'People of JB' - Image 5/20

‘PEOPLE OF JB’ - Image 5/20 - Rob Slater // Photographer, Graphic Artist, Ocean Enthusiast. "It's hard to pinpoint one particular moment in time that stands out above the rest. The Bay and surrounding landscape is amazing and provides endless rewards and memorable moments. But if I had to pin one particular experience to the wall, it goes way back to the early 80s during a dive near The Docks - a stunningly beautiful area just inside the northern headland of the Bay. We had been seeing Humpbacks cruising wide all day and passed close to a pod travelling north while coming back from south of the Bay. This was our second dive for the day and you could hear the sounds of the Humpbacks underwater, which is amazing in itself. We finished the dive and were slowly coming up the anchor line when out of the deep blue a large black mass appeared. Initial apprehension quickly turned into amazement as a baby Humpback around 5 meters long came into view. It slowly swam straight up to us and eased by only a few meters away. This beautiful animal casually turned back on itself, swimming in a circle around us before heading back into the blue. Bit of a mind bender that one. But the thing that has given me the the most satisfaction over the years has been watching all of the local young fellas I have gotten to know through surfing grow up into respectful fine human beings. Mushy I know, but that's the truth.”