There’s no doubt that one of the key reasons divers love scuba diving is that they want to see incredible marine life. Witnessing some of the amazing marine species that live in our oceans first-hand is a phenomenal experience that can’t be rivaled by looking at pictures or viewing them through a device’s screen.
It’s these extraordinary moments that divers thrive on, and that’s why we’re sharing with non-divers some of our members’ most inspiring #LiveUnfiltered marine life encounters.
Let’s dive in:
Eric and Sonia: Humpback Whales
“There are those moments in life that are difficult to describe. They are so unlike anything else you have experienced that they leave you feeling overwhelmed, emotional, and dazed. They are larger than words or pictures can capture and somehow greater than just a physical encounter.
We recently visited Moorea, a trip we had been dreaming of for years, as it is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with the majestic humpback whale.
We went on a private tour with Moorea Ocean Adventures, a team of marine biologists and experienced boat captains that really put focus on respecting marine wildlife. We saw 3 adult whales traveling together from the boat, blowing rainbows and showing off their beautiful dorsal fins. What we did never imagine is what happened next. Our boat captain heard from another boat that there were 4 more whales traveling in the opposite direction from the other 3. He said he thought there was a chance the 7 of them would meet at the same point, so we were going to join the whale party.
We jumped into the deep blue ocean a few minutes later and swam for over 200 meters. Then a whale came from the abyss, followed by two more. And then 4 more whales joined, floating right underneath our feet. It was the most epic wildlife encounter we could have ever imagined.”
Check out PADI Travel’s French Polynesia Dive Guide here.
Leila: Whale Shark
“Koh Tao is far from unknown to divers, but its greatest selling point for us – incredibly warm waters apart – was the possibility of seeing a whale shark.
During fun dives each day, the dive masters warned us not to expect “the big spotty fish”! One morning, we ascend after an incredible dive to hear shouts from the boats: shark! We re-board our boat as quickly as possible to learn that the boat captain has heard via radio that the big spotted fish (whale shark) is at the wreck site. We changed our cylinders and re-donned our equipment. Going through the buddy checks, the excitement was tangible, mixed with worry that we would miss it. As we approach the site, other divers are ascending – not a great sign- and as we enter the water, they say it’s gone. My heart sinks until a divemaster shouts out: It’s here! We descend, and among the chaos of bubbles, I see it, the whale shark. Five meters long, its movements in the water are never threatening but rather hypnotic. As I feel tears rolling, I realize how essential diving is. Without it, I couldn’t have connected with nature as I did. We spend twenty minutes with the shark and, as it bids us goodbye, I am truly thankful, then realize I’ve forgotten my camera! But it’s okay. I know I can never forget this”.
By @reira_l15
Marina: Wreck Diving
“As I heard that there is a huge plane wreck lying on the bottom of the Red Sea in Aqaba, I immediately decided that I wanted to go diving there. The plane was undamaged, so it was possible to enter it and swim through it. Even the seats of the plane were still inside. As I was diving through the plane, it was full of marine life, and I even found skeletons in the cockpit and the toilet. Diving there was absolutely an incredible experience”.
Learn more about becoming a Wreck Diver here.
Tom: Hammerheads
“We left the dock early in the morning on a bright March day on San Cristobal Island, one of the three inhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We motored towards Leon Dormido, or Kicker Rock, a 150-meter lava cone composed of ancient volcanic ash towering above the ocean floor. The dive site features a channel that splits two parts of the cone, fostering a strong current and swim route around the site.
As we descended into the surprisingly chilly waters, I was enamored by the vibrant schools of fish, rocking fan corals, and occasionally white tip, blacktip, Galapagos, and hammerhead sharks that peeked at us for a moment before disappearing back into the deep blue.
We were drifting through the channel when gracefully swaying scalloped hammerheads slowly emerged from the blue horizon we were floating into. I was awed by the magnitude and beauty of the apex predators. I started recording mouth agape (at least slightly more open than usual) and adrenaline pumping.
I surfaced from the dive in reverence, grateful to witness one of the great migrations of life in our oceans. To this day, my experience diving with migratory hammerheads is my favorite underwater memory and one of my most stunning life experiences. It was incredible to witness the abundance of marine life supported by strong ocean stewardship practices in the Galapagos”.
By @tom_condon_
Discover the top 5 places to dive with hammerhead sharks here.
Janie: Dolphins
“Riding the zodiac with a group of 5 people and no real expectations, we enjoy the warm sun heating up our wetsuits and the marine breeze, but still no dolphins.
A few minutes before turning back, we suddenly saw a tiny fin near the horizon! I could not believe it. It was my first time seeing a dolphin!
With only our fins, mask, and snorkel, we jumped in the water to observe them. A whole pack of 10 to 12 beautiful dolphins came investigating us, curious!
Carefully, we were watching them with our eyes (*never touch marine life!!*).
They looked unreal. A curious one was swimming belly-up under me, a few meters down. They were swirling all around us and really seemed to be playing! I could hear their sounds, like underwater singing. Suddenly, one came right at me and started to do circles around me, looking at me closely, interested. At that very moment, we were looking at each other, and words cannot describe the connection I felt. I did not move an inch; I just filmed the moment while enjoying this privileged encounter”.
Check out the 10 best places to swim and dive with dolphins here.
Have you got some incredible marine life encounters of your own that you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear about them!
Educate your non-diving friends and family on the benefits of the #LiveUnfiltered mindset and the benefits of learning to dive. You can also get your PADI Open Water Diver certification if you’re not yet certified.
Learn to dive = Live Unfiltered
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