruise or a sightseeing cruise. Great for families or even couples. There are PLENTY of choices for a dolphin cruise in Destin. The cruises we can recommend are here. DOLPHIN CRUISES