Kelcey Chandler-Yates and Jim Yates present...

UnderSeaPhotoVideo.com

July 18, 2004

July 18, 2004-whales

For the past 5 days every other day I have been going out on the local whale watching boat and videoing whales. The first day I saw snapping pushing and prodding between 6-8 males over a female. The second time I saw a male and a female swimming together, the male being one I have videoed a few days prior and then today I saw a lone male spy hopping, breaching and diving.
The second time out Jim swam with them and videoed them swimming with in feet. Fantastic!-What a life

July 22, 2004-whales

Now on My fifth time with the whales I was invited out to see the whales with Jon and Hollie on the boat Fluke. We saw jousting and jostling and rough housing and breaching and we saw a mother and calf with an escort. Once again swimming with them eluded me as Jen had never been in the water and Hollie wanted to go in with her-there will be other times!! I hope!! All season!! -Anyhow Jen got in with them and that was our goal today!! It was the best day of my life-barring good ole motherhood things!!

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July 28, 2004-Swim with pregnant whale!

Ok as I said the other day-the best and right up there with holding my new borns-today I slipped into the water to experience a lifetime of joy. The whale (whom we named Christopher as it was Chris' first time even seeing a whale) was sitting there looking eye to eye with me. Luckily the camera was on as I could not take my eye from her. She looked very unreal with her barnacles and wrinkled face. Her eye which looked to me like a saucer, was actually very small for her body but powerful as the wind. She kept staring at me as she did barrel rolls one-way and then another. The current continued to push me towards her and when I was too close she gently fanned her tail towards me and slithered several feet away. Never did I feel danger but instead awe at her graceful power.

August 15th 2004-whales

Not much else in our life but whales these days-whale watching, whale tales, whale videos and even whale dreams!! Today was again one of those best days ever as Nicholas came with me on whale song. First sighting we found a mother with her calf. She was very inquisitive and after 20 or so minuets of letting her get used to the boat 4 guests and I filed into the water with extreme care. The less movements we make the better especially with a calf present. Our caution paid off as we were privileged to experience 45 minutes in the water, Nick and I side by side while the mother who now seemed to trust me, pushed her calf closer and closer until he was within inches of my lens! Nicks eyes were as big as saucers! I gather mine were also especially when the mother swam towards us lifting her pectoral fin up and over our heads as she swam past only to turn around and look at us from the other side!. I am guessing we are as interesting to her as she is to us! That night it began to rain and while Jim closed the hatch above Nick's bed he bumped him. "Here's the camera mom, here's the camera!! He exclaimed. ----What a day!!