Reunion Island, France
A unique squad of researchers is freediving alongside dolphins & whales to report their complex communication organisation inwards novel ways never seen before. We joined them on the water.
Fabrice Schnoller is a human being on a mission. He’s attempting to get together amazing novel data for dolphin in addition to whale research. But he’s non a scientist, he’s an engineer.
His squad has built an underwater 3-D photographic boob tube camera alongside high-end microphones to capture complex communication betwixt these incredible marine mammals from all directions. They’re able to distinguish which animate beingness is creating which audio using sophisticated software.
By sending freedivers into the sea without noisy scuba gear or remote submarines, they tin terminate tape intimate moments alongside exceptional non possible before. With aid from researchers from the University of Paris, the squad hopes to essay these intelligent creatures are truly talking to each other inwards their ain language.
In time, peradventure fifty-fifty decode a chip of what they’re saying!
Based on Reunion Island, Fabrice took us out looking for whales in addition to dolphins inwards the Indian Ocean.
Sailing The Hnoss
Our adventure started on board the beautiful Hnoss, an fourscore twelvemonth old Norwegian whaling boat restored to its onetime glory — right away used for watching whales rather than harpooning them.
The sails were dropped in addition to nosotros took to the sea keeping an centre out for pods of dolphins or humpback whales that mightiness live arriving, every bit whale flavour was starting. If weather were merely right, nosotros mightiness fifty-fifty live able to boundary inwards the H2O alongside them!
After a few hours of searching in addition to laying some on the deck inwards the sun, nosotros finally spied a pod of dolphins swimming some a few boats inwards the distance. We changed class to accept a look.
Dolphins Off The Port Bow
It was a solid unit of measurement of spinner dolphins, peradventure virtually xx of them. They happened to dear the large profile of our wooden sailing ship to a greater extent than than others, in addition to swam correct upwards every bit nosotros approached.
I was inwards the perfect position, hanging depression from a internet inwards front end of the bow.
One grouping divide off in addition to swam dorsum in addition to forth correct below me, where I managed to get a nifty photo. Because at that spot were other boats some us though, nosotros couldn’t piece of job into the H2O alongside them.
Swimming alongside dolphins or whales inwards the opened upwards sea isn’t easy. There are rules. You can’t chase them downwardly in addition to await them to stick around. They must approach you, in addition to live curious (and comfortable) plenty to permit y'all hang out.
Freediving With Whales?
While I was excited to reckon the dolphins upwards close, I truly wanted to swim alongside them. Or fifty-fifty better, swim alongside a whale. But these things accept fourth dimension in addition to lots of patience.
Typical trips tin terminate lastly 3 or 4 days, the fourth dimension it takes for a exceptional grouping of animals to larn used to the boat in addition to non swim away. Remember, non also long agone nosotros were hunting whales. Some people all the same are. They’re wary of humans.
After changing my go plans, I had extra fourth dimension on the island, in addition to asked Fabrice if I could bring together him to essay again. He agreed to accept me out on the query boat alongside his team.
His “team” turned out to live 4 beautiful French mermaids, iii of them freediving experts. That solitary made my day.
Whale Watching Reunion
We motored out deep into choppy seas looking for the spout or splash of a whale. Fabrice whipped out an underwater microphone to nous for the tell-tale clicks or singing that tin terminate live heard from miles away.
Not only are whales the largest animals on Earth, they’re also the loudest.
We didn’t take away heed whatever whale sounds, but it didn’t accept long earlier nosotros eventually spied a gigantic tail ascent out of the H2O in addition to brand a splash inwards the distance.
Now comes the tricky part. Attempting to present this magnificent creature that nosotros hateful it no harm.
You Can’t Always Win
Unfortunately this exceptional whale didn’t desire to hang out. We merely got unopen plenty for it to reckon us, hoping it was curious plenty to swim over on its own.
It was early on inwards the flavour though, in addition to whales are all the same shy some boats.
After flashing a few glimpses of tail, our whale took a deep breath in addition to pigeon into the depths for an underwater nap. The waves began picking upwards in addition to clouds were moving in, then nosotros decided to caput dorsum towards calmer waters in addition to freedive for fun earlier calling it a day.
Until adjacent time, my underwater friends. ★
THINK! Whale Documentary
Fabrice in addition to his squad are trying to crowd-fund a novel query expedition in addition to documentary pic similar null you’ve ever seen before. Imagine a 3D virtual reality experience, turning your caput to spotter sperm whales communicate in addition to interact alongside y'all from all directions, inwards the comfort of your home.
There are only a few days left, in addition to they receive got some nifty incentives to donate. Like a re-create of the completed movie, or fifty-fifty a adventure to bring together them on the expedition!
Learn to a greater extent than virtually this projection or donate yourself on the Indie GoGo Page.
Location: Reunion Island, France
Company: Escursia Voyager Curieux
Accommodation: Cases Couleurs
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to aid y'all start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a go backpack, photographic boob tube camera gear, in addition to other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to honor deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I honor the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a nifty site for comparison motorcar prices to honor the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than virtually how I majority inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than virtually why y'all should ever comport go insurance.
Enjoy This Post? Pin It!
Do y'all receive got a favorite animate beingness run into from your travels? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
#GoToReunion is made possible inwards partnership alongside iAmbassador in addition to Reunion Island Tourism. As always, the content & opinions expressed hither are solely my own.
Sumber lksmadrasah.blogspot.com
