Of all the critters of the sea, dolphins are the ones we have the strongest connection with and the ones we have the greatest chance of understanding. Their social organization and ability to react in an orderly and organized manner as a large pod of individuals proves their intelligence level to me.
I’ve spent decades at sea watching and interacting with dolphins, being accepted by them and traveling for many miles with them swimming happily with my charter boat. I am thoroughly convinced they are highly intelligent and have some things figured out much better than we do.
What most amazes me is their natural attraction to us and their natural curiosity about us. They often show this by swimming right alongside my boat and turning partway on their side so one eye is looking directly into our eyes. An instant bond is formed, and life seems so good at that moment of connection.
There are moments of profound connection that bring lifelong memories and a shaping of our beliefs about the nature of the world. I’ll bring you some of these stories and I’ll begin with this one, this week.
My daughter Capt. Tiffany worked with me on our charter boat WaveWalker for many years. Her knowledge and experience about the ocean and critters are amazing. One time on the Santa Barbara Channel, when she was well along in a pregnancy, we were cruising slowly with a large pod of dolphins at mid-Channel.
Tiffany lay down on the bow and a dolphin came up near the surface, turned partway on its side to look into her eyes, and the two of them shared a bond for quite some time and distance. Tiffany slowly put her hand down toward the dolphin, reaching as far as she could.
The dolphin accepted the invitation and rose until its back broke the surface of the water. Tiffany’s outstretched fingers brushed along the back of the dolphin. She jumped up and looked at me with tears on her cheeks and said, “Dad, even my baby is always going to remember this.”
Well, that baby is now a teenager and does indeed have a deep connection with the ocean and its critters. That profound memory lives on.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
