The most amazing adventure yet
Trip Start
Aug 01, 2007
1
52
91
Trip End
Jan 11, 2009
Kaikoura,
New Zealand
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Swimming with (dusky) Dolphins!!
I awoke at the inhuman hour of 5 AM this morning, and headed to the Dolphin Encounter office under a shroud of darkness, to find other people already waiting around outside. At 5:45, we were given a sign... the lights came on. Once inside, we suited up in our wetsuits and watched a 15 minute video describing how get on/off the boat, attract dolphin attention, etc. "Wait for the horn... this means the propellers have stopped moving". Basically we were meant to act and sound like dolphins. No touching!
We took a bus over to the wharf (which looked familiar after the whale watch!) and began our journey to find the dolphins. Along the way, we saw a spectacular sunrise... for once it was a clear horizon, and the clouds turned this amazing pink colour that photos don't do justice. Eventually, we started seeing fins poking out above the water, and the occasional splash. The boat finally stopped and we finished out outfitting, with the masks and fins. Then, we were off.
For some reason I was full of nerves and didn't quite know what to expect. For about a minute or so after I entered the water, which was pretty chilly, I was a bit panicky which isn't always good when you are breathing through a tube! But I preserved and made stupid noises in a bid to get some attention. Well, it worked! It was amazing... just looking down and up to 6 dolphins (the pod itself was actually 150-200) would be swimming directly underneath you, beside you, wherever.
The Kaikoura Coastline
You could actually make eye contact with them and play a bit... I would just turn myself in a circle and they would just go in circles around you! It's hard to even describe how incredible it is to pretty well be playing with them in their "natural environment", to sound like the brochure. Apparently our group was really excellent as well... we were a "one-drop wonder"! Normally groups have to get off/on the boat numerous times to be deposited again nearer to where the pod has moved. These dolphins stayed with us the ENTIRE time! So our crew gave us a bit of a 'bonus drop' in the middle of a massive group since they were so impressed... the guide said she couldn't even remember the last time that happened!
Once the swimming was done, we all got changed then got our 'photo session' watching them do amazing back flips and the like. Once I could finally get dressed since by this point the seasickness was kicking in and I felt like crap, I managed to get a few cool snaps. Luckily they had ginger biscuits (ginger really does cure motion sickness! Amazing!)
Now I am just biding my time before heading into town to catch the bus from Kaikoura- Picton. I am in desperate need of sleep but looks like it will have to wait! Luckily my hostel is really close to the ferry, where I get dropped off and also will catch the Kiwi bus in a few days!
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