THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 7, 1996 TAG: 9607040253
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Summer Sun Days
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 69 lines
For $10 you can feed the slots in a video arcade for a couple of hours, munch on a mid-sized bucket of popcorn while watching a bunch of aliens fry the Empire State Building or go to sea in search of dolphins.
For anyone who prefers the real to the fake, the choice should be clear.
Go for the dolphins. Especially if the evening is balmy, the sea is calm and the sky is clear.
Sunset dolphin watching cruises leave each evening at 7 from Lynnhaven Seafood and Marina, 3311 Shore Drive at the southeastern end of the Lesner Bridge.
For $10 ($7 for children 12 and under), watchers get a one and a half hour ride on a 62-foot boat, a magnificent view of the setting sun and - if Flipper and family cooperate - a close up view of the most human-like of all water creatures.
Even if Flipper doesn't cooperate, the money is well spent.
``We've never had any complaints,'' said Kevin Farley, skipper of the Beverly D, one of two 70-passenger vessels used during the day for fishing and in the evening for dolphin watching.
``There have only been about three trips so far this year that we haven't seen any dolphins, but even then people told me what a good time they had.''
On a recent Wednesday evening, there was little doubt that the dolphins would put on their show and that a knock-your-socks-off sunset would serve as the background.
The beauty of the sunset was apparent even before the boat left the dock. The dolphins showed up about 20 minutes later as Farley cut his engines and drifted silently off the Fort Story beach.
``We watch them all the time from the beach,'' said Cape Story by the Sea resident Linda Parrett, ``but tonight we decided to come out here for a closer look.'' With her were her children, 8-year-old David Mathews and 10-year-old Lindsey, both students at John B. Dey Elementary School.
The family joined other passengers in ooh-ing and aah-ing as the dolphins performed their sea ballet and the sun dropped slowly toward the horizon.
``The dolphins don't come as close this time of year as they do later,'' Farley said. ``I think it's because they're still nursing their young. Once the babies get a little bigger, they'll come right up and play in our wake.''
Even so, the dolphins were close enough to impress those who had chosen the real life experience over virtual reality.
``This is a lot better than a movie,'' David Mathews said as he watched a mother and her young one leaping in tandem a couple of dozen feet off the bow.
At 8:20, with the sun almost at the horizon, Farley started the boat's engines and made the short trip back to shore with another load of satisfied dolphin watchers.
The trips will continue each evening from now through Labor Day. ``We may add an afternoon trip later in the summer,'' Farley said, ``we're not certain about that yet.''
Reservations are not required but Farley and his partner, Kevin Selden, do appreciate a phone call in advance for planning purposes.
``If we have too many passengers for one boat, then we add a second,'' Farley explained. Although soft drinks and snacks are available on board, the owners have no objection to guests bringing their own food and beverages.
``Picnic baskets are fine,'' Farley said, ``we're not in this business to make money off the food sales.
Call 481-4545 for information. MEMO: Dolphin watches are also offered at the Oceanfront by the Virginia
Marine Science Museum. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
The Nancy Anne, a 70-foot boat of Lynnhaven Seafood and Marine,
heads out to dolphin watch in the bay. by CNB