Memoirs of Aleisha

Ticked off another of the Izu islands over the weekend – Miyakejima.
We camped on Miyakejima island, but went on a boat out to Mikurajima for some dolphin swimming.
Despite my burn injury I was determined to go on this trip. It had been in the works for a while and I had already paid for it, and I couldn’t not go and see dolphins.
We took the overnight ferry from Tokyo, and arrived on Miyakejima island at 5am. We got shuttled to the campsite, pitched up the tent, and after some bumming around and lunch, we went out for some dolphin swimming.

With the burn injury, I had resolved that I would not end up going in the water and would be confined to the boat which would have been a real shame. Much to my luck, I was able to rent a drysuit so I could at least get in the water for a quick dip.

I’ve never worn a dry suit before and geez, what an ordeal that was. It took TWO people to help me get into it. On top of that I had waterproofed up my burns. I did not want to think about getting out of the dry suit. I was afraid they might have to cut me out of it.

Anyway, the highlight of this camping trip was the heading out to Mikurajima to swim with dolphins. Mikurajima is a small island, home to only about 200 people, but what they lack in human numbers, is made up for with a population of about 100 or so dolphins that live in the waters surrounding the island.

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Mikurajima island:

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Feast your eyes (not your appetite) on these dolphins:

First up the underwater shots – which was a little tricky. It was pretty impossible to freedive in a drysuit. I was super bouyant and just floundering on the water’s surface. Some of the dolphins got quite close and even saw a couple of baby dolphins.

Mama dolphin and baby dolphin:

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

You can very faintly see the dolphin:

From Dolphin swimming

Two dolphins get close:

From Dolphin swimming

Spot the dolphin:

From Dolphin swimming

I couldn’t stay too long in the water, so eventually had to go back onto the boat. Got to see pods of dolphins.

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Why do dolphins have to look like sharks on the water’s surface. It’s deceptive!

From Dolphin swimming

Seven dolphins in the one frame:

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Some of the dolphins got real close alongside the boat:

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Humans in the water:

From Dolphin swimming

The dolphins come to play:

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Sun between the clouds:

From Dolphin swimming

From Dolphin swimming

Will definitely have to go back there at some point, when I am burn-free.