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Majesty in the Sea
Day
in and day out, surfers and all ocean enthusiasts are
privileged to share the ocean experience with the real
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. One of the many joys surfers experience
is playing in the waves among nature's wildlife and
being in the real "sea world." The ocean is
the world's largest aquarium.
California's brown pelicans use the updraft of incoming
waves to surf their way up and down the coast. Smoothly
soaring across the waves, pelicans form a line and draft
off each other. Each 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 will abruptly rise up and over
the wave descending onto the next wave without 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 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 in the waves.
Seals will pop their heads up and check out the action
before going for deep-water dives. Their brown fur and
big brown eyes make them 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. Stingrays just want to be
left alone. It's when an unsuspecting swimmer or surfer
steps on a ray when trouble occurs.
When stepped on, a ray will react with a powerful and
painful sting as a self-defense mechanism. If swimmers
and surfers don't bother a ray, it won't bother them.
Of all the sea creatures we can learn from, perhaps
the stingray offers humans a great lesson on how to
treat others: Try not to step on anyone's 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 on a board. If you have ever tried to catch
up with a swimming whale, you know it is impossible.
Amazingly, whales have been sighted extremely close
to shore and on occasion have surfaced right next to
surfers.
Being 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 nature's largest
mammal. Ask Del Mar local Vincent Duprat, who recently
was surprised by an encounter with a whale while surfing
24th Street. Surfers fortunate to experience such a
rare harmonic convergence with a whale will remember
the experience the rest of their life.
Possibly the most frequent encounter surfers 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 alongside 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.
Surfers and ocean swimmers are privileged to witness
and be a part of all nature's creatures and nature's
divine splendor. 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 wouldn't
be the same without you. Sea you in the Surf!
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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