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MAN: I think the amazing part about Kangaroo Island
is just its natural state.
People are coming here to see what we haven't got, really.
We haven't got all that infrastructure.
We haven't got all the buildings and all that unnecessary stuff.
It's just nature as it is and has been for, you know, since day dot.
I was involved in fishing for around 20 years on the island,
and in that time,
we obviously went around the island quite a lot of times,
and quite aware that the dolphins were out there
and in several places around the island
and I figured that "Why not share it with some of our visitors?"
What we find fascinating
is that we'll see the dolphins up ahead in the distance
and we'll slow down to virtually a stop
and have the dolphins come to us.
That's the first part of the interaction. That's the good part.
Have it be all on their terms.
So they come in to us and they have a bit of a look around us
and they obviously know who we are,
they recognise the sound of the boat.
And from there on, it usually turns into a really good experience.
It's probably... For me, it's a great sense of relaxation.
If they're in a good mood, so to speak,
I'll pull up, the pod are there and they're nice and relaxed
and I'll shut the boat off, I won't even throw the anchor over.
I'll just slip off the back, slip in with these guys and say g'day.
It's like you're slipping into another world. It's just so surreal.
Very turquoise, very colourful sort of a world.
And if they're not talking, it's very quiet and surreal,
but if they're talking and they're having a chat to each other
and that echolocation is fired up, yeah, it's quite amazing.
Being naturally inquisitive, as they are,
they like to investigate everything in their environment.
It's a bit daunting when you look at these guys swim by
because you look at them and, you know...
Physically, there's not a lot of movement there,
but they're just gliding past and they'll sort of look back at you
and give you sort of a sly look
to say, "Well, you know, you're... you're good, but you won't catch us.
"You'll never catch us."
You don't have to slap your hands or make a big yahoo in the water,
but just be really quiet, and I tell you what,
it happens 9 times out of 10.
Just because they're being so quiet in the water,
a dolphin will sneak up behind them
and give them the fright of their life.