« 70 Miles to Civilization: Day 6 | Home | 10 Year Anniversary - It’s Over… Or Is It Just Beginning »
In Search of Half-Brain Spinner Dolphins? Day 7
By Coach Colleen | May 19, 2009
We set the alarm clock, both our cell phones and left the curtains open so we would not sleep through our boarding call.
Mar and I and ten other dolphin seekers hung out on the dock as our captain interacted with the local police. As I walked up to the pier at Keauhou Bay, I had heard the sound of metal on metal: a boat trailer had kissed the bumper of a parked truck. As we sat waiting for the police to take our captain’s driving info, there were a few jokes about our ‘Captain’s ability’ to drive boats versus cars.
30 minutes later we headed north out of Keauhea Bay in search of half-brain spinner dolphins. Let me explain.
In Search of Half-Brain Spinner Dolphins
Hawaii’s spinners feed in the deep ocean at night then come into protected bays to rest. How they rest is by turning off half their brains. According to Kelly our One Love One Spirit swim guide, they feel safe from predators in the shallow protected waters. I may have to do some more research on this.
It took us about 20 minutes to spot these graceful creatures slipping in and out of the water. 
They too were heading north. After a dolphin etiquette lecture, we were slipped overboard as quietly as possible (NOT!).
In seconds, they swam past us. Three or four swam within 5-10 feet of me. 
More were in the background. Our encounter lasted only seconds. Then a herd of humans were frantically swimming in search of dolphins. Another one darted by. Then they were gone.
Tag, you’re it!
Back on the boat heading north we again saw them as they lived up to their name – leaping and spinning. It was an awesome sight. A baby even flapped his/her tail at us. What was the message? Leave me alone! I actually think it was more like Ha Ha, you can’t catch me! or Tag, you’re it! Then, they were off again with us in pursuit.
We did two more full group drops. On the third drop, the dolphin contact was slight but the sun penetrating the deep waters (over 100 feet) was glorious. Away from the herd of humans, I spread my arms wide and spun in a slow circle drinking in the vastness of forever.
Back on board our pontoon boat, the captain asked ‘Want to snorkel or drop again with the dolphins? Four of us wanted to go with the dolphins, and I am so glad we did. I had snorkled all week, I wanted dolphin encounters.
That fourth drop was by far the longest and most interesting. I am holding to the idea that the dolphins knew that the four of us were safe and truly respected the fact that we were visiting their home. They swam past, turned and came back.
Rather than swimming after them, I decided to just be still. Off to my left, a lone dolphin caught my eye. He (somehow, I felt it was a he) just hung suspended a few feet below the surface. I watched.
I had talking with our dolphin tour master from One Love One Spirit, Julia, for a couple of weeks. She was so excited for us and kept telling me about life-transforming experiences after swimming with these incredible creatures. I wanted one of those life-transforming experiences.
I didn’t have that type of experience in the moment, but you know I cannot get that lone dolphin out of my mind. I can visualize him as I write this. Maybe a life insight will come later. My intention for swimming with these playful mammals was to learn play.
Well, watching them play in the wake of our boat, flap their tails at us and spin in the air for no reason that was apparent to me was so captivating in the moment that I couldn’t think of how that translated to my life. Hmmm…. Maybe it was just that – being in the moment.
A Dolphin Jungle Gym
Earlier a dolphin watching boat passed in front of us. For the dolphins it wasn’t a boat, it was a water jungle gym. The 40-foot boat purposely left a big wake. Our captain slowed down and said we might as well watch the show because we would have to wait for the wake to dissipate. The line of wake exploded with dolphins jumping… surfing… diving… spinning… again… again… and again.
I have seen a lot of dolphins playing in the wakes of boats, but this was by far the best 1 minute show I’d ever seen. Playing just because.
I’m going to have to place the questions in my subconscious about what specifically I can take away from my dolphin playground adventure. What did that lone dolphin say to me? I need to be still and listen. I do know that I don’t have to be in visual contact to communicate with him. I’ll keep you posted.
The rest of today… what did we do?
A shower, a nap and into the Kona tourist district plus a little driving around to see what’s here and search for a special anniversary dinner location.
Today was our actual anniversary
We wanted to have a special dinner to celebrate our accomplishment. We couldn’t bear sitting inside even if there was a view. We stumbled onto a sand-floor, beach-front table and settled in to watch the sunset and the sunset hula show. It was marvelous. We acknowledged our first 10 years together, toasted each other and our next 10 years.
We forgot the camera, so here is a tourist photo from the Trip Advisor site. 
Thanks AZlovesHI for the great photo. We are going on our 11-year anniversary!
We both agreed that we were (are) the luckiest people in the world. We are so glad we are with each other. We sat in silence relishing that moment - smiling.
Thank You
We both would like to thank all of you who have supported us on our life journeys. We occasionally talk about our past relationships to clarify rather than compare with today. Like the dolphins, we have learned to live as much as possible in the moment. It really helps us to be present to each other. We have learned a lot…. Hmmm… lessons from our 10 years together. Look for this in the near future.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Off to pack and home tomorrow.
Coach Colleen and Mar
Once I discovered what love meant to me, I meant Mar. At the request and encouragement of friends, I put what I did into a system that you to can use to find your true love.
Topics: 10-Yr Anniversary Vacation, Love |
Comments are closed.