Roller-coasting the waves, screaming up with each fin and melon head, surrounded by deep ocean, unfathomable. What a way to wake up!
It was 7:10 in the morning, I was starting to think about opening my eyes, when Monique, our Expedition Leader, yelled excitedly from behind the door: "There are short-finned pilot whales outside, we are going out to get some footage!"
So in 2 minutes I was at the reception, with shorts and snorkeling gear, together with Antonio, Daniel and Maria Fernanda (most of the Polaris naturalists). We were going to try to film these enormous creatures underwater. There was no time, they were moving fast.
We practically jumped on board the Zodiac. Once in the spot, Monique and Daniel went in the water. The rest of us remained in the Zodiac. We were a bit awed by the notion of just blue 360 degrees around us, and blue 6000 feet underneath us. At sea there are many pelagic species, little but also big ones, with and without teeth.
Daniel and Monique had a brief encounter. The whales were not in the mood to play. They kept moving, apparently very slowly, however at speeds impossible to follow with artificial fins.
We went up with every wave, we squealed at each sighting of a whale, we experienced the biggest love for this place, and fears and fulfillment…Is there any superior feeling? Well, Monique and Daniel were just speechless. I guess nothing can be greater than being in the ocean with one of its true mammal residents
