Downside upside downside up …. It’s quite irrelevant to a whale’s watery realm.

Meeting George this year in Vava’u, Tonga, was one of the most extraordinary moments of my life and has set things in motion I could never have envisioned.

I have already written about George and my first encounter with him in an earlier post. I’ve recalled how he terrified me, how he delighted me, captivated me and played with me. I have described how he lifted me gently out of the water, rolled me over and back in, then belly-rubbed me as he swam by.

George left me overwhelmingly wanting to not only share my experiences and my images, but also to encourage others to travel to Tonga. I want everyone to swim with these beautiful humpback whales and come back with their own experiences to share.

Since meeting George and the humpback whales of Tonga, I’ve felt a calling to do more for their cause and our marine environment. Perhaps I’ve already inspired others through my images and my writing. I hope so.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Downside Up’, 1/800s f/7.1 ISO160 15mm