Silky, the lone dolphin hasn’t been around since Monday but I had to share my photos on today’s blog as I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, (Cabbage Tree Bay early morning) on Sunday and Monday. Silky came right up to me as the photo below shows! More moments of AWE whilst doing a B&B swim!
On Sunday, I watched in amazement as the dolphin swam amongst swimmers from Shelly Beach to The Point. I swam back to Manly and luckily Silky was still there at The Point enjoying being around swimmers. She stayed around, poking her nose between rocks and weed to have a feast on the abundant marine life around there!
Here’s Silky stirring up the sand at The Point to disturb the fish or have a scratch!
A group of us swam behind her, keeping a distance but every so often she would turn around to interact with us, it really was incredible!
At Shelly Beach, Mauricio the experienced free diver who posted the beautiful video, dove down to the ocean floor, grabbed a rock and Silky came to him. Once again magical to watch…This dolphin seeks out humans after getting used to being with them at Sussex Inlet.She was captured and released in to a pod of dolphins but after half an hour swam away and has been joining groups of swimmers and surfers around Sydney ever since!
Every so often Silky would surface the water and often surprise us coming so close. Funnily enough we felt perfectly safe and knew she was happy too.
I got some even better shots on Monday morning as it was a bit sunnier. Once again Silky came up to us and stayed around playing, feeding and doing tricks!
You can see on this photo how Silky actually nuzzled up to Helen!
It was hard keeping a ‘respectful distance’ when Silky just wanted to be close to us!
Silky doing a somersault!
I thought our swimmers had broad grins but Silky’s is the best!
This was one of the best experiences of my life and I can’t imagine not being able to have vision to enjoy such a magical sight… Cath Coleman, Renae, Kirsten and myself are walking 50kms doing the Coastrek Challenge soon and raising money for the Fred Hollows Foundation. Our team name is Bold and Beautiful Swimmers, if anyone could donate to this worthy cause please click on link. http://www.coastrekfundraising.com.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=666903
I can send high res photos to sponsors too (as a Thank you).
Back to today’s swim!
A bit cloudy and cool for a Thursday but the sun tried to squeeze out at 5.56am.
Bolderdashers and 6.30amers
Some swimmers came for the swim, some to see a dolphin, some to see the dogs!
And others to see what undies Miles and Rusty would swim in today 😉
Newbie, Meike from Holland (who I met selling fish at the Fish Markets), came to see what live fish look like!
I had a little fish hunt around the rocks whilst you all blasted along to Shelly today. There was lots to see ( no dolphin unfortunately), a huge cobblerfish!
And an unusual, lonesome jelly fish.
And the beautiful little fish we usually swim with…
And at Shelly Beach…around 200 happy, brave, adventurous, smiling people!
A great photo just sent in by Stephen C to finish off!
Oh and just to conclude we are respectful and caring of this amazing environment we swim in. We regularly pick up pieces of plastic and rubbish we see floating in the bay to protect our marine life. Like this swimmer bringing out this huge item!
2014 B&B Calendar ON SALE NOW!!
Get one for yourself or pin it up at work. Give one to friends or send them overseas to the family back home. Only $15! BUY YOURS HERE NOW
Staying safe
Remember that there are no badges for scaring yourself silly! While it is great to extend your boundaries, it is important to know your limits.
Do read these excellent tips on staying safe in the surf. To read, or even download, click here.
Stats
Swimmers 207 inc 192 to Shelly and 15 Bolderdashers. 11 Newbies!
Sunrise 5.54am Sunset 8.09pm
Signing off
Lainey Loo (that pesky dolphin swam underneath me again 😉
16 comments
Tayls
09/01/2014 at 12:54 pm
brilliant blog Lainey Loo. Fantastic photos. well done. You captured me holding a sarahphin or is it a dolphrah ??
Lips
09/01/2014 at 1:15 pm
Sarah’s first groper encounter.. magical!
Lips
09/01/2014 at 1:25 pm
Stunning dolphin photos Elaine!
Ted – thanks for slow Bolderdash this morning. Good fun despite the chop!
Alyson
09/01/2014 at 1:37 pm
yep Silky the dolphins smile takes the cake. I hope she joins us again soon AWESOME PHOTOS!!! And once again you are raising money for yet another great cause Elaine de Jager!!! Amazing woman – and of course have an amazing Team 🙂
Rusty
09/01/2014 at 1:41 pm
AMAZING photos Lainey Loo. We are so very lucky indeed to swim here. You always capture the fantastic inclusive nature of the group in your blogs.
LSA aka HKTQ
09/01/2014 at 1:43 pm
Incredible, amazing, awesome pics, Lainey….. keeping the best til last:-))) xxxxxx
mauricio
09/01/2014 at 2:45 pm
Beautiful blog and photos Elaine, you have captured the moment perfectly. A moment (another ) to be remembered and cherrished swimming with this group.
Silky is the most gentle and sensitive animal I ve ever came across. An experience I will never forget. So priviledge we are.
Lainey-Loo aka Elaine
09/01/2014 at 2:55 pm
Thank you for your lovely comments. It makes the 3 or 4 hours doing the blog (besides photo taking) so worth while when you know people appreciate it.
you may have heard that a dolphin was found dead in shark nets at Newport this morning. Latest reports it is NOT Silky. i am so happy. It has been identified as an older male. It really seems as if the shark nets do nothing though except trap harmless creatures.
Simon
09/01/2014 at 3:45 pm
Elaine
Great blog yet again. I know exactly how long you spend writing, and we love it.
Slim dusky
09/01/2014 at 3:58 pm
Love the blog and pics. Most appreciated.
Thanks for Bolderdash Lips a bit choppy. Never regret a swim!
Lainey-Loo aka Elaine
09/01/2014 at 7:39 pm
Wonder when we are going to see the white groper again eh Lips?
Lainey-Loo aka Elaine
09/01/2014 at 7:41 pm
Thanks Simon and you wrote 2 great blogs this week. You are wonderful!
Snorkles
09/01/2014 at 7:44 pm
Lovely blog Elaine, the shark nets are important but yes have their downfall too.
Geoff
09/01/2014 at 8:54 pm
Absolutely amazing photos and blog was brill today! Can’t wait to be swimming again
Thanks for sharing. GA
Lainey-Loo aka Elaine
09/01/2014 at 9:14 pm
Thank you Geoff. Can’t wait to have you swimming with us again. Hope to see you tomorrow xx
Fifi
10/01/2014 at 4:00 am
I competed at Newport on Sunday and almost tangled myself in the shark net, it
T is very high. I thought to myself how hazardous it would be for silky. I’m very concerned about the deaths in shark nets, but I don’t imagine they will take them down .
Fantastic blog Elaine!