Two dolphins

Dolphin frenzy

October 30th was a cold and windy day in Red Sea terms. Clouds covered the sun and the sea turned dark and unfriendly. Temperatures dropped and staying on the beach was less enjoyable.

We saw the dolphins pass at noon, far out in the open, following a fishing trawler. They seemed to be too far out to catch up with them so we let them pass and felt pangs of disillusionment. Charlotte left and returned shortly with her wetsuit. I got mine too.

Two hours later they pod could be seen again, far away. Actually I didn´t see anything at all but I believed Charlotte. We jumped into the Kayak, taking Leonard along, and out we rowed. We eventually caught up with the pod and they swam towards us, followed us swimming alongside right underneath our boat. Now and then a dolphin popped up right next to the boat to catch his breath. Once a dolphin baby jumped up out of the water, maybe a meter twenty long. He looked incredibly sweet!

After moving together for 200m I went in. Charlotte followed shortly hanging on to the Kayak so Leo would not drift away and another dolphin frenzy began. Two Young adults stayed with us to play for approximately half an hour. During the whole encounter they we heard their high frequency whistle, a sign that they were well at ease.

The two were really curious and came swimming towards us, an arms length away, then making a sharp turn to immediately turn back. We would follow them swim in circles and they would increase the speed more and more until we would get dizzy. Then We would fin one of the dolphins swim belly up right beneath, an invitation to touch - but always just centimeters too far away.

Unfortunately the light conditions were poor so most of my pictures are blurred. Fortunately Charlotte filmed a lot and the films came out really well. They give a good impression of what it feels like when you swim with wild dolphins.

The weight belt gives you neutral buoyancy and allows you stay down longer

Turning to swim belly up 

Swimming together in circles, faster and ever faster

"There they come...!"

Charlotte and the two dolphins

Hello there !

People had been watching us from the coast and eventually two kayaks with a dutch couple arrived. The dolphins did not feel at ease anymore and left shortly to join the rest of the pod who was making a big circle hunting fish.