It was another beautiful morning on board the Dolphin Swim Australia vessel. We were halfway out of the bay, heading toward the open ocean, just as the sun reached the horizon. Our destination was clear: to find our beloved common dolphins in the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park.
The first rays of the rising sun promised an amazing day. Despite the early 4 a.m. rise, everyone on board was cheerful and excited. After about half an hour of searching, we spotted a large pod of dolphins approaching us. There were around 40 to 50 of them, and they immediately surrounded the boat, playfully riding the bow.
To our great surprise, there were five or six babies among them. One of them was so tiny, at first I didn’t even recognise it as a dolphin – it was about the size of a salmon, nothing like what you’d expect. It was confidently swimming alongside its mother, its tiny tail flapping rapidly to keep up with the pace of the others.
Luckily, the pod stayed with us for more than an hour, giving us plenty of time to swim with them in the crystal-clear water. I was fortunate enough to capture some truly unforgettable moments.
I named this image “Arion,” after the legendary Greek poet who, according to ancient myth, was rescued by dolphins.
Arion had won a music competition in Sicily and was returning home with his prizes when the sailors on his ship plotted to kill him for his riches. They gave him the choice of dying on land or being thrown into the sea. Arion asked to sing one last song. As he played his kithara and sang a hymn to Apollo, dolphins began to gather around the ship – some say sent by the god himself. When the song ended, Arion leapt into the sea, and one of the dolphins carried him to safety at the sanctuary of Poseidon at Cape Tainaron.
This image and experience reminded me of that story – the deep and ancient bond between humans and dolphins, one that still continues today.
Dolphin Swim Australia offers the only permitted wild dolphin swim in New South Wales and the first experience of its kind in the world. The dolphins are completely wild and free, and each swim depends entirely on their choice to approach and interact with us.