© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

I had the experience of a lifetime during a wonderful trip let by Scott Portelli to the Falkland Islands. Scott recently won Wildlife Photographer of the year and his work is stellar. He's also a wonderful leader who only helps and never gets in the way. I highly recommend him. His site is Swimming with Gentle Giants.

I wasn't prepared or planning to get into the water while in the Falklands. I got in twice, once when a wave took me out while I was trying to set up a GoPro to catch Gentoo Penguins jumping from the sea onto the rocks.

On this occasion, Scott and Markus Davids, another professional underwater photographer, had just come back from swimming with some baby Elephant Seals. On another part of the island National Geographic was filming Orca's having them for lunch! Scott encouraged me to borrow his gear and go out for a swim, assuring me it was safe. I jumped at the chance and boy was I happy I did. It was a little scary being approached by these large animals but being the trusting soul that I am, although sometimes getting frisky, they bore me no ill will and finally got tired of playing with me and went off to nap again. Thanks Scott, I can't thank you enough!

Tags:   Scott Portelli Swimming with Gentle Giants Elephant Seals juveniles Falkland Islands underwater

© All Rights Reserved

Tags:   fish goldfish Osprey Nemo sky food bird animal Reinink Earl Reinink ADUDIDEDHU

© All Rights Reserved