Just had the most magical afternoon on Port Phillip Bay today. Headed out of Brighton Beach around 3:30 this afternoon, and notice alot of people pointing out into the water. Within minutes of being on the water I was surrounded by 8 dolphins. 6 adults and 2 smaller ones. It was my first experience with wild dolphins and could not believe how alive you feel once you see then up so close. The water was a little cloudy so it wasn't till the last moment that you realize that they are under your board. To see the young ones swim up to you and roll on their side to take a better look at me is a moment I will never forget. All I could think of is where the hell is DJ's camera when you need it. Also swimming with this pod was a rather large seal that was putting on a bit of a show as he would proudly display his catch of fish each time he surfaced. I was lucky enough to have about 20 minutes of these wonderful creatures all to myself before we parted company. I was buzzing on the paddle in and still now as I type. When work gets you down its these small moments that make it all worth while. Cheers
Lucky you Hoagie, what a great day it was to be on the water and to experience what you did, I was up close to two dolphins a couple of weeks back and it made me tingle also - they are incredible creatures. Can't believe you saw a seal off Brighton - amazing.
Today, I did a big drive around the bay and we caught the ferry from Queenscliffe to Sorrento. It was dead flat and glassy and I saw tons of dolphins outside Lindsay Fox's home. It made me think that I now want to rope DJ into doing a Sorrento/Queenscliffe crossing or a Portsea to Quarantine paddle before Winter kicks in. With the right tide and wind, it's definitely doable.
Dolphins are RAD! I had a little encounter at Crunchies but nothing like this or DJ's experience.
The heads crossing is easy doable, but timing with tides needs to be spot on. We used to windsurf at Corsair/Quarantine and sail across from Pt Lonsdale. The tides can be gnarly especially if the difference between low and high is big.
That's excellent Hoagie..
It looked like a classic day as I watched out the window from work..
I should have gone down after work because the sky cleared and there was zero wind.
Welcome to the Breeze Hoagie.. I'll give you a call next time we do a down winder.. It'd be great to have you come along with us.
I have heaps more pictures of that Barwin dolphin because I just kept clicking away the whole time.. I like this one as he turns to check out the Kialoa..
DJ
Hi Guys,
I agree, paddling with the dolphins is the best buzz ever!
We are lucky enough to live on Jervis Bay, where the resident pods of dolphins are part of the whole tourist package. It is a big bay but I am lucky enough to see them quite regularly - I never ever get sick of it and still get the same buzz every time!
A week ago they were riding the little waves with us. I was on a little right hander and my husband yelled 'look beside you!' I looked over my shoulder and there were 3 in the wave right beside me!
Our dolphins aren't quite as friendly as DJ's one, so it was a bit hard to get a photo but last Friday we happened to have the camera with us and got this shot.
I have also learned to love the giant stingrays. They are about 6 foot across and when I first started SUP I was terrified of them, but now when they glide beneath me I am amazed at how graceful they are: Not uncommon for me to see half a dozen this size on my daily 5km paddle so it is lucky I have got used to them LOL!
.
Managed to take a video of a big ray in Shallow Inlet last summer while paddling with some friends. Just set the Olympus going and shoved it under water!
Wonderful gentle creatures, if you don't hassle them......
Great video!
We just got back from our morning paddle up the river and got these couple of pics of a little ray (only about foot and a half across). You can see I'm not fibbing about the water clarity!
We also got some funny video of the resident giant ray (about 6 foot across and
affectionately known as 'Stumpy' cause he has no tail - and funny cause husband nearly fell off as he was taking it cause stumpy went a-flapping straight under his board)
Sorry I can't upload it as I don't know how to get video up???
Happy paddling!
Fantastic clear shots JB Mel, to upload a video you have to go through the whole deal of starting a YouTube account (free) then cut and paste the URL (on the right hand side of the video when watching within YouTube and paste that link into the body of the message you are writing on this forum.
It's easy once you have got the account started.
Thanks Jonathan C,
I will have to give the video uploading a go. As well as all the wildlife and local scenery clips, I have a few good bits of footage of husband showing me how to do 'cutbacks': as if I am going to do them hahaha??? He is just using the 'teaching' approach as an excuse to show off!
Great pics....everytime something cool happens I don't have my camera with me. I was paddling a few 100 yards offshore and had a humpback whale surface 20 feet away and blow....smelled like fish....also scared the crap out of me for a sec. Was very glad it didn't start tail slapping or something while I was that close.
Flat water paddling with dolphins is great but surfing with them is even better. Getting dropped in by one of those guys is truly awesome - to experience (at a close hand) their speed and grace while on a wave is the most impressive thing I have seen in nature, especially when they get airborne right next to you.