Beauties of the bay

The Swatch of No Ground, a submarine canyon in the Bay of Bengal, located south of Dublar Char, is a hotspot for dolphins, whales, porpoises and sharks. Bottlenose dolphins tend to be the most visible among the cetaceans for they have to frequently surface to breathe. Roaming in groups, these intelligent mammals are familiar with the presence of humans, eagerly approaching boats to swim alongside and even go bow-riding, sometimes inquisitively turning to their sides to have a look at those on board. Being a spawning and breeding ground of many endangered oceanic species, the 1,738 square kilometre Swatch of No Ground has been declared a “marine protected area”, which effectively restricted fishing and commercial activities there.

Photo: Fahd Mannan