Red Sea Merfolk

Rob Aarsen & Daniel Scott · Issue 135, Nov/Dec 2023 · pp. 46–49

Products mentioned: Nikon D810, Nikon D600, Nikon 16-35mm lens, Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, Sea&Sea YS-D3 strobes, Nikon Speedlight SB-5000

Dolphin!!! – Rob Aarsen A loud cry can be heard across an otherwise empty Red Sea: ‘Dolphin!!!’ I quickly gather my gear and step overboard. This can’t be…, can it? I swim away from the MY Big Blue and wait to see if he shows up. Suddenly a beautiful gray animal overtakes me at top speed. He had sneaked up behind me and is now playfully circling around me. First I take a good look, then start taking pictures. He gives me a penetrating look back from up close. “Zapped” by a dolphin, that’s what it feels like. In the meantime, a few others have joined so that the dolphin has more people to play with. Not everyday divers but snorkelers with a large fin on their feet. Dolphin seems intrigued by these creatures that look a bit like himself but then again not. First Lisa is inspected up close. A thrilling encounter between human and animal. After a few laps, Dolphin dives to the bottom where w…