: Here's a link to my video, posted on Facebook, of a pod of about
: 100 dolphins that swam past me November 11, 09 when I was
: paddling back from Anacapa Island across the Santa Barbara
: Channel.

:
: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=102701719749955&ref=mf

I had a similar giant pod of dolphins pass me a couple of years ago. Many of them within touching distance, though I didn't.

I had my camera with me but left it in its case. I kind of felt I wanted to see them without a viewfinder in the way. Next time I will get some shots though. I regretted not getting some afterwards.

I had the feeling that by the time the pod had reached me they had my number: size, density, pathetic speed capability, etc. They were so clued in to me by sonar that they had completely discounted me as any kind of potential threat and more or less ignored me, apart from the odd eyeball in my direction. I was amazed when a mother allowed her baby to pass within paddle-reach of me with her on the outside and paid me no heed.

All together a most amazing and quite humbling experience.

Et