Wild Dolphins

We are so lucky to have Europe’s largest pod of resident dolphins in the Shannon Estuary in West Clare here in Ireland. I’ve been to visit them many times and always have a fantastic encounter. In recent years I’ve started to take the niecephews too. It’s such a joy to see them light up when the dolphins appear and to witness their delight at encountering wild dolphins for the first time. Dolphins are notoriously difficult to photograph because they move SO fast – getting a good shot can only be the result of pure luck, perseverance and a decent camera. This is just a small selection of some of my favourite pictures – from the Shannon Estuary; from a magical, surprise encounter by a dive boat in the Red Sea in Egypt and from some of the big superpods I met while volunteering on a marine conservation programme in South Africa. I love to see dolphins swimming wild and free and do hope the time has come to truly end captivity once and for all. A pool is no place for these energetic, intelligent and sociable animals to live.

All photos copyright: Jenni Barrett

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co Clare, Ireland

Spotting Dolphins in the Shannon Estuary with Dolphinwatch, Carrigaholt. These dolphins are part of Europe's largest group of resident bottlenose dolphins. The kids love visiting them, as does their auntie :)

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co Clare, Ireland

Spotting Dolphins in the Shannon Estuary with Dolphinwatch, Carrigaholt. These dolphins are part of Europe's largest group of resident bottlenose dolphins. The kids love visiting them, as does their auntie :)

Bottlenose Dolphins and a spot of rain in the Shannon Estuary, Co.Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins and a spot of rain in the Shannon Estuary, Co.Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co.Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co.Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

While on a liveaboard diving trip in the Red Sea off Egypt, I took time out from the dive group one afternoon to take a leisurely snorkel near our boat. I couldn’t believe it when I was soon surrounded by this amazing pod of bottlenose dolphins. They circled around me, clicking and squeaking, trying to make out what this strange mammal was doing on their patch. I was so lucky to have my underwater camera with me and managed to snap these photos - they were so close it was hard to get the camera in focus, but I love these pictures - reminder of an incredible experience.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

While on a liveaboard diving trip in the Red Sea off Egypt, I took time out from the dive group one afternoon to take a leisurely snorkel near our boat. I couldn’t believe it when I was soon surrounded by this amazing pod of bottlenose dolphins. They circled around me, clicking and squeaking, trying to make out what this strange mammal was doing on their patch. I was so lucky to have my underwater camera with me and managed to snap these photos - they were so close it was hard to get the camera in focus, but I love these pictures - reminder of an incredible experience.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

While on a liveaboard diving trip in the Red Sea off Egypt, I took time out from the dive group one afternoon to take a leisurely snorkel near our boat. I couldn’t believe it when I was soon surrounded by this amazing pod of bottlenose dolphins. They circled around me, clicking and squeaking, trying to make out what this strange mammal was doing on their patch. I was so lucky to have my underwater camera with me and managed to snap these photos - they were so close it was hard to get the camera in focus, but I love these pictures - reminder of an incredible experience.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

While on a liveaboard diving trip in the Red Sea off Egypt, I took time out from the dive group one afternoon to take a leisurely snorkel near our boat. I couldn’t believe it when I was soon surrounded by this amazing pod of bottlenose dolphins. They circled around me, clicking and squeaking, trying to make out what this strange mammal was doing on their patch. I was so lucky to have my underwater camera with me and managed to snap these photos - they were so close it was hard to get the camera in focus, but I love these pictures - reminder of an incredible experience.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

While on a liveaboard diving trip in the Red Sea off Egypt, I took time out from the dive group one afternoon to take a leisurely snorkel near our boat. I couldn’t believe it when I was soon surrounded by this amazing pod of bottlenose dolphins. They circled around me, clicking and squeaking, trying to make out what this strange mammal was doing on their patch. I was so lucky to have my underwater camera with me and managed to snap these photos - they were so close it was hard to get the camera in focus, but I love these pictures - reminder of an incredible experience.

Dusky Dolphin, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Dusky Dolphin, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Dusky Dolphin, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Dusky Dolphin, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Pod of dusky dolphins, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Pod of dusky dolphins, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Bottlenose dolphin, Califonia, USA

Bottlenose dolphin, Califonia, USA

Bottlenose dolphin, Baja, Mexico

Bottlenose dolphin, Baja, Mexico

Part of a Common Dolphin Superpod, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Part of a Common Dolphin Superpod, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Common Dolphins, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Common Dolphins, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Part of a Common Dolphin Superpod, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Part of a Common Dolphin Superpod, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Common Dolphins, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Common Dolphins, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

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Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins and a spot of rain in the Shannon Estuary, Co.Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins. Shannon Estuary, Co.Clare, Ireland

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Bottlenose Dolphins, Red Sea, Egypt

Dusky Dolphin, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Dusky Dolphin, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Pod of dusky dolphins, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Bottlenose dolphin, Califonia, USA

Bottlenose dolphin, Baja, Mexico

Part of a Common Dolphin Superpod, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Common Dolphins, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Part of a Common Dolphin Superpod, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Common Dolphins, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa