It was GLORIOUS swimming with wild Hawaiian spinner dolphins for two days in different bays near Kona, Hawaii in June 2011. These were amazing experiences with the highly intelligent, sensitive and beautiful dolphins!
On both days the dolphins rode the front of the boat when leaving the docking area. It was amazing to watch the dolphins so close together and traveling so fast with us. Totally in sync with each other to be able to alternate breathing when there was barely any space between them in front of our boat looking like they are not even moving and wondering how they are moving so fast! I would not have believed it possible if I did not see it with my own eyes. We went to a particular bay. We had a group of 40 people (from 2 boats) and were swimming/snorkeling within a circle of about 8 boats with approximately 100 other people. There were 10 dolphins that took care of all of us!, spending time with all of us (as the our boat assistant watching over us said). A group of dolphins came to me and swam with me several times and one in particular came up right in front of me while we were swimming, within a foot of the front of me as it came to the surface to breath and we swam together for about 10 seconds. It was complete trusting that the dolphin knew I would not touch it. With respect I kept my arms to my side and took in the energy of the beautiful dolphin, with some pod members beside him - or all 10? (see video below for the 10 dolphins). How they (he/she) all came up to the surface underneath me surprising me and going at a perfect pace with me - it was all perfect motion. You know these are special encounters because they are in total control of where they are and where they choose to be. If they swim close to you - it's a real priviledge. In the group of ten was 'Seaweed (Mouth)', named that as he/she has a growth on it's mouth that looks like barnacles or seaweed. I thought it was a clump of barnacles on it's mouth when I first saw it until Joan Ocean, our host, informed me of what it was. The second day out on the boat we went to a different bay and there were several dolphins (hundreds it seemed). They broke off into smaller groups. They stayed down deeper longer and I swam with what seemed like the same particular group each time. When I noticed bubbles coming up from the dolphins way below I embraced the bubbles and gave them (& dolphins) lots of love and asked for a closeness to (interaction with) the dolphins. A little later one dolphin, in a group right in front of me as we were swimming, turned over (playing) & gave me a show/wall of bubbles which were right in front of me that I swam through. It was truly a gift! He or she was saying 'Here you go!' - Such love! In addition there was a beautiful large black mantra ray that was in the area underneath me/us on the second day.
See
the 10 dolphins who were lovingly with us for the one day via the link
below. You will see 'Seaweed Mouth' up close a couple of times. Shown on
the boat is Kavita, our Captain, and Jan - great people! The photos on
this page are from Jeff Leicher. He took a video of both days & he
has allowed me to post some photos here. Boats and staff by Jack's
Diving Locker - a great place!
Video by Lilou Mace of our first day -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-k9MbIvtXg
Joan Ocean: www.joanocean.com
Photos on this page by Jeff Leicher
