LUCKIEST woman alive
COMPLETING A HALF MARATHON WAS AWESOME, BUT SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS CAPPED IT OFF
It was a perfect spring morning. We saw in the news that around the country, hail and rain were lashing both islands and, in fact, the forecast had been dire for our weekend in Kaikoura, but the weather gods had smiled on us. From the time we arrived on the Friday night, the weather had been beautiful – sunny, cold and clear.
Perfect conditions in which to run my first half marathon in 18 months. And even better conditions to head out to sea to swim with dolphins.
Every time I’ve been to Kaikoura, it’s been for work. I’ve never had the time to make the most of the town’s attractions. This time, however, it was for fun – if slogging your way around 21km can be classed as fun.
It’s certainly enjoyable crossing the finish line, and my friends and I celebrated our various physical achievements with crayfish sandwiches and Champagne.
That was fun too and they tasted all the better at a picnic table next to the sea. Three of us had booked to swim with the dolphins the day after our run and the day could not have been more perfect. Before we got on the water, however, we had to be fitted into wetsuits.
When the water is a chilly
10°C, not even a decent layer of middle-aged spread will keep you warm. We were kitted out with balaclavas, gloves, booties, wetsuits and jackets, as well as masks and snorkels, which made for great photo opportunities.
In the briefing before we headed off, we were warned that dolphins were wild and any encounters we had with them were on the mammal’s terms, not ours. We were promised that if we didn’t see so much as a dorsal fin, we would get our money back – which seemed very generous – and then we were off.
We were all charged with keeping our eyes peeled looking for dolphin pods and it was only about 10 minutes before we sighted the first group.
Fiona, our lovely guide, said the dolphins were jumping over the bow wave of the boat, which was encouraging. If they were playing with the boat, chances are they would play with us, she said.
The five of us who were going into the water – my friends and I, and two young Dutch tourists – assembled at the back of the boat and Fiona told us to call to the dolphins through our snorkels to encourage them to come to us. We slid into the water and after the first initial shock of the cold water against my face, I felt right at home.
I gave my best dolphin impersonation and I was instantly rewarded. A dolphin swam right up to me, then another and another. We were surrounded by the beautiful creatures who seemed to want to play tag. It was exhilarating and magical.
They spent about 40 minutes interacting with our group before they went on their way to do whatever it is that dolphins do on a beautiful Sunday morning.
I lay on my back in the water and looked at the snow-capped mountains rising into the crystal blue sky. It was like a postcard – then a dolphin leapt into the air and arced gracefully before diving back into the water.
In that moment, time stood still. Life could not have been more perfect and I felt like the luckiest woman alive.