“If you are lucky, we might see dolphins.”

I’d heard this before and decided not to get my hopes up. Instead, I tried to be excited about the freedom of snorkeling. Just me, my camera, snorkel and fins rolling off the back of the zodiac into the open waters of The Red Sea.

As the warm Egyptian sun kissed my skin and the gentle waves cradled me, I couldn't shake the heavy weight of regret that hung in my heart. I had come here seeking solace in the turquoise depths, hoping to find redemption after my encounter with the captive dolphins in Mexico. There was a sadness in their eyes my soul could never forget.

Determined to seek forgiveness in the embrace of the ocean, I ventured out, away from the chatter of other snorkelers. I longed for a genuine connection, a moment of pure curiosity and playfulness.

Suddenly, a shadow darted past me stirring my fins. My heart quickened as I followed with my eyes scanning just below the waves. And then, there he was again—he stopped and looked at me and playfully rolled away. Enjoyment transcended as I rolled too – much less gracefully. Curiosity was alluring him, and we splashed and played a bit mimicking one another in a dance until he was gone as quickly as he had appeared. Too much like my human courtships.

Although disappointed I didn’t get a photograph, there was nothing that could replace the experience of the moment. Then another swoosh and he floated in front of me as though posing. I raised my camera, capturing the moment through a bokeh of bubbles and light. In that fleeting instant, as our eyes met through the lens, I felt a profound connection—a shared understanding that transcended words.

It was a perfect moment, a testament to the healing power of forgiveness, and the enduring bond between humanity and the sea.

I still daydream about the serenity of this moment in time and fall in love all over again.

This is available as a limited edition print in metal or acrylic ready to hang in your home or office.