WOW, today was one of those days that i will forever remember. The morning started off checking in 10 certified divers at the shop. We slowly meandered to the dock to head out on a two tank dive. The day held the promise of great diving; ocean conditions were flat calm and there was no real wind to speak of. Water's surface was just like glass.
On our way to our first dive site we encountered some bottle nose dolphins and humpback whales swimming very close to the boat. The dolphins were very playful. They were slapping their tails and really enjoying the wake created by the boat. They were so close I could even make out a cookie cutter shark injury on the belly of one of the dolphins. When you see dolphins and whales all in one shot, you can't help but smile.
And if you can't smile at that you are certainly not wired correctly. Eventually we had to get back on course an head to one our local dive sites. So, we moored at icebox along Kauai's South Shore.
By luck of the draw my group of divers were the first to get in the water. As we head down the I start looking north towards the deep blue water. To my amazement I see a something big and white moving in the distance. My initial thought was that it was a manta ray swimming by so I get my divers' attention and point towards what I believe to be a manta ray. I soon realize this is not a manta but a huge humpback whale. I take off towards its while trying to film and watch all at the same time. It was absolutely stunning, breath taking, once in a life time moment. It was so large that it was difficult to grasp the real size of such a majestic mammal.
Note that whales are around Kauai at this time of the year, but it is not very common to experience them underwater. underwater encounters with the humpback whales while scuba diving are not common; they are in fact extremely rare. I feel privileged to have witnessed such a site. And I am thrilled that my divers were also part of the experience. They are majestic to see from the surface but underwater you get an even greater appreciation for their graceful movements.
For all the divers, keep diving. Each dive holds the potential to be the most unique and memorable experience you could have imagined.
On our way to our first dive site we encountered some bottle nose dolphins and humpback whales swimming very close to the boat. The dolphins were very playful. They were slapping their tails and really enjoying the wake created by the boat. They were so close I could even make out a cookie cutter shark injury on the belly of one of the dolphins. When you see dolphins and whales all in one shot, you can't help but smile.
And if you can't smile at that you are certainly not wired correctly. Eventually we had to get back on course an head to one our local dive sites. So, we moored at icebox along Kauai's South Shore.By luck of the draw my group of divers were the first to get in the water. As we head down the I start looking north towards the deep blue water. To my amazement I see a something big and white moving in the distance. My initial thought was that it was a manta ray swimming by so I get my divers' attention and point towards what I believe to be a manta ray. I soon realize this is not a manta but a huge humpback whale. I take off towards its while trying to film and watch all at the same time. It was absolutely stunning, breath taking, once in a life time moment. It was so large that it was difficult to grasp the real size of such a majestic mammal.
Note that whales are around Kauai at this time of the year, but it is not very common to experience them underwater. underwater encounters with the humpback whales while scuba diving are not common; they are in fact extremely rare. I feel privileged to have witnessed such a site. And I am thrilled that my divers were also part of the experience. They are majestic to see from the surface but underwater you get an even greater appreciation for their graceful movements.
For all the divers, keep diving. Each dive holds the potential to be the most unique and memorable experience you could have imagined.
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