On the smaller days I like to take my stand up paddle board along the coast and surf the reef’s. North County San Diego has some of the most unreal reefs that are guarded by the cliffs and are usually un-crowded. I can make really good time by surfing rights all the way down the coast and then surfing the lefts back up. On a beautiful day in January when the waves were maybe 2-3 foot, I went out at Swami’s. After saying hi to a couple of friends, I caught one left and headed up the coast. After a couple of good waves at Boneyards I came across one of the largest pod of dolphins I had ever encountered. Usually I will see two or three at a time, however this time there were twenty plus including six or so babies.

The dolphins were really active and energized. They were jumping, splashing, and play wrestling with each other. I paddled into the middle of the pod and was surrounded immediately by the young ones. The parent’s stayed back some 10 or so yards as the babies began to swim all around my board and under it. The young dolphins began talking in that voice we have all heard on TV or at Sea World. I whistled back at them and one nudged my board. This amazed and scared me a bit as I thought if they knocked me off I might get rammed by the parents thinking that I was a threat. I decided to chance it knowing how friendly dolphins are, I whistled again and they nudged my board once more. It really seemed as though they were communicating with me and really wanted to play.

Each time I would whistle the baby dolphins would tap my board or swim back and forth very quickly directly under me. When I would stop they would come up along side of me and swim parallel to my board. This awesome experience went on for over a half an hour as I paddled my board up the coast towards Moonlight beach. The sun was out and the water was crystal clear and the ocean was glassy calm. I was thinking to myself how after nearly 30 years of surfing I had never had such an experience or encounter in the ocean like this. Stand up paddle surfing certainly brings a new element to getting out and enjoying the waves.

I could have played all day with this pod of dolphins but unfortunately the parents decided otherwise and moved off and their kids followed. I surfed the rights back up to Swami’s and told my story to a couple of friends. From now on I take a camera with me, hoping to chase dolphins again and snap a couple pictures.

(Matt DeLine  is  Registered Investment Advisor in San Diego, CA.
DeLine Wealth Magagement Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

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