SURFING SOAPBOX: An ocean full of love

One of my favorite stretches of coastline is one that many cannot access “” unless one either lives above what I call the “lost coast” or gains entrance by sea or land. I like to enter by ocean, no small surprise there. Sunny days or stormy, I love to jump on my paddleboard or kayak and visit that unique area which remains for the most part untouched.

This is where dolphins love to play, and one little black seal with a spotted face who always has a smile, if I’m not mistaken. The little seal I nicknamed “Chip” “” short for Chocolate Chip “” will play hide and go seek, swimming around and under me like a puppy dog playing with his master.

Tuesday morning under sparkling sunlight in which the ocean was so glassy it appeared like a floating mirror with an aquarium-like effect of sea life under it, I paddled into three dolphins swimming in unison directly in front of me. For the next quarter of a mile or so, we enjoyed our morning together.

Seeing my three friends again swimming beside me brought back a flood of emotions that I had kept bottled up since that life-altering experience in Japan. It was the first time I had felt that way since late October, when raising awareness about a bay in Japan where more than 20,000 dolphins and small whales are confined and brutally killed each year.

Even now writing this brings a small wave of tears to my eyes.

In some ways I have always felt more alive in the ocean. It may hinder me in other areas of my life but it’s something I’m willing to accept, because those quiet moments are the purest form of love.

Hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and founder of the Aloha School of Surfing. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha schoolofsurfing.com.