Thursday, June 17, 2010

Dolphins

Kamaya sailed quickly along at six knots. We were heading to one of the anchorages at the north end of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas. Suddenly I heard the familiar yell,
“dolphins!”

I jumped out to the cockpit to take a look. Sure enough, dolphin size fins were coming up, and slicing through the water. A few minutes later, the wind dropped suddenly to .5 knots. Normally, dolphins leave when you move too slowly. But this time, they stuck around.

“Why don’t we jump in with them?” my Dad suggested.

I’ve always been waiting for the chance to swim with dolphins. We put on our snorkels and fins and jumped into the water. I felt the chilly water all the way to my neck, but that didn’t stop me from looking around. I looked, and saw six dolphins swimming rapidly along the depths. All of them were straight in a row, like they were getting ready to start a race.

Four more dolphins took a close pass so I could study them for a few seconds. They had pointed noses, and streamlined, silky skin with a white band across their bellies, and up towards their backs.


They circled us, and swam under our flippers. I turned around, slowly, and saw two more dolphins swimming up from deep down. The pair sped up, and broke the surface the same time I pulled my head out. They made a magnificent leap. At the exact same time, they dove back in. it was the most beautiful thing in the world, and I was the only one to see it.

Goodbye dolphins, and then shucks …. I got stung on my arm by a little jelly.

2 comments:

Jim and Heather on Meerkat said...

That is so cool Maya!! Something most people in the world will never get a chance to do!
Bummer about the jelly though - unfortunatley too many people get that!

Ramona said...

Maya, I got excited just reading your story. I'm so glad you got to see that spectacular, synchronized dolphin leap. I bet you'll still be able to recall every detail of that rare sight when you have reached the age of your great-grandmother.
Love, MMM

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