Tail flipping blowhole vacating

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This island looks entirely peaceful from the sea. Ship out at 7h00 with the Mirissa Water Sports Club (0 773 597 731). We saw a plethora of whales and dolphins. Too much really. Blue Whales, Bryde’s Whales, Sperm Whales, floating and gloating, rolling and cajoling. It’s strange how serene I feel, seeing just a crest of those mammalian bodies above a thousand meters of sea.

Whale and boat

The whales hang out in waters over a thousand meters deep, the closest of which are off the southern coast, in Mirissa. To be quite honest, it’s a damn jungle out there, it’s so many. This is also a main shipping lane, so the strip is constantly populated. It’s either container ships or beasts the size of. There is some conflict. Some whales bear scars.

We saw a few Bryde’s Whales, cresting and blowing out air, finally turning tail and diving. I got one shot which was entirely sure of my Rs. 5,000 worth, but then came more and more.

Dolphins

Dolphin

Then came the dolphins. I had fallen asleep, trying to ward of the impending puke. The boat rocks quite rocky side to side. I was holding a plastic bag. Upon seeing their scurrying imminences, I was entirely distracted. They skirted close to bow, oblivious and strong, packs of muscle and curiosity.

Feeling pukey

As the boat idled people jumped in the water. I jumped in too. It was deep and infinite. Blue and cool. As I dove deeper it got cooler, as I poked my head above I could float with ease, buoyant and well at ease. There was no land in sight. We climbed to the second deck of the boat and jumped off from there.

Sperm Whales

The dolphins, of course, were distracted, only re-emerging after the rude land beasts had climbed up the ladder to our boat. By then I was tired. Went to the bow of the ship to dry out, chatted with some tourists. Then the Sperm Whales emerged, not one but many. Three abreast, two aside.

So many sea beasts, so many boats, so much wonder. My God this is a magical island. I’m lucky to be alive.

Posted on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 in facebook, out, Photography, Sri Lanka, travel.