The Real Thing - Day 4



In the Great Blue for the first time... FEAR...that's a word all right!

Up and preparing at 5:30 am, we were down to the car for 6:15 am.  Michellie was hard to get up, but we managed.  We headed to the docks at Kona, where we had a bite to eat at "Bite Me" Fish Market Bar and Grill.  We loaded up the boat - "Neptune Charlie" and prepared to set off.  Donning sunscreen and getting our gear organized, the dolphins were at the harbour mouth ready to greet us.  There were at least 20 - 30 dolphins circling and sharing with us, and the swam in front of the boat, beside and around.  It was so exciting.  Then, we had a problem with our prop, so we had to head back into shore.  While they fixed the boat, we went around to a little site point, and we watched the dolphins from there.  About an hour later, we headed out again, and headed south towards the latest sightings of the dolphins.  En route we spotted a sea turtle just floating on top of the water. At our destination, we stopped and quickly prepared to get into the water for our first swim.  Michellie was petrified.  She could not even get her sun screen on herself. We managed to help her with this, and she dressed, but she was terrified.  When it got time to jump in the water she couldn't do it.  Doug was amazing with her.  He took her hand and coaxed her gently into the water.  Holding both his hand and mine, we let the excitement of the dolphins take over and she put her face into the water.  The dolphins were surrounding us.  They were beside, below and swimming all around.  They were really welcoming us into their pod.  They even swam over to Michellie and called to her.  At one point Chelsie-Anne was swimming off on her own and they surrounded her and swam and sang to her.  It was amazing.  There were several sounds they were using.  There was a clicking sound that filled the water, as well as an echoing call.  We were surrounded and it was so fulfilling.  Each of us received different messages through the week.  What I felt the strongest on this first day was "Look around and see everything".  This was very important, as you could have a dolphin swimming beside you, but if you were looking down, you didn't even know.  And, if you only watched the dolphins and searched for them, you missed all the schools of fish and the coral reef below.  The water was clear and beautiful.  The sun shining in rays below the water illuminated the seas and made everything so surreal and ethereal. 

We jumped in and out of the boat several times through the morning as we had to keep up to the different swimming patterns of the dolphins.  Close to noon we stopped in a beautiful coral reef location, and Doug and myself went swimming to see the different fish etc.  It was so amazing.  So freeing to be in the water and just enjoying time as it is.  The First mate of the ship, Alicia, cut up some fresh pineapple for us to enjoy, and Michellie was able to eat much of it with no reaction to it.  At home she breaks out in sores all over her mouth, but with fresh pineapple, there was no reaction.  We ate lunch, and then headed back to the harbour.  Captain Jeff was a great commander of our first day!

We returned from the boat for some relaxing, and the girls immediately suited up to go swimming.  We stopped in to the cultural center and learned how to make tea lei's.  This was great fun.  We all met for a gathering later on, and Michellie fell asleep deeply.  We didn't know how we were going to wake her, until she rolled over and fell off the couch.  After a few stunned moments, we were able to get her up and out for dinner.  We all slept well that night.