{"id":13365,"date":"2023-05-05T07:26:46","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T11:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aleta.life\/?p=13365"},"modified":"2023-05-07T04:02:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-07T08:02:31","slug":"awe-dolphins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aleta.life\/index.php\/2023\/05\/05\/awe-dolphins\/","title":{"rendered":"Awe! Dolphins"},"content":{"rendered":"
Position: 36\u00b031’47″N 3\u00b052’08″W<\/a><\/h6>\n

\"dolphin-blowing-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As the sun rose over Aleta\u2019s stern and Carol arose from her slumbers, it was time to change watches. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a dolphin and called down to my first mate. Carol immediately on alert popped her head up as a small pod came alongside. Under sail in gentle following seas, we were making a steady four knots. Aleta seemed like the perfect playground for our new companions. They were so happy we could hear their high-pitched squeals of delight. Their happy sounds must have carried a long way because within minutes a dozen more turned up. Then another dozen. And another. At one point we were completely surrounded.<\/p>\n

Out of habit I had grabbed my phone, not expecting anything like our experience in the Gulf of Corinth<\/a>. Carol intentionally left hers in the cockpit. For twenty minutes neither of us took pictures and gazed in awe at the party going on just below the surface. The dolphins’ grey-brown striped colouring indicated they were delphinus delphis<\/a><\/em>, the Common Dolphin. Although sightings like this are anything but common. In our reverie, however, we failed to capture video of them leaping and spinning out of the water. You’ll have to take our word on that.<\/p>\n

Underwater<\/h6>\n

\"dolphin-blowing-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eventually, Carol suggested I fetch the GoPro. A short period of indecision ensued. If I went below surely they would all take off and I\u2019d miss their departure. I needn\u2019t have worried. These guys weren\u2019t going anywhere. As quick as I could I pulled the necessary gear together for underwater videography.<\/p>\n

Dipping the little camera at the end of a stout selfie-stick into the water proved more challenging than expected. Pushing the ocean along at four knots is tougher than you\u2019d think \u2013 even with something as light and small as a GoPro. The video, as rough as it is, is fantastic. Just below the ragged tumble of the surface is another realm. Down there it is calm, smooth, and predictable. The dolphins take every advantage of their evolutionary strengths and glide along in confident muscularity. The introduction of the camera made them a little wary at first. Look carefully and you\u2019ll see them keeping an eye on us above, and an eye on the camera below. After a few minutes though they banded together for some glorious party shots.<\/p>\n

Awe!<\/h6>\n

In a recent article in the Atlantic<\/a>, excerpted from his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life<\/a>, Dacher Keltner talked about the need for awe in our lives, and that we discover it in the \u2018humblest places\u2019. Aleta takes us to awesome places where we make fantastic and serendipitous discoveries – like pods of dolphins swimming alongside her for more than two hours. We are humbled by nature\u2019s generosity. Perhaps this video will grant you a little of our experience.<\/p>\n

Video<\/h6>\n