I was just a little boy when I first saw the music video by Guns N’ Roses for the song “Estranged.” I remember feeling mesmerised when Axl jumped into the water from a tanker, and a pod of dolphins appeared out of the blue to save him. I had goosebumps all over my body.
I guess that’s where my love for dolphins began. Since then, it’s brought me so much joy every time I spot them. Luckily, they often show up at the beach where I live, though they usually stay far out. Every now and then, they come closer to shore, competing for the best waves with the surfers.
I feel privileged to live by the ocean, and like many others, I do my daily exercise along the coast.
It was yet another beautiful afternoon by the sea when, during one of my exercise routines, I noticed movement in the middle of the bay.
A pod of 20–25 dolphins was swimming toward the shore. Before long, they appeared among the surfers and stayed with them, surfing the waves. I quickly ran down to the beach and started capturing this unbelievable encounter. They stayed for almost an hour while I stood there, watching them—mesmerised with the exact same feeling I had as a little boy, watching “Estranged” for the first time.