September 26, 2013
Miranda Cosgrove Swims with Dolphins for Oceana
This Labor Day weekend, as Americans everywhere closed out the summer with barbeques and trips to the beach, Miranda Cosgrove had a different plan. She decided to save dolphins.
Taking advantage of her break from school at the University of Southern California, where she studies film, Miranda flew to Bimini Bahamas with Oceana to film a forthcoming Public Service Announcement about the need to protect dolphins. Accompanied by her mom, Miranda landed in South Bimini amidst a rain storm and braved the elements as she drove to Bimini Sands Resort in a golf cart—the main mode of transportation on this tiny island.
After a good night’s rest, Miranda completed snorkel training and impressed us with how quickly she mastered snorkeling and free-diving. (It may sound simple, but free diving takes time to learn!) Then we hit the water to look for dolphins.
After an hour of searching from the bow of the boat, we finally spotted fins in the distance. It was play time for a large group of Atlantic spotted dolphins, which leapt out of the water, playing with pieces of sea weed and poking each other in a display of fun and games. Our boat slowly approached the group of dolphins and Miranda slipped into the water with the film crew. What awaited her is something she later described as “one of the best experiences of my life.”
Underwater, a pod of playing dolphins greeted Miranda and continued their games despite the arrival of their new friends. Sensing she meant them no harm, the dolphins even swam up to Miranda and incorporated her into their games, swimming around her as they do with each other.
Back on the boat, after hours of filming in the water with dolphins, it was clear to Miranda that these intelligent and social animals depend on communication and interaction – like we humans do. But Miranda learned that despite all the fun and games, dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean are at risk. Dolphins use sound to communicate, to eat, and to live. But dolphins like the ones Miranda swam with are currently threatened by seismic blasts—repetitive dynamite-like blasts that threaten their ability to live and to communicate with each other. To protect the dolphins’ song with Miranda, sign up with Oceana.
And check out this behind-the-scenes video that offers a glimpse into Miranda’s Public Service Announcement and stay tuned to oceana.org to find out what all the noise is about.