The warmly cool, clear, ringing, perfumed, overflowing, redundant days, were as crystal goblets of Persian sherbet, heaped up – flaked up, with rose-water snow. — Herman Melville
To Be A Dolphin!
I don’t know quite how to describe the magic of diving with dolphins. They played, they chatted, they rolled and swooped, they came over begging us to rub their bellies. We lost track of our depth and where we were. They came to see us two out of our three dives in Rangiroa’s Tiputa Pass. It was probably better the second time, because it was easier to slow down and take it in, rather than worry that they would only be there for a moment. It was wonderful to swim with them in their element, to watch one jump up out of the water, looking from below. In Baja we always debated which we loved more dolphins or whales (now there’s a silly argument), and it generally depended on which we’d seen most recently. I remember us saying, ‘dolphins, definitely dolphins’ once, and seriously just few minutes later a humpback breached out of nowhere and it was ‘whales, definitely whales.’ Guess what the sentence is now? ~MS
The wildlife of these remote atolls, which were originally called the Puamotus (poor islands) where lesser chiefs were once exiled, is addictive. It never stops. ~MS
wow! I have so enjoyed your photos Diana! where were you? we’re you diving off your boat out in deep open water, or did your dive originate closer to land?
Felicia, hi!! These Bottlenose Dolphins frequent the Rangiroa Pass in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia. We dove down the ‘wall,’ just outside the pass and the crashing waves on the reef which encircles the lagoon of Rangiroa. Then, as the dive proceeded, we kept one eye on all the gorgeous reef fish and the other out toward the blue deep water, and sure enough they’d come flying in to greet us. They CLEARLY loved the interaction and sought it out. In fact, they’d turn into a vertical position just in front of us and present their bellies to be rubbed. We normally never touch wild animals, but they were BEGGING for it, so a little scratching occurred. The eye contact was out of this world! Thanks for your enthusiasm!
These are stunning photos. I can’t even imagine the thrill of swimming with these beautiful beings. Thank you for sharing these glorious photos.
All the best and happiness,
Carol Lettko
I’ve been relishing seeing pics of your family recently (so thankful we have had wifi to catch that glorious wedding), and am glad we can add yet a snippet more beauty to your overflowing cup!
What beautiful photoes. I can realise what super fun it must have been to be with these supercool dolphins. Keep enjoying the world and keep showing us the beauty of the world through your lenses
Indranil
Indranil and Sumita, you have always valued good adventure (I remember our days in India out seeking glimpses of Tigers) and we truly hold dear our connection.
what beautiful creatures from below. I always am thrilled when they are playing in the waves and I see them! this is unreal; how they must love you being down there in awe of them.
Lori, you’re spot on! It was mesmerizing! And they DID love our presence in their ‘hood!’ Kids (too young to dive) told us about snorkeling in the area and the dolphins would repeatedly dart between a group of divers and them on the surface, reveling in the company!
wow! I have so enjoyed your photos Diana! where were you? we’re you diving off your boat out in deep open water, or did your dive originate closer to land?
Felicia, hi!! These Bottlenose Dolphins frequent the Rangiroa Pass in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia. We dove down the ‘wall,’ just outside the pass and the crashing waves on the reef which encircles the lagoon of Rangiroa. Then, as the dive proceeded, we kept one eye on all the gorgeous reef fish and the other out toward the blue deep water, and sure enough they’d come flying in to greet us. They CLEARLY loved the interaction and sought it out. In fact, they’d turn into a vertical position just in front of us and present their bellies to be rubbed. We normally never touch wild animals, but they were BEGGING for it, so a little scratching occurred. The eye contact was out of this world! Thanks for your enthusiasm!
These are stunning photos. I can’t even imagine the thrill of swimming with these beautiful beings. Thank you for sharing these glorious photos.
All the best and happiness,
Carol Lettko
I’ve been relishing seeing pics of your family recently (so thankful we have had wifi to catch that glorious wedding), and am glad we can add yet a snippet more beauty to your overflowing cup!
stunning. thank you!
What beautiful photoes. I can realise what super fun it must have been to be with these supercool dolphins. Keep enjoying the world and keep showing us the beauty of the world through your lenses
Indranil
Indranil and Sumita, you have always valued good adventure (I remember our days in India out seeking glimpses of Tigers) and we truly hold dear our connection.
what beautiful creatures from below. I always am thrilled when they are playing in the waves and I see them! this is unreal; how they must love you being down there in awe of them.
Lori, you’re spot on! It was mesmerizing! And they DID love our presence in their ‘hood!’ Kids (too young to dive) told us about snorkeling in the area and the dolphins would repeatedly dart between a group of divers and them on the surface, reveling in the company!