Dean & JoJo

This is the true story of a profound interspecies friendship between man and dolphin including 64 brilliant rare photos. Dean Bernal visits the quiet bays of the Turks and Caicos Islands and meets a wild bottlenose dolphin named JoJo. Fascinated by the beauty and playfulness of the intelligent animal, he is immediately mesmerized and they soon become companions in the crystalline blue waters of the islands. This sparks the beginning of a deep friendship that spans decades. But when the encroachment of man and his machines severely injure JoJo, it forces Dean to administer aid to his suffering friend to save him from certain death. There are growing controversies with unscrupulous government officials and Dean is called to action.The love for this dolphin keeps Dean fighting. And as JoJo touches more and more people, Dean learns about our human ability to heal ourselves through nature and how compassion shown to animals brings us openness, sensitivity, and peace.

This is the true story of a profound interspecies friendship between man and dolphin beautifully archived with rare photos. As a young dive instructor, Dean Bernal visits the quiet bays of the Turks and Caicos Islands and meets a wild bottlenose dolphin named JoJo. Fascinated by the beauty and playfulness of the intelligent animal, he is immediately mesmerized and they soon become close companions, diving, playing, and swimming in the crystalline blue waters of the islands. This sparks the beginning of a deep friendship that spans decades. Over the years and with great patience, Dean carefully gains the dolphin’s trust. In the safety of isolated bays they explore the coral reefs and caves while out at sea they body surf hurricane waves and get lost in lightning storms. Dean confronts sharks to save JoJo when he is small and when he matures the dolphin defends Dean from predators. But when the encroachment of man and his machines severely injure JoJo, it forces Dean to administer aid to his suffering friend to save him from certain death calling Dean to action. He begins a campaign to protect JoJo from machines and from those driven by greed who wish to capture him. Dean seeks to safeguard his environment and habitat from destructive development and the intrusion of tourism. But it isn’t easy and many are opposed to his efforts. However, after many years of international media exposure in magazines, newspapers, and films, which put pressure upon corrupt government officials and crooked businesses, JoJo is declared a national treasure and Dean is appointed his official warden. But the battle is just beginning. There are growing controversies with unscrupulous government officials, exploitive executives, and suspicious strikes from ski boats. Later JoJo’s entrapment in a strategically placed turtle net almost kills him. Still, the love for this dolphin keeps Dean fighting. And as JoJo touches more and more people, Dean learns about our human ability to heal ourselves through nature and how compassion shown to animals brings us openness, sensitivity, and peace. The Dean and JoJo story is a wildlife adventure, a healing and lifestyle, spiritual guidance story. Dean learns about the secret mystery of dolphin language while finding true purpose. The Dean and JoJo US publication contains 64 rare archived images and is the first of a series.The European published version was translated by Jochen Lehner who translated books by Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, Marianne Williamson, Dan Millman, B.K.S. Lyengar, JH Brennan, Thomas Bien, Lama Surya Das, Neale D. Walsch, and many other notable authors with similar merits of Dean and JoJo’s purpose.

Dean Bernal has been likened to “a cross between Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, and Crocodile Dundee”. Excerpts from the story of Dean and JoJo have been featured in countless books, TV specials and movies including the Academy Award nominated IMAX film Dolphins, narrated by Pierce Brosnan, two PBS specials: In the Wild: Dolphins with Robin Williams, and Dolphins: Close Encounters with George Page, & featured on World News Tonight. BBC, Cousteau and Nature specials have also feature excerpts of Dean Bernal and JoJo. Dean has received letters praising his conservation work from the British Royal Family. His work has appeared in such magazines as Discover, People, GEO, Cousteau, Esquire National Geographic companion book to the Dolphin’s IMAX film, and National Geographic Kids Magazine. Parts of Dean and JoJo’s story have also been published with Jane Goodall, Tim Cahill, Cynthia Moss, Hermann Sülberg, and Johanna Weland and also published in numerous other quality books. Dean Bernal was raised in California coastal communities and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dean first visited the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1981. Three small sociable dolphins swam in the shallow coastal waters. One would become known as JoJo and befriended by Dean and many island residents. The life of JoJo seems legendary, but the books and archive films are created directly from the observations, and research recorded by Dean Bernal on his amazing and heart warming journeys with JoJo. Dean created The Marine Wildlife Foundation to protect lone dolphins like JoJo by providing legal protection, medical attention, public education and research. JoJo was declared a National Treasure of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and JoJo’s caretaker and friend, Dean, was appointed his official warden. Dean Bernal is a spokesperson, film producer, director, and wildlife advocate. Dean is especially known for his many years of expertise leading whale encounter expeditions in the Turks and Caicos and Tonga and the academy award nomination in DOLPHINS IMAX by MacGillivray films. The Dean and JoJo Story US e-publication is in its entirety with added photos. The European published version is translated by Jochen Lehner who translated books by Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, Marianne Williamson, Dan Millman, Ajahn Brahm, Peter Meech, B.K.S. Lyengar, JH Brennan, Thomas Bien, Lama Surya Das, von Monty Joynes, Neale D. Walsch, Bernie S. Siegel, and many other notable authors in the same merits of Dean and JoJo’s purpose. Dean has been a keynote speaker and lecturer at numerous colleges and universities, film premieres, and venues such as the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has participated in lecture series with film promotions with Adventure Writer Tim Cahill; Underwater Explorer Jennifer Carter; Marine Biologist, Eugenie Clark, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Virginia McKenna, Richard Ellis, Chris Newbert & Birgitte Wilms, Roger Payne, Jim Stewart, Bob Talbot, Stan Waterman, Wyland, and many others. Today, Dean uses his ongoing experiences as a key note speaker for incentive building and also a promoter of peace by sharing this books, films and the award-winning Dean and JoJo anti-bullying and peace resolution DVD program with teachers, schools, therapists, and psychologists.