SEA OF CORTEZ 30°26’13.9”N 113°50’25.8”W
MERCHE LLOBERA
“They navigate through the mobulas with such grace, nearly as if selecting from a buffet before making their move.”
it ’ s 9:30 in the morning . The ship’s radio crackles with unintelligible voices. In the distance, a movement catches my attention. “Orcas!” the captain shouts over the radio. I quickly gear up: mask, fins, camera. Despite the chilly February air this early morning, excitement rushes through me as I sit on the boat’s edge, geared up and ready. The black dorsal fins of the orcas slice through the water, accompanied by dark shadows. “There are over 10 orcas and several groups of mobula rays,” the captain shouts towards me. “They’re going to hunt them. Jump in!” Without hesitation, I dive in, feeling the cold water sweeping through my wetsuit; the cold is just a side thought I don’t care about. My mind races, my eyes even faster, analyzing every detail and everything around me. Where are they? I see a shadow and swim towards it. Adjust the camera, the light, and the exposure, swim faster, and breathe. The mobulas glide gracefully through the ocean. Mobula rays are filter feeders, primarily consuming plankton and small fish. They use specialized structures called gill rakers to filter food particles from the water as they swim with their mouths open. I start taking photos while searching for the orcas in the chaos of movement. The mobulas’ movements are getting intense. I know the orcas must be close, but I can’t see them through the chaos surrounding me. Where are they? I wonder as I swim back and forth. Submerging my head in the water, I hear them perfectly while underwater. I feel as uncoordinated as the mobulas. They communicate and organize themselves. Suddenly, an orca emerges less than a meter away from me. It looks at me, exhales, and dives down. A smile spreads across my face as I greet it with a muffled “Hello” through the snorkel. There’s no chance of accidental collisions, and I’m certainly not on their menu. So I immerse myself in the spectacle with respect, careful not to disturb their natural rhythm. At this point, you might be wondering if I was scared or perhaps even crazy. It’s the first question people ask when they see these photos, often with a mix of fear and fascination. “Were you in the water with them?! Orcas are incredibly dangerous.” I’m not afraid because I trust them. I understand and know that even behind a wall of mobulas, with their echolocation, the orcas are fully aware of my presence. The mobulas pick up speed, their movements becoming increasingly uncontrolled. They hit me at one point, momentarily turning my camera off. I feel the orcas coming closer once more. Suddenly, two of them materialize out of the depths, swiftly targeting and capturing mobulas right before my eyes. Their beauty, intelligence, and unwavering determination fascinate me. The effortless precision with which they hunt leaves me in awe. I watch them, almost not believing what is happening right in front of me. They navigate through the mobulas with such grace, nearly as if selecting from a buffet before making their move. It’s comparable to how effortlessly you might munch on popcorn while watching a good movie at home.
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MOTHER VOLUME THREE
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