dolphins

So there I was just paddling about when I saw a fin, my heart skipped a beat, I'm about to be eaten alive by jaws...I started to think of how I'd pretend to not be that bothered that I was about to be torn limb from limb (I'd like to point out we do live in an area where 3m+ sharks are regularly spotted off shore...) when I noticed another fin, and then another quickly headed towards my board..and then it clicked...dolphins!

Playing to close to the boards, I noticed they seemed to like the swirls we sent off when paddling..that's it I thought...you've got to get a little closer...and then this happened...

they swam right under us, within arms reach. Beautiful, pure curiosity. 

That's it, I thought, it's time to jump in...

and they stayed with us, twisting and spinning and jumping for another 40 minutes until we'd lost all sights of the area we launched and were about at hour down wind. 

I could've cried, I could've cried again when I downloaded the photos ready to put on Facebook and realised just how close they were and just how incredible an experience it was, swimming in the open ocean with a whole pod of dolphins, and their babies.

Have you ever swum with dolphins? Or is it something you've dreamed of since a child (like me!)? 

I'd just also like to add a little serious note to this post, if you love dolphins even 1% of what I do, and haven't already, please help save japans dolphins who are slaughtered every year in Taiji as a result of dolphin tourism.

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