Technically, yes, I was on vacation. But when you spend years studying climate science and oceanography, you can’t not get excited about what’s happening under the waves.
We made the eight-mile journey past mangrove-covered shores up to Cabbage Key in about an hour. The Lady Chadwick, a 65-foot-long vessel, travels around three times slower than the fastest dolphins can swim, but I quickly discovered the relaxed pace has two key boons for cruisers: a smooth, wave-free cruise with ample time to watch the shore roll by and the possibility of dolphins hitching a ride.
Captain Richard explained that the fun-loving creatures adore frolicking in the ship’s wake. Sometimes, they’ll swim up alongside the boat and crest the waves, treating riders to a delightful show. He wasn’t wrong — dolphins joined us for the ride on three separate occasions.
He also explained that the glassy, cruise-friendly water can be largely chalked up to one thing: barrier islands. North Captiva Island and Cayo Costa are two of the sand-based barrier islands that make up over 700 miles of the Florida coast and protect the mainland from the tempestuous open ocean…