View from the Helm

Warm greetings to our expanded pod, as we approach mid-season.

It’s been a magical journey with not only dolphin encounters but many sightings of turtles, beautiful spotted eagle rays and a magnificent manta ray to name just to name a few.

As captain of Dolphin Quest I spend most of my time at the helm, spotting dolphins, or other tasks involving the boat. I’m often asked if I ever get in and swim with the dolphins?

My reply is? Yes, sometimes?. However I most often find myself watching our human/dolphin pod (amid snorkels, noodles & float boards) from the helm. Listening to screams of joy through a snorkel reminds me of talking through the cardboard tube from Christmas wrap when I was a kid. As the sounds of joy and wonder increase I know they’ve made a connection.

At times someone from our human pod will decide to observe from the boat rather than go in. I used to think they were really missing something until I saw the opening they experienced as they watched their loved one have this rare encounter. It seemed not only expansive but somehow shared in a way that words struggle to describe.

As our dolphin friends depart and our human pod re-board the boat with laughter, tears and excitement I get a familiar feeling of gratitude for those magnificent creatures who bless us with their presence. Soon the excitement fades to a deeper silence as we sail towards home.

Once again they have taught me to expand my parameters of what is possible and shown me how connected we all are on this big round ball called earth.

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