“She never skipped a turn.”
When Evan Pender slips below the water’s surface to go diving off the coast of Ireland, he’s entering a vast, otherworldly place few will ever get the chance to visit.
But though Pender usually dives on own, he’s rarely alone for long.
Almost every time Pender goes diving, he’s met by a friendly wild dolphin named Dusty, who emerges from the depths to greet him.
For more than 20 years, Dusty has been a fixture along this stretch of shoreline, noted for her interactions with boaters and swimmers. But her fascination in Pender appears to be more than mere curiosity.
She appears excited to see him when he goes diving.
“When I get in the water, I never check for Dusty,” Pender told The Dodo. “She comes across me, so she must like my company.”
Pender spends a lot of time in the water with Dusty, exploring the underwater world with her on her terms.
“She initiates all communication between me and Dusty,” Pender explained. “In all the time I’ve dived with her, I’ve never touched her.” I perceive her as a peer, and I don’t want to upset our dynamic by rubbing her.”
Pender and Dusty’s friendship has evolved as a result of that trust and respect, and it shows.
Pender took one of his fins from his feet while out on a dive with the dolphin by his side. Dusty seemed surprised, possibly only then discovering that his fins might be detached.
Dusty seemed to carry that concept with her even after she and Pender parted ways.
When he went to the lake the next day, Dusty came, holding another fin she’d discovered. It was a gift, and with it, the amicable duo played a fetch-style game.
Here’s a clip of Pender and Dusty at work:
Pender and Dusty’s bond was deepened in that time by their mutual enjoyment.
“I believe I’ve figured out why dolphins engage in object-based games. Pender stated, “It develops trust.”
“Dusty understood it was as much fun for me as it was for her to dive down and get the fin. She would have preferred it if I had always dropped the fin for her. She, on the other hand, insisted that I participate. She didn’t miss a beat.”
Dusty and interactions like this show that the water contains more than simply seascapes to discover – it also contains actual emotions.
Pender is hesitant to call himself an ambassador between humans and dolphins, but he’s forged a connection anyway thanks to his wonderful bond with Dusty.
Pender stated, “I feel at home underwater.” “I enjoy spending time with Dusty, and our friendship is growing stronger.”