Spotting the Dolphins from the boat was exhilarating!

Chasing the Dolphins!

   It’s amazing how, given a little bit of inspiration, we’re able to conquer fears. I personally have a fear of sharks (probably shared by many). That fear is heightened when I find myself in murky waters where I can’t see what’s happening below me. It’s a fairly sensible fear mostly, except that I sometimes have irrational visions of JAWS chasing me down!

   Today, I was absolutely blessed with an amazing experience that helped me at least momentarily overcome my shark phobia. Me, John Carter (my team-mate from Sydney University who is training with me in Florida) and our friend Dewey were out on the speed boat cruising with the wind in our hair. John called out that he’d spotted wild dolphins in the murky waters of the Gulf we were crossing over.

   There aren’t many times in my life that I’m likely to have the opportunity of swimming alongside, or at least nearby, totally wild dolphins. I thought about sharks, and decided within myself I wasn’t going to let a fear steal away an opportunity of a lifetime!

   I mustered up my courage, dove into the water (after some deliberation and questions of our local friend Dewey as to the whereabouts of sharks in the region, and the depth of the water we were diving into), and proceeded with John over to where we’d spotted the dolphins. There’s safety in numbers I figured, so with John alongside more fears subsided.

   I must admit, there was one moment when I was about 30m from the boat swimming in the green waters of the Gulf thinking to myself,

“we’re a long way from the boat, and I really hope those are DOLPHINS we’re chasing!!”

   We managed to swim within 10 meters of the peaceful and majestic mammals, and both felt invigorated and completely alive. It was hilarious that we were trying to chase them down on the surface when they are such powerful swimmers, but luckily they were curious about us as well, and stayed pretty close to where we were swimming and boating.

   Dewey snapped some photos from the boat, and caught some of the swimming on film. It was an unbelievable experience, a personal growth experience, and a heart warming fun moment in my life.

    Thanks for letting me share it with you.