The Ocean From A Bird’s Eye View
A blog by drone photographer, Tim Wells
The thing about the ocean is that we, as terrestrials, only really see the surface of it. I consider myself fortunate that I learnt to look below the surface using a mask and snorkel, and have had the privilege of studying the natural world at a university level to try to further understand what is going on. But it is through my work as a nature guide that I witness and relive the mind-blowing moment of realisation that people have when they see that the sea is actually full of life.
I grew up in central Namibia, far away from the ocean and only really got to know it as a teenager. There is no doubt in my mind I had a turning point where I was hooked by the magic and wonder of the ocean. The organisms you find in rock pools, or perhaps the pull of a wave and the joy of the power of moving water as a budding surfer. There's a moment you have that ensures you keep coming back and I’m sure many of you reading this will know what I mean.
The flip-side of this is a lack of connection to the ocean and I believe this is one of the bigger challenges we face in protecting the ocean today. Out of sight, out of mind. Plastics on the beach certainly set people off and most people who have enjoyed a walk, or perched to look and listen to the sea, will do their bit and pick up what they can. It’s the (rubbish) tip of the iceberg and what we don't see is everything that doesn't float or wash up. Again, the mask and snorkel was a game-changer in allowing me to see how common it is to find a sea urchin holding a little piece of plastic instead of the natural shells or algae you’d expect to see. Fishing line wrapped up around reef or car tyres just lying on the sea floor with sand churning up around them.
I digress… The point of this little blog is to share about a way of exploring the ocean that I’ve recently come across, one that is much easier to share with others and far less intimidating than wetsuits and dive gear especially in the cold dark waters of The Cape. I give you - the drone. An incredible little piece of equipment and a completely new perspective on the ocean. On a clear day you can fly out and by simply adjusting the height and angle of the camera you can see through the water and essentially snorkel from the comfort of a lookout point.
From flying the coast I have managed to see the sea in a whole new light - to watch dolphins hunting, mating and playing with pieces of kelp or whales breaching and nursing newborn calves. Seals, turtles, sunfish and sharks. The wildlife doesn’t even know you are there and I can range up to 4 kilometres in a half hour flight. I have a very entry level rusty little drone that has served me incredibly well and I figured I’d share a few of my favourite stories from our year together.
Sharks & Jackals:
To sit alongside kids and hover over anything from sharks to dolphins to whales is always a laugh, but I recall flying over a seal that was eating an octopus, with an eager 9 year old by my side. I will never forget the awe in her voice when we noticed small sharks below the feeding seal - picking up scraps from the messy eater. It was without my assistance that she pointed out that they were just like the jackals they had seen on safari the week before and it was exactly that kind of correlation that I so often use in trying to make these things relatable.
Port & Starboard:
There was the time I was driving back from a solo kayak fishing trip - shamefully empty handed and bullied off the water by the weather. In the rain and wind I noticed a car pulled over with its occupants looking out to sea. I pulled over to see what they were looking at and noticed a humpback whale breaching far out in the distance, but not in the same place the others were looking - so trying to do a good deed I went over to point it out. As I walked over to them I noticed movement in the kelp right in front of us and it dawned on me that they were not watching the humpback whale but instead an orca! No, two! It was the famous Port and Starboard pair and I had vowed from the day I got my drone that I would fly no matter the conditions if I ever saw them. I did - and it ended with me in the back seat of a strangers car because I had flown too far away whilst following the orca pair and needed a ride to get back within range of the drone.
The Dark Side:
I’ve also had some sad sightings - seals that are clearly entangled and uncomfortable or drifting fishing nets, that are known as ghost nets, silently floating through our waters and catching and killing whatever it comes across. But even in these moments of seeing things most people wouldn’t see I can capture an image with the click of a button and I can share that picture in places where they can invoke thought and draw attention or awareness.
If I can get more people to see what I see and understand and appreciate these things a bit more than they did before seeing my pictures then I feel I’ve made change for the better. All of my favourite pictures go up on Instagram where they are free to view and usually well accepted by my little following!
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