News & Events
Melding with the Source Mind
By Andrew Eric Parker© Dec 08
DolphCom’s Whale Song Play-shop Haano Island Ha’apai Tonga August 2008
Today was our day off. Whale Song Ha’apai Tonga 2008 had been hugely successful thus far. Of the first group 14 participants from five different countries had travelled vast distances to experience the beautiful Tongan culture and idyllic island lifestyle while journeying to meet the southern hemisphere Humpback whales who travel 10,000 plus kilometers on their annual migration to the sacred site of protected Tongan reefs and shallows to mate, gather, sing and give birth to the next generation of whales.
Here under the expert guidance of New Zealand’s own Whale man, Glenn Edney of Happy Ha’apai divers my groups were having a whale of a time, meeting and surpassing their own expectations and actually swimming in open waters with these gentle leviathans. For the past 3 days we had taken the 41 foot ocean catamaran ‘Cat Knapp’ on many miles of ocean, we had snorkeled the most beautiful reefs I have ever seen, passed uninhabited island paradises, surround by unexplored reefs in abundant seas. Together we had left our usual lives far behind in London, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Australia and had found what we were looking for.
Here in Tonga the remnants of a once mighty family return each year, following the song lines, navigating vast distances to return to the energetic vortexes of the Tongan trench. The waters are filled with a cacophony of sound as huge amounts of information are transmitted via the waves and dense liquid mediums. Here we came to meld with the source mind. Minds of an ancient lineage. Minds containing the information of the evolutionary progress of millennia! 30,000,000 years of wisdom!
Having met and played with our hosts and teachers, these southern Humpbacks myself Andrew, Peter Cummings a NSW registered barrister, his daughter Isobel and our dive-master Jen and two Tongan deck hands took Glenn’s dive boat Mohe Vai (sleepy water) out to the reefs off Ha’ano Island to the north of our home base Foa to explore the underwater paradise on scuba.
Descending the anchor mooring we found ourselves on a large coral bombora. Waiting at the bottom for my buddies to arrive, I peer into the depths of the drop off toward the deep blue just in time to see a large nurse shark rapidly making its escape from the menacing bubble creatures. I spent long minutes cruising along the drop off amazed at the prolific life this area supports. Tonga is a largely untouched wonderland of bio-diversity and the quality of corals and abundance of life make this a diver’s paradise. Our time passed and our dive ended, we returned to the dive boat for our surface interval, (the time allotted to divers to flush excess nitrogen from the bloodstream) before commencing another dive. We laughed and joked, at Lucy’s pumpkin scones for the 7th day in a row until we heard the blow.
Two whales were barely 50 meters of our bow in the deep blue of the drop off. Our adrenaline surged, it was a mother and calf and they were coming toward us. The captain got on the two-way to Glenn who was many miles away on Cat Knapp and we asked the question “Can we”? Glenn holds licenses for both boats and the jubilant answer was if the whales are happy for us to be around them then YES we can!!
Jen, myself, Pete and Issy were in our mask and fins in a few moments and together we very gently eased our way over the side so as not to disturb or frighten the pair. Together we moved as one, away from the boat into the deep blue. There was no wind, the water was very calm and clear and we listened, peering into the abyss searching. Then he came. The baby, not so small either. He was a yearling, quite a healthy young bloke too. He confidently swam over to us and broadsided, giving us the good once over and promptly disappeared.
This game of cat and mouse went on for 20 minutes or so. He would come and surface quite close, roll to his side or appear behind us and blow to attract our attention then disappear. His mother was nowhere to be seen the entire time. He left us for what appeared to be the last time and we began to make our way to the boat. Then she appeared deep down and rising slowly, ever so slowly…
The mother glided out of the deep blue of the drop off, rising like a submarine parallel to the surface and stopped barely six meters from my face. Our eyes met and locked, I felt her searching me, looking into my very soul. Her child, the young male who had been playing with us as she obviously kept an eye on proceedings from a safe distance, slowly slid around her massive streamlined head and slipped under her gently coming to rest under her belly with his tail protruding rather comically from under her mouth.
As we held each other’s gaze and I felt myself connect with a being so immensely wise and loving, her eyes softened with a mother’s love and her immense pectoral fins slowly and gently embraced her child..
I had been told years ago to always be respectful when approaching whales and dolphins. I had until then always kept my hands behind me or to my sides, never reaching or attempting to grab. As I watched her embrace her child and melded with her eyes I lost all sense of self. I became one with her; there was nothing, no outwards sounds, and the dense water medium warm like a womb. I felt safe and loved, held in her eyes as she physically held her baby. It was then I took a chance. Slowly I brought my arms from my side and brought them out in front of me, cupping them in an embrace, mimicking her embracing her son.
Time stood still as she watched me watching her. I then slowly moved my arms out straight, with a slight pause our gaze locked together so did she. My heart began beating in my chest, she knows me I felt. She feels our connection and she wants to show me. I moved my arms forward both at once. Again she moved her beautiful arms as I did, forward. Oh my God her eyes never left mine for instant, ecstatic waves of joy pulsed through my body, seen by such a being. I took another chance. I moved one hand forward and one hand backward in a deliberate move, offsetting, and opposite, difficult. This immense being mirrored my move exactly, I can’t begin to tell you how I felt, and there are no words that can describe this feeling of profound connection, of actual communication without words.
Something was happening; her eyes left mine and moved nervously. What had I done? Had I upset her with my monkey like attempts of understanding? She and her child began to move, purposely, intently away, surfacing to blow and picking up speed the moment had ended. I breathed deeply and raised my head. A big German fellow with long brown hair on a surf ski with two young ladies came past us paddling like crazy, whooping and splashing as he charged after the departing mother and calf. He just wanted what we had, closeness, and intimacy. Forgive us for we know not what we do
Time had stood still, 40 minutes had passed in this interaction, twice the time of the first encounter and I had been oblivious to all. We climbed on board, laughing, hugging each other. My companions had been with me the whole time, had seen the entire connection marveling at the level with which we had actually communicated.
Sometimes you are given gifts of experience. Gifts that change our lives, a chance encounter, a glance, an unexpected windfall that alters our course forever. This was one of those moments and I choose to share it with you now.
Andrew Parker owns DolphCom Solutions. An adventure training company taking people on life changing adventures in amazing locations worldwide to meet dolphins and whales.
You can find out about his programs to Tonga or Australia by visiting www.dolphcom.com.au
Atlantis Road Part II
Little did I know exactly what waited on this journey to the fabled Atlantis Road? I knew in my heart as I booked the flights many months ago this would be big, life changing. This journey was to connect me with legends of the dolphin / human world. Traversing the Pacific Ocean commenced an odyssey, to meet pioneers of dolphin / human therapies, observe the latest breakthroughs in human technology deciphering the holographic picture language of cetaceans. Return to the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas and the cheeky spotted dolphins of Atlantis road and marvel at the contrast of fast paced Hollywood where I reconnected with a beautiful dolphin researcher and filmmaker exploring the song in the sea….Read more
UK Dolphins in Atlantis
Being a long time supporter of International Dolphin Watch http://www.idw.org I was excited to be given the opportunity to attend, observe and film the up-coming Bimini open water dolphin assisted therapy program created by Jackie Connell and her professional team in the U.K called Operation Sunshine.
To attend events and being Australian usually means traveling great distances from our isolated and very beautiful continent down under. To ensure the best use of such a high quantity of carbon burned to attend, I designed a journey that would connect me with as many legends of the dolphin world as possible. Legends like Dr Horace Dobbs, the founder of Operation Sunflower and undisputed father of open water dolphin assisted therapy. I visited Deena & Peter Hoagland of Island Dolphin Care the most advanced, modern and loving dolphin assisted therapy centre in the world, I’ll share a lot more about this amazing facility and the people involved in the issues and months to come.
Let’s speak dolphin
Making my way north of the Keys I found myself entering the research centre of advanced inter-species communication speakdolphin.com, meeting the wonderful founders Jack and Donna Kassewitz who proceeded to blow my mind with the latest breakthroughs in Cymatics. Through the use of the Cyma-scope and Cyma-glyphs (the first photographs of a dolphins ultra-sonic beam. This is an entire article in itself and I will share with you in detail the wonderful and groundbreaking exploration of cavitation. We will explore the high-frequency technology already developed and evolving to decipher and build a lexicon of three dimensional holographic imagery, ultimately allowing the researchers to break the dolphin language code and establishing scientifically, indisputable facts about the complexity and intelligence of dolphin / whale language. Yes, we are close to true inter-species communication thanks to the love and commitment of the team at www.speakdolphin.com
Three sisters and the Bahama banks
Bimini Bahamas and WildQuest was the next stop on this odyssey of adventure. Here Andrew joined the UK based charity Operation Sunshine to meet again his mentor and inspiration Dr Horace Dobbs and to observe the open water therapy program created by Jackie & Terry Connell and their hard working team of volunteers and assistants. Andrew’s intention was to provide support as an in-water cameraman.
Operation Sunshine family therapies intention was to provide respite to families living with children and young people experiencing difficulties brought about by various disabilities. WildQuest are a professional organization who bring a gentle quality to their facility, providing a caring environment and a safe, albeit quite slow mode of transport designed to allow interaction with the resident Atlantic spotted dolphins who rest and play along the miles of shallow sand banks lining the gulf stream drop off.
All involved in this program were cared for, loved, given opportunity to experience another part of the world, were shown that they and their children were perhaps capable of creating outcomes that they never believed possible. I praise the efforts of Jackie Connell and her team, for their vision and commitment to sharing the prospect of a better life with others. They worked diligently to raise the funds and organize the entire program for the participant families for their complete benefit. I am sure they learned a lot from the experience, as did I.
Los Angeles and the Enchanted Ocean
Sometimes one travels the world searching for a lost friend or family. On this journey I found many friends and reconnected with family wherever I went. It was the nature of this journey and I knew long ago what I would find. I found what I have searched for from the beginning of time.
There are many tales and insights from the journey to Atlantis Road. Each segment will feature in upcoming issues of the Dolphin Oracle. Until then I wish you dolphin love
Andrew Parker
ROAD TO ATLANTIS
On the 29th of October Andrew begins a journey north that will take him many thousands of kilometers across the greatest ocean on the planet and twice across the united states on an odyssey of discovery.
Following his heart down the road to Atlantis his adventures will bring him in close contact with the keepers of Atlantis, legends, musicians who speak dolphin, leaders in the field of Dolphin therapy and a beautiful filmmaker and researcher in LA.
MIAMI SPICE
Flying into the bright lights of Miami Andrew will be travelling down to Key Largo to share some quality time with Deena Hoagland at her Dolphin Assisted Therapy facility Island Dolphin Care. Here some of the most advanced and intensive Dolphin Assisted Therapy programs take place. Families from all over the world seek out Deena and her team for their expertise and professionalism and of course the dolphins. Andrew will be observing a program, meeting and filming the team and interviewing Deena while he is there.
Jack and Donna Kassewitz have been using their knowledge of music and technology to break down the recorded sounds of dolphins and synthesizing music in an attempt to communicate with dolphins.
The organization speakdolphin.com has made huge in-roads into the mystery that is the complex language of delphinese. Imagine an acoustic picture language ranging from the sub-sonic to ultra-sonic pulse up to and beyond 10 times our capabilities of hearing. What a task!! Andrew is meeting these two dedicated individuals as they share a little of their progress and breakthroughs.
In his spare two hours, Andrew has a speaking engagement arranged by his friend, author, teacher and presenter Karen Coffey at a local metaphysical church in Miami where he will share his vision of human / cetacean connection through his trademark Purpose, Passion and Performance the ‘Way of the Dolphin’ presentation.
ATLANTIS ROAD “the road less traveled”
Bimini Bahamas and Dolphin Connection WildQuest is the location for United Kingdom’s charity Operation Sunshine family therapies annual Open Water Dolphin Assisted Therapy program. Here Andrew will join the legendary Dr Horace Dobbs , his right hands Jackie and Terry Connell and around 20 blessed individuals here to share the gifts of the location, the beautiful weather, the company and the Atlantic spotted dolphins. These vocal individuals have been transforming lives for many years now. Atmo and Amlas and their dedicated team will feature in future writings.
Andrew brings his knowledge and experience to assist the healing process and to document the program through in-water photography and the production of a program video for the charity and participants. Special thanks to Kerry Smith of PVD Australia .
ENCHANTED OCEANS
Journeying overland Andrew then meets up with his good friend and film maker / researcher the beautiful Elise Bailey . Elise has been filming and researching the human / cetacean connection for many years and is one of her country’s preeminent authorities on dolphin / human communication. Whether it is the inshore Bottlenose dolphins that often visit her at her marina home for a chat or the Orca of the South West Canada sounds or the Atlantic Spotted Dolphins of the Bahamas that she knows so well, Elise has many gifts to share with the world.
Through her documentary series Enchanted Oceans and her many projects created to enrich the lives of those she touches as she brings the wonderful world of dolphins and whales into the homes of ordinary people. Andrew will be accompanying Elise on her journeys, meeting her dolphin friends and hearing about her recent advances in the realm of human / dolphin communication.
Follow Andrew via his website www.dolphcom.com.au and this publication “The Dolphin Oracle.”
Andrew will return 18th November immediately recommencing his trademark Dolphin swim programs at Port Stephens NSW for the summer BOOK NOW to check dates and availability
‘Whale Dreamers’ the Movie
This year DolphCom was given the opportunity to support one of the great award winning documentaries of this century. Whale Dreamers is a Kim Kindersley / Julian Lennon production due for national release on September 17th 2008.
To celebrate this release DolphCom, Ocean Blue Adventures Ha’apai , Rising Sun Travel and the wonderful Sandy Beach Resort has provided four people the opportunity to attend 2009 Whale Song play-shop in Tonga to swim with whales. The promotion was on National 9 Today show and ran from 28th July - 1st August. Congratulations to our winners:)
Support the movie…support the whales and support the Aborigines. Watch the trailer of Whale Dreamers below
AMVE Aquatic Marine Viewing Experience (Swimming with Dolphins) commences 6am - 9.30am Saturday & Sunday 20th September 2009 through to April 2009 on selected weekends. Book Now
Operation Sunshine Family Therapy have asked Andrew to be a ‘guest therapist’ on their Bimini Bahamas Dolphin Assisted Therapy Program November 2nd -8th 2008.
Andrew will be traveling to the states to inspect the Island Dolphin Care facility in West Keys Florida meeting world renown Dolphin Therapist Deena Hoagland, then to hook up with Donna and Jack Kassewitz from speakdolphin.com to get the rundown on their amazing program of musical communication with our Dolphin family.
Andrew will then share with people in Miami about the ‘Way of the Dolphin” and the opportunity to swim with dolphins and whales through DolphCom’s adventure play-shops before heading down to the Bahamas to assist Jackie Connell and the inimitable Dr Horace Dobbs and their Operation Sunshine proposed Dolphin Assisted Therapy program in Bimini Bahamas.
This program is run by the amazing organisation WildQuest:see DolphCom’s up coming programs for our Bahamas Play-Shop in November 2009 WildQuest
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