STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A routine day of fun on the water turned into an unforgettable experience for three young men from Staten Island when they encountered a pod of dolphins during a jet skiing trip on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Nicholas Demetriades, 23, of Annadale; his younger brother, John Demetriades, 18, also of Annadale; and their friend Joseph Rosano, 23, of Pleasant Plains, were enjoying a day out on two jet skis, riding in Raritan Bay and Lower New York Harbor, when they spotted the dolphins.
“We were heading back towards Great Kills Marina after riding in Raritan Bay/Lower New York Harbor when we spotted a pod of dolphins around us,” Nicholas Demetriades recounted. “We had them on both our port and starboard sides. There had to be over 20 dolphins.”
The group — which had never seen dolphins in the area before — was thrilled by the encounter. They quickly snapped some photos to capture the moment.
“We were so excited,” Nicholas Demetriades said, describing the surreal experience of seeing the dolphins up close. “It was like something out of a movie and an amazing experience. We didn’t expect to see anything like that while out on the water.”
Staten Island residents Nicholas Demetriades, 23, of Annadale; his younger brother, John Demetriades, 18, also of Annadale; and their friend, Joseph Rosano, 23, of Pleasant Plains, were enjoying a day out on two jet skis, riding in Raritan Bay and Lower New York Harbor, when they spotted about 20 dolphins. (Courtesy of Nicholas Demetriades)(Courtesy Nicholas Demetriades)
The group continued to watch the dolphins for several minutes as the animals swam alongside them before the dolphins eventually veered off, heading deeper into the bay, they said.
According to Patch.com, Raritan River is mostly freshwater, but it does turn brackish and more salty as it empties out into Raritan Bay.
The Raritan River meets Raritan Bay near New Brunswick, with the South River branching off from the Raritan. In recent years, dolphins have frequently been spotted in the brackish waters of canals in Keyport, Keansburg, Union Beach, and along the entire Raritan Bayshore.
According to NJ 101.5, Andrea Gomez of the NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office said it’s common for dolphins to be in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, but it can be harmful for them to be found in inshore waters and rivers.
“Extended exposure to freshwater environments can cause skin lesions on dolphins and other potential direct and indirect impacts,” Gomez said. “However, it takes weeks, sometimes months, in freshwater environments before these types of symptoms start to occur.”
Staten Island residents Nicholas Demetriades, 23, of Annadale; his younger brother, John Demetriades, 18, also of Annadale; and their friend, Joseph Rosano, 23, of Pleasant Plains, were enjoying a day out on two jet skis, riding in Raritan Bay and Lower New York Harbor, when they spotted about 20 dolphins. (Courtesy of Nicholas Demetriades)(Courtesy Nicholas Demetriades)
Staten Island residents Nicholas Demetriades, 23, of Annadale; his younger brother, John Demetriades, 18, also of Annadale; and their friend, Joseph Rosano, 23, of Pleasant Plains, were enjoying a day out on two jet skis, riding in Raritan Bay and Lower New York Harbor, when they spotted the dolphins. (Courtesy of Nicholas Demetriades)(Courtesy Nicholas Demetriades)