Swimming with whale sharks - pics part 1

The day has come!

An early start, getting picked up by a minibus and transferred onto the boat, a long long journey looking for a shark on the ocean’s surface. 4 spotter planes, 12 other boats..but it didn’t seem that we’d be lucky enough. The skipper persisted, rushed through the rough waters in hope to get nearer to a distant sighting. It was windy and choppy. Millie by then was pretty sea sick, I was on the boarder line, not feeling great but doing my best to hold it together. We all had a warm up snorkel on the outer reef earlier on, which was great and we saw some beautiful coral, but also got us wearing a soaked wet suit for good three hours, freezing.

Sitting on the upper deck behind the skipper gave us a prime spot to all the intel about how we were tracking. We were also lucky enough to see dozens of jumping humpback whales and their calves, floating turtles and sea birds, all close to the vessel. Apparently orcas have been attacking humpback calves in the past weeks near the sightings of whale sharks.. the skipper wanted to make sure we don’t get to see such sights, especially for the kids.

Then the moment came. We were rushed to get ready. Then jumped, full of adrenaline, hearts racing. I heard the instructions to look under the water.. and, there she was, swimming right towards me, head on. In panic, I shuffled my fins to make way for the queen and this beautiful creature swam past. Andy was right next to me. We will never forget that moment of absolute awe,.

Millie stayed on board, not feeling up for a swim, poor thing. Ella was so brave and came with us, hanging onto Lydia, our guide. She got to see the sharks tale flapping in front of her.

We were one of the only two boats that got to see the whale shark that day. We went the furthest. And not just that - we managed to jump in four times in total and swim even more with the 9m long, as if pained, prehistoric creature.

In my second jump I was the first one in the line and was able to swim right next to the shark, without others in my view, able to fully take in the moment. Words can’t describe what it felt like. I was in a deepest flow.

The ride back home went fast. I was processing what had just happened. We were all on a big high. What an end of season experience.

Andy and the girls came along with me so that we all do this together. And, it was the best thing, a memory we will treasure forever.Читать далее