After a couple of wonderful days interacting with the whales; with every time we went into the water I had amazing experiences…. each of them different and equally overwhelming.

In the darkness just before my alarm went off, I had this sense that I was going to learn about HUMILITY today. I sat eating beautiful fresh fruit and coconut… and a wonderful cheese omlette..and just sat quietly as the wind howled in the banana plants and rustled their large leaves. I knew today was going to be big for me.

By lunchtime we had entered the water each about 4 times… and every time, the whales immediately disappeared into the blue darkness. We found shelter tucked close to an island and after lunch went out into the rough ocean to see if we could see any sprays of vertical mist or curved grey dorsal fins.

We saw many pods of whales, and slid quietly into the water and swam over to them… and once again… they silently swam and waved their fluke into the blue depths.

A wave came over me. HUMILITY. I was soooo excited and nearly everyone else was really disappointed that they hadn’t swum with the whales yet today. I realsied that the whales have a choice.

It had been so easy so far to swim with them. they were tolerant of us and at times playfulo and so accepting… and always aware. Often if they swam close they would raise their pectoral fin over or under so as to not bump in to me whilst I was stationary in the water.

Today I realised that they had a choice to leave… which they did. I also realised then that they had a choice to STAY and let us and me swim with them. That for me was a profound epiphany. I was learning humility… and feeling so humbled that these magnificent creatures actually chose to stay and let me swim with them.