Wrong direction

So close, we nearly bump into each other

Yipee, another weekend ! For some reason this week was much longer then usual. Everything is packed for the beach and the moment we arrive I spot the dolphins. Full of anticipation I run between the parasol and the kayak and prepare the equipment. Then with strong strokes I row out into the open. But where are the dolphins ?
I wait 10 minutes and it occurs to me that they moved away from me when I saw them. Wrong direction.

A couple of hours passes. I'm out there with the kayak paddling here, then going there, looking at this coral than the other when I spot them. "The dolphins!" I yell, the boys are puzzled, they see nothing.
I take the weight belt and the fins and get ready. We travel parallel to the group. They have nearly stopped right below us, then continue at slow speed, all on the surface, watching us, staring at us from below through the surface, which is flat like a window.

The dolphin with the string still hanging out of his mouth is there and quite a few huge adults. A young one zig zags the tip of our kayak, playing.

Then hop... I'm in the water. Swimming with the group. We stay together for about 50m when I loose them, visibility is a bit poor, I see them 20 m further. Little Leo has followed me padling really well ! So we catch up with the group and follow them in our kayak. We are one, the 20 dolphins and us.
The small dolphin jumps and shows off.

Here they come

I follow him

Rowing like a champion

The group

Faces

Faces

Three swimmers move quickly into our trajectory. I move on, and the dolphins do too.
When past this obstacle I go in again. A wonderful session starts, whistling and beeping when suddenly a sound becomes audible and the dolphins all dive down and rush forward. A jetski...

Back to the safety of the kayak.
Leo has followed me...
As the dolphins are still close I give it another go.

Back in the water the best part of the session starts. Suddenly the whole group comes to pick me up, I'm right in the middle of ten magnificient huge adults. I recognize last weeks individual with the spotted belly. There is another one with a slightly damaged dorsal fin. We swim together, follow each other, stay in eye contact, just centimeters seperating each other. Amazing !

I loose them, they are too fast, the group returns to reintegrate me. We continue.... Slowly I get tired. This was cool, enough for today...

I row the kids home.
Leo, who just turned 6, has proven to be a good addition to these expeditions.