Standing on the bow of the boat, the morning is crisp; excitement ripples as we feel the engines warm to life. The adventure is about to begin.

Kaikoura lies on the South Island of New Zealand, a deep ocean basin lies just off the coast allowing for a rich ecosystem to habit the area year round. New Zealand holds one of the largest numbers of Marine Mammals all of which are protected species.

For us we are off in search of the Dusky Dolphin, Lagernorhynchus obscurus, for which tourists travel many miles to enter the cold water for the chance to glimpse these majestical creatures.

Dusky Dolphin are one of the smaller species and certainly active of the Delphinidae family. Averaging about one and a half metres in length, the calves resemble little more than a basketball at birth. They live solely in the waters that surround New Zealand, and are a thriving species due to the respect and protection offered by the New Zealanders.

Watching the bow wake we begin to see some fins gently breaking the surface as we head towards our destination. A gasp from behind signifies something is happening and as I turn camera ready, a dusky dolphin leaps from the water only meters away from the boat.

I hope I remembered to press the shutter.

The boat slows as the swimmers prepare for their adventure, for me today I stay on the boat hoping to capture the characters as they leap and jump form the water.

Looking down I see, shadows moving slowly through the water, an eye glimpses towards me and that feeling that you are the only one they see, courses through me. As the dolphin breaks the surface, I snap some shots, seconds later they disappear again, off to see those human forms lying on the surface making some very peculiar noises.

Time passes all to quickly as we gather the swimmers and head back to shore, glancing back they continue to play, trying it feels to entice us to come back to play and amuse them as I am sure we do.

Once the photos are developed I am pleased with the results, but the one that stands out for me is the moment in time when the dolphin exhaled and my camera clicked, it is another day that will etch itself into my memory, a time that I will visit again and again.