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Dancing with Dolphins
Date: 09/16/2004Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, has several small islands lying just off its eastern end. In the six years we've called Roatan our home my wife and I have never ventured out to these less-accessible parts, so we decided to rent a boat and captain from Bay Islands Beach Resort and do some exploring.
Our group of 10 adventurers set off for a day of diving and discovery. About an hour from our launch, we rounded the tip of Santa Helene and passed between Morat and Barbareta, tropical islands which had us looking for signs of Robinson Crusoe even though, according to legend, the western island of Utila was his domain.
We jumped into the clear blue sea for a beautiful dive in pristine areas of coral and abundant fish. Our next stop was to be the Midget Cays, two tiny spots of sand and coconut trees with no apparent reason for their existence--but we were interrupted by one of those magical moments some people are lucky enough to experience in a lifetime. A pod of 20 or so dolphins swam around us as we motored through the waves; they jumped and played with the boat, and showed us their babies as they learned to play. My wife quickly donned mask, fins, and snorkel and jumped into their midst. For 20 minutes she swam and watched as these magnificent creatures played and danced with her. To say it was a defining moment in her life is to underemphasize the emotion.
It's still hard for us to believe we live in such a beautiful place, where every day brings a new experience and a new appreciation for our world. Later, as I sat on the tiny beach of Midget Cay and gazed at the other small cays over the water, my mind wandered briefly to thoughts of sand traps and golf courses…but nothing can compare to watching my wife dancing with the dolphins.
Ron Goben
For International Living in Honduras
E-mail: Honduras@InternationalLiving.com
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