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Aquatic
Close Encounters
Day in and
Day out, surfers and all ocean enthusiasts are privileged
to share the ocean experience with real bona fide locals
?? sea creatures. Wave gliding pelicans, wave riding
dolphins, whales, seals, sea gulls, stingrays and the
rest of the sea creatures live and play freely on and
in the deep blue sea and have forever. One of the many
joys surfers experience is playing in the waves amongst
naturefs wild life and being in the real sea world.
The ocean
is the worldfs largest aquarium. Californiafs brown
pelicans use the updraft of incoming waves to surf their
way up and down the coast. Smoothly soaring across open-faced
waves, pelicans form a line drafting off each other.
Each individual pelican takes their turn in the front,
breaking the wind for those following. They will sail
along until a wave begins to collapse at which point
the lead pelican, followed by the others, will abruptly
rise up and over the wave descending onto the next open-faced
wave following behind it and continue gliding on with
out ever missing a beat.
Humans can learn by observing how well pelicans cooperate,
work together and take turns leading. Without saying
a word, somehow the rear pelicans know instinctively
when to rise up and take the lead. Pelicans are beautiful,
and with their distinctive beaks and size, are like
no other sea birds. Surfers are fortunate in that they
are offered the opportunity to see these magnificent
creatures up-close and in action. Hanging with pelicans
is really cool.
Seals often make surprise appearances amongst the waves
and surfers. Seals will pop their heads up and check
out the action before going down for deepwater dives.
With their brown color and big brown eyes they look
like puppy dogs in the water. Unlike pelicans who often
travel together seals seem to be much more individualists.
Many young surfers show extreme delight upon seeing
their first seal up close and in the wild. Seals appear
to enjoy watching surfers as much as surfers enjoy seeing
seals.
Stingrays are often misunderstood. Many swimmers and
surfers fear an encounter with a ray. The truth of the
matter is stingrays are not aggressive; they are not
out there to attack humans. Actually stingrays just
want to be left unmolested and alone. Itfs when an
unsuspecting swimmer or surfer steps on a ray, when
trouble occurs. When stepped on, a ray will inflict
a powerful and painful sting on a victim as a self defense
mechanism. If swimmers and surfers donft bother a ray,
it wonft bother them. Of all the sea creatures we can
learn from perhaps the stingray offers humans the greatest
lesson on how to treat others. Try not to step on anyonefs
toes.
Perhaps the most majestic of all sea creatures are migrating
whales. Although many times larger than humans, whales
offer no threat to anyone. Surfers who spot whales in
the distance would be hard pressed to catch up for a
closer look. Whales can swim incredibly fast when compared
to a surfer paddling a board. If you have ever tried
to catch up with a swimming whale then you know, it
is humanly impossible. Amazingly whales have been sighted
extremely close to shore and on occasion have surfaced
right next to surfers. Being up close and right next
to a full sized whale in its free and natural habitat
is absolutely awesome. Nothing compares with being in
the water, up so close to naturefs largest mammal,
a whale. Ask Del Mar local Vincent Duprat who recently
was surprised by a close-up encounter with a whale while
surfing 24th street. Surferfs fortunate enough to experience
such a rare harmonic convergence with a whale are guaranteed
to remember the experience the rest of their life.
Possibly the most frequent encounter surferfs have
with sea creatures are the local dolphins. As if on
a dolphin holiday, many times dolphins will join right
in the fun surfing waves right along side of surfers.
Sometimes during extra playful moods dolphins will leap
high out of the water doing flips as if in a celebration
of life. Surfers who are lucky to be near the dancing
dolphins will witness an aquatic aerial display like
no other, completely unrehearsed and natural - the best
kind.
Indeed surfers and ocean swimmers are privileged to
witness and be a part of all natures creatures and naturefs
divine splendor. Day in and day out, humans use the
ocean as guests of all the wondrous and mysterious sea
creatures. If humans can learn to get along with each
other as well as the sea creatures get along with humans,
the world will be a better place. Thank you sea creatures,
for contributing immensely to a more enriching and fascinating
world of ocean life and for sharing it unselfishly with
all. Surfing wouldnft be the same with out you.
To further explore and learn more about naturefs amazing
sea life and the fascinating world under the sea check
out the Stephen Birch aquarium and the Scripps institute
of oceanography in La Jolla.
The Willis
Bros. are surfing experts recognized for surfing the
worlds largest waves and teaching thousands in Hawaii
and California to surf.
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