The Hawaii I was Hoping For

I took two days after shooting wrapped to see some of the Big Island. (I feel a little weird using such a familiar term for such a new place, but I also don't like names that don't really say where you are ... such as "I'm going to Africa." Anyway.) I found Brett LeMaster's company Mele Nai'a through some sort of web search, and I had some great email conversations with his partner Leina before I left Miami. To be honest, all I needed to know was Brett's reputation as a freediver and see the photos of False Killer Whales on their website to know that I wanted to dive with them. I REALLY made the right decision! Spinner dolphins is the basis of their business, and we had just found a pod on Monday morning when Brett got a call about some Pilot whales logging on the surface. Before slipping in the water in front of the slowly moving pod, Brett casually warned me about Oceanic Whitetips that often travel with the whales. And as I sat in blue water waiting for the whales to pass, the first thing I saw come out of the distance was a shark. As it got bigger, I consciously told myself to be ready for an aggressive shark. And it was aggressive, in a slightly disinterested way. On that first pass, I had to stick my fin in it's face to send a message, and I know I was nervous because I didn't think to shoot the shark just behind my fins. It was nice to turn and see Brett behind me. But after that, the sharks were turned simply by eye contact, and I have to admit that I was wishing them just a little closer, just a little closer. Wow are they incredible! Such huge fins. Such amazing color. I have wanted to get in the water with an Oceanic Whitetip for a long time now. I can't believe how seemingly easily is happened.