After a three month debacle of gradually replacing 3 housemates (new housemate interviews are the worst), we have a wonderful new family in Brisbane. I’m happy, they’re happy, and no one ever has to move house again.
Or at least for a year. Please.
Life here in Brissy has been slow and steady. Luckily our state of Queensland has opened back up and mostly resumed normalcy. Restaurants and bars are inviting people in, concerts are happening (albeit, the dancing police are on hot patrol implementing Footloose-ian measures), and people are getting back into the swing of things.
While it’s odd having to sign-in to restaurants and to take a sanitizer bath prior to playing a game of intramural ultimate frisbee, I’m grateful that we have the opportunity to go outside, unlike friends down in Melbourne and many other parts of the world.
I’ve embraced things being open by exploring my corner of this big island home. One of those expeditions being a bucket list item of swimming with humpback whales.
You can find licenced humpback swimming in just a few places in the world: the middle of the Pacific Ocean in Tonga, the desolate reaches of Western Australia’s Exmouth, in the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean Sea, or, an hour north of my house in Brisbane.
After learning about this opportunity and the knowledge that it was currently whale season, I called up my friend Kat, scheduled a day off, and booked in the tour. After getting rebooked twice due to rough conditions, the third time was the charm. Finally we got the go ahead to take to the ocean.
After driving up the coast, we hopped on a boat with 10 other whale enthusiasts and got to looking for some whale blows. After an hour and a half of searching, we had spotted a dolphin, some kelp, and the ever-elusive glare that tricks you into thinking you see something. However, just before giving up hope the skipper called out from the deck.
Two whales, straight ahead!
Quick as we could, we flapped on our flippers and struck on our snorkels, and once given the go ahead, plopped ourselves into the ocean.
Being in such close proximity, knowing where to swim was obviously easy when the whales were above the water. However, things got a little more difficult when they dove beneath us.
Growing up to 7 times the height of Shaq, these behemoths are a marvel to watch both above and below the water. Playfully breaching, we spent the next 2 hours swimming around with them and some dolphins who wanted to join in on the action.
As visibility was only a few meters, each time the humpbacks went back under we scanned the big blue, eagerly anticipating where they’d pop up next. At one point, I was surprised by a whale swimming directly up, 10 feet in front of me for a spyhop (when they breach vertically to have a look at their surroundings).
Excitedly telling everyone around me to look as it surfaced, our guide began beating me over the head with a life preserver telling me to move back. For me, the adrenaline was pumping. For her, too close for comfort!
Fair enough.
After more than a fair share of fun with these beautiful animals, we lazily made our way back home. Happy and tired, it was a day perfectly spent.
Life besides whales has been kicking on. Camping, planning out Christmas, fretting that the grocery store has again run out of frozen mangoes. Nothing too exciting just yet.
Hopefully as restrictions begin to ease, one day soon we can again explore exotic lands and meet fascinating new people.
But in the meantime…who knows what adventures might be right by your doorstep?
As always, I’d love to hear from you! How are things in your city? Can’t wait to chat next.
Zev
