“Dolphins!” I heard shouted from somewhere deep within the house.
I stopped unwrapping my new GoPro and ran out onto the balcony. Already a large crowd had gathered on the headland pointing at the pod which had just joined the line-up. The first dolphins of the season.
A pair dropped in on one of the surfers who fell ecstatic. The pod then began to cruise slowly up the beach in search of better waves.
I rushed back inside to assemble my GoPro. What better ocean footage could I have to start off with?
Bikini on, GoPro ready, I ducked back out onto the balcony to see how far they had travelled. To my dismay they’d reached the southern headland already. Devastated, I sat to watch their journey down the coal coast.
Suddenly a perfect set rolled in. The dolphins saw it and changed their path. This was it: I had to make it in time. I grabbed my GoPro and snorkel and rushed down the beach.
I weaved through the crowd of tourists lingering on the sand. Without hesitation I dove through the looming shore dump.
A couple of the surfers—not local—looked at me concerned when I reached them out the back, receiving the “I’m going to have to rescue you later but really don’t want to” look. If only they knew that they were in my home.
With no dolphins in sight I chilled out the back and waited…
And waited…
Finally I gave up. Knowing a few mates were at the break further down I decided to go for a swim, maybe get some action surfing shots.
The current lashed against me, trying to hold me back. Determined, I pulled strongly against it and took relief diving deep down to make some ground.
A guy on an SUP approached with an outstretched arm and massive grin on his face. The dolphins were coming directly towards me—only metres away.
Overwhelmed, I tried not to thrash around in my excitement. Baby dolphins were chaperoned past me within arm’s reach. It was at that moment I realised I had never been in the water with wild dolphins without my board. What if they attacked me?
In seconds, the whole experience was over and I was left exhilarated.
“You must have got some epic footage!” the guy on the SUP said when he saw my GoPro grasped tightly in my hand.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
I had totally forgotten I had it!
What has been your most magical wildlife encounter?
I would love to hear about it, so please feel free to comment below.