First there were three, then four, then six spotted dolphins catching up with National Geographic Quest, slipping in front of the bow and riding an unseen wave pushed out from the front of the ship. It was like a perpetual wave in an amusement park, requiring no admission ticket and lasting for as long as the dolphins wanted to play.
As compelling as this spectacle was for the early rising guests, it was not without competition. Off the stern, the new sun reached through the trees of a nearby island with long, slender fingers tickling the silvery sea below, accompanied by dark gray clouds above.
Small groups of guests and staff gathered at each end of the ship, some journeying back and forth taking photos, afraid of missing any magical moment. Had our day ended with the sun disappearing behind the clouds and dolphins slipping away unseen in the brine, nobody present would have complained. Such was the completeness of the moment.
Of course, the day did not end at 7:00 this morning but continued, including snorkeling with whitetip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, and a playful encounter with a pair of curious capuchin monkeys. It was a full and wonderful day.
