Yesterday was one of those weird days that looked to be a complete write-off; Diana’s computer started having issues and the weather for sailing south to the Australs was looking impossible. By late afternoon you don’t expect things to turn around. I’m sure a halfway decent plan might have deflected this unfortunate slide in paradise.
For whatever reason I was on deck and noticed a catamaran which seemed to have stopped halfway in the channel out of the reef. I watched long enough to see that they had paused because of whales coming in the pass. A mother and calf.
We abandoned ship! At first they seemed to have moved off. We were swimming back, assuming we’d missed the show when they appeared between us and the dinghy. We stopped and waited and they swam over to check us out. They circled and came back several times over the next hour, often so close we both felt like we needed to back out of their way. It’s pretty impossible to adequately describe how huge the mama whale looked as she swam by, her eye just a couple feet away. It was breathtaking! The calf was even more curious and played and splashed right next to us. On one of his passes the young juvenile delinquent gave Diana a playful wallop with his tail, really clobbering her over the head. She was okay, but I think her mask was knocked a little askew.
This is one of those experiences that probably everyone has imagined. I know I have. There’s simply nothing on earth that could prepare for the feeling, bobbing in the ocean with these beautiful creatures in a curious and playful mood. ~MS
Love these photos and Marcus’s accompanying words. A good reminder that an off-day can become an on-day if we keep our eyes open to the magic all arounds us. And you Stevens do that better than any family we know. We will always treasure our own swim with the curious-friendly-playful-young whale while visiting you last summer . . . thanks again for sharing the magic of your life with us. As always, missing you, but so happy to know you are happy!
We’ve been feeling your presence here LL and truly yearn for the next time we can snag you two aboard Allora! Our visibility in Moorea has been such that we have to be within 10 feet to even SEE them, 5 feet to shoot pics, so it’s been exhilarating! Couldn’t be happier that you’ve been catching up with us here on the blog! Miss you so …
What an other-worldly magical experience! Swimming with the humpbacks in Tonga has been on my bucket list for years now… Your photos only whet the appetite to do it SOON! Love following your adventures via this blog – what a beautiful planet we live on…
Bonjour, Kammie! Ok, you need to time your arrival in Tonga with Allora’s?!!! We will be there sometime between June and August, so we should seriously be in touch?!! I agree about the marvels of this planet – only wish protecting such was a higher priority.
Di – Great photos as always! I love the shots of the baby with his eyes looking right at you. The last photo even shows his bellybutton?!!! Wow! Did you hear any whale songs by males in the area? My next quest is to swim with sperm whales – I’ve been looking into it!
I THOUGHT that’s what I was looking at, Linda! And I did think I heard some song, but I wasn’t sure if it was just my internal exclamation! The Sri Lanka sperm whales swim sounds divine! It’s going to be hard to leave Moorea, but we hear reports of more whales still in Rurutu in the Australs, our next destination. It’s getting late in the season, but maybe we’ll be lucky?!
amazing! aloha to the both of you.
Glad you are here, Francesco, perusing my images/Marcus’ words!
(Our collective expression presented with limited wifi!)
I can only imagine your complete joy ~ even at the wallop on the head, Diana ~ to have this amazing encounter with these beautiful creatures. Now I’m headed over to the recent posts to follow additional adventures. You two rest in my heart always. Life is Good.
Mon cherie, Tina! You have me nodding, yes, yes, yes to all of these perfect words! Life is SO good!
Just Beautiful! Thanks for sharing such an amazing journey!❤️
Bonjour Jenni! These magnificent creatures would be IDEAL subjects for your art – those ‘line drawings’ on their chins – ah, I can just imagine your rendition of the Humpback! Big Polynesian hugs!
Just amazing. What a life! What an adventure!
Hey Elin! When we left Montana I lamented about missing all that glorious wilderness, but I am heartened to learn that wildness occurs in many corners of the world. I know we need to rally to protect these treasures, but it’s good to also recognize the regularity with which we’ve been astounded by healthy ecosystems in the natural world. Indeed, stay tuned for an upcoming turtle post! Hope you’re doing well?!
What an experience!
Epic fun, Doug! We saw the same mama and calf this evening, and again the one local in his kayak who makes it his evening routine to swim with them. I thought of how I used to look forward to fall in Montana for possible bear sightings and how I could SURE get used to ending my day with a whale swim! Pure magic!!