We set off on Alan and Trish’s boat, a 12 metre aluminium monohull.  The Investigator is a fine boat, a luxury craft compared to most of the dive boats one encounters.  It is also used for fishing charters.  Our destination was only a few miles away, at the entrance to Baird Bay.  Here lay Jones Island where the sea lions bred, and where a number of birds also found a safe haven.  We saw both sooty and pied oystercatchers, gulls, terns, and pelicans.  Alan said that the island also had ground parrots on it.  As we arrived, the sea lions watched us from shore.  We transferred to a smaller dinghy, and Alan took us into a natural pool area surrounded by rocks.  Now, Trish had forewarned us that this was great white shark territory.  I had always said that only a crazy person would go swimming with seals in South Australia, given that seals are a favoured food of great white sharks.  And here I was, doing what I had said I would never do.  It certainly seemed safe enough.  A natural reef ran to the sides of the island, and it was very unlikely that a deep water shark would come into the shallows-—or so we told ourselves.  In any case, the sea lions were by the side of the boat, and it was clear they wanted us to join them as soon as possible.  We all went in for a snorkel, and soon several sea lions were swimming all around us, literally soaring through the water with the greatest of ease.  It was simply delightful, and I was laughing underwater at their antics.  If we dove down, they would dive down too, arching and bending in front of us.  One took a liking to the dome port on Steve’s underwater camera housing, and probably seeing his reflection, kept coming in for a closer look.  Alan had told us stories of previous encounters when some of the sea lions would play fetch with you if you threw them a rock.  In summer, the rocks surrounding this natural pool are exposed, and young sea lions would often nuzzle right up to visitors.  I had the most wonderful time.

After reluctantly getting out of the water, we got back onto the Investigator, and headed over to our next snorkelling spot.  This time Trish went in the water with us, she was wearing a shark pod to repel any unwelcome visitors.  A shark pod is a small pack that divers wear, and when switched on, it sends out an electrical pulse that deters sharks.  The dolphins were waiting for us as we all jumped in the water, and they put on a show that was amazing.  They swam under and around us, I was dizzy trying to follow their movements.  A group of about eight was there, and they seemed to be having fun checking us out.  We were soon joined by a sea lion that took a few nibbles of my dive booties, and Alan told us later that his name was Chompers.  Chompers loved to chomp on things, and both Steve and I were honoured that he had chosen our footwear as his chomp for the day.  When we could bear the cold no longer, we climbed back on the boat.  Everyone was euphoric with what they had seen, and we all chattered away excitedly.  It was most unusual to look out on the water and see the dolphins, while just on the shore near us were sheep grazing in pastures.  As we motored back, the dolphins followed us, riding on the bow wave of the boat and surfing on the wake.  What amazing creatures these dolphins are, so adept and adapted to their environment.

The Baird Bay Eco Experience was fantastic, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.  One of the journalists on board with us said it was the best tour he had ever done.  In summertime, one has a very good chance of seeing numerous sea lions in the water.  The water temperature is warmer then as well; September through May is the best season.  We went in June, and still had what we thought was a marvellous encounter.  For more information about Baird Bay, look up their website on: www.bairdbay.com or email Alan and Trish Payne on sealions@bigpond.com.  Tel: 08-8626-5017.  They also have 2 beautiful rammed earth apartments where you can stay and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Baird Bay.