For Valentines Day this year my boyfriend and I planned to spend the weekend on a romantic getaway, swimming with one of the most terrifying creatures in the sea.

I didn’t plan on ending up swimming with some of the cutest creatures I have ever seen (and I don’t just mean Tom).

Australia is renowned for being full of deadly creatures, big and small. South Australia doesn’t have the pizza-sized spiders that only David Attenborough could make you appreciate, but we do have the biggest, baddest sharks in the southern hemisphere… Well, most of the time.

After a visit from a gang of killer whales, Port Lincoln, which is usually the proud home of these sea-beasts, has become utterly shark-less. So our exciting shark-cage-diving weekend turned into a weekend dedicated to getting sunburnt and drunk by the pool.

In an effort to squeeze in something more active and exciting than walking to to the bar, we booked a last-minute swim with the sea lions tour. Yep, sea lions, they are like seals. But prettier.

After a wine-filled Valentines day, we dragged ourselves out of bed on Sunday morning and made it down to the marina. We were welcomed aboard the ship with a much-needed hot drink by the friendly crew and we were soon on our way out to sea.

We were given fresh fruit, wetsuits and enthusiastic descriptions of what to expect from the cheeky creatures that somehow share the coast line with the great whites. We were not disappointed.

Sea lions are cute. Really cute. ‘You just slapped me in the face but I am so happy about it because you are the most beautiful creature in the world‘ cute. (Not even Tom is that cute).

Known as the ‘puppies of the sea’, these marine cuties are playful and friendly and will make you considering installing an outdoor pool, fit for a big, slippery sea puppy. In under an hour, these creatures enchanted us with their graceful flips and summersaults.

After about 45 minutes in crystal-clear water withhigh-levels of sea lion cuteness everyone was back on the boat, sleepy and content with their shark-less swim.

If you are in Port Lincoln and have time between shark swimming and seafood eating then I would definitely recommend swimming with these cuties. (Or you could always swim with the Tuna if you are after the most terrifying-sounding experience in Port Lincoln…)

Adventure Bay Charters

Website: http://adventurebaycharters.com.au

Office 2 Jubilee Drive, Port Lincoln
Postal PO Box 88  Port Lincoln, SA 5606
Email info@adventurebaycharters.com.au
Phone (08) 8682 2979
Mobile 0488 428 862 (0488 IC TUNA)