PBS-TV Visits the Dolphin Explorer

Dolphin Explorer LLC is the proprietor of The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Research Project, which monitors the travel range, feeding habits, social behaviors, genealogy, survival rate, and overall health of the bottlenose dolphin population in the Marco Island waters. The program just celebrated its 20th anniversary and is the only dolphin study program in southwest Florida. The research continues…

It’s been a great two years for the team on board the Dolphin Explorer, earning five awards for their work and being visited by not one, but two television networks in the past few months. Most recently, PBS-TV was on board on April 29, and the team hosted Michelle Valentine and her amazing staff for the program “Love Eat Travel,” a nationally airing television series.

Michelle was an absolute joy to work with, and her husband, Lawrence Bakerman, the Director of Photography and Editor, was on point once the Dolphin Explorer gave them an overview of what to expect and learn. The entire PBS team was quick to learn that they were not stepping into just another wildlife tour, but a working science project with a team committed to sustaining the area environment, especially the local dolphins.

The PBS team interviewed all four researchers on the Dolphin Explorer, beginning with Captain Eddie Farr. Eddie spoke about the importance of male pair bonding, a topic that earned Eddie his PhD in Cetacean Biology last year. Next up, Florida Master Naturalist Jennifer Nitz talked about the early life of a dolphin calf and how mom teaches the little ones to survive in our local waters.

Third on the list was Marine Biologist James Livaccari, who spoke about the dolphin hierarchy as well as the team’s purpose to monitor the environment that ensures that all levels of marine life are doing well here. Last, yours truly spoke about how the team involves the public in identifying our dolphins, family histories, and how research on the boat is distributed around the world.

The entire team represented Marco Island very well!

PBS was not just on board to learn about our program but to see some dolphins, and our dolphin population did not disappoint. Four moms and calves showed up as well as a few big males and some youngsters that have left mom’s side. Sixteen in all came by!

At one point, we had adult male Simon, his sister Skipper, his other sister Kaya, and Kaya’s two-and-a-half-year-old son Peter all in the same area; a nice family reunion and they all wanted to be on camera! They put on a great showing for the TV crew! The crew was also very excited when we told them that sisters Skipper and Kaya might both be pregnant now and that this would be the first pair of sisters to give birth in the same year! We’ve already documented a mom and daughter giving birth in the same year but not two sisters.

Our entire team is excited to see how Lawrence edits all of the footage for the episode of “Love Eat Travel” that should air nationally in October. You can learn more about Michelle’s program at www.LoveEatTravel.tv.

In addition to PBS, a network from Spain visited the Dolphin Explorer two months ago. LaNueva TV, based in Madrid and Barcelona, was filming a program about Southwest Florida and the top things to do here, trying to influence the Spanish visitors to see what this coast has to offer.

The team has been blessed with rewards from the public and the media for our work. In 2025, by a public vote, we were named the Number Four Best Boat Tour in the Country in a newspaper poll. In 2026, we have been named the Face of Dolphin Tours for the fourth year in a row. Business Rate named us a top tour in Collier County based on customer satisfaction, brand reputation, and service excellence. We are also a top three winner, by public vote, as a Nature / Wildlife Viewing tour this year.

In recent years, we have received awards from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and, for the sixth year since Covid, we are a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice recipient. National Geographic has been on our boat twice in the last decade and we have been published in the London Times, several German publications, and a few books by local authors.

None of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment to detail and customer service by the entire team. It would also not be possible without the support of the public, especially the many, many, many repeat guests who join us to learn a bit more! We are grateful for all of these blessings and the team is committed to continue their passionate ways, to do so with integrity and to provide education to the public.

Thank you, all of you, for the success and opportunities you have bestowed on us!