Sharkin' bycatch!

We were diving a particularly Egyptian type of dive site - moving along a stretch of coast perpendicular to the shore over a reef which sloped gradually away from us into the deep; not a wall, but not flat either just a gentle slope into the deep. I like these sites. You can dive them at almost any depth simply by moving up or down the slope and if you get that depth just right you can enjoy beautiful reef on one side with all the benefits that brings whilst keeping an eye to the other for bigger things moving along the edge of the coast which they do from time to time......

....and this time something big was moving. I picked it up pretty quickly. Squinting to make out quite a broad shape moving towards us but not quite flat enough to be eagle ray or manta, bowfin guitarfish perhaps? No. Something spins off to one side - it is not one creature but two. Both still two distant to quite recognise. The spin repeats; flashing a whiter belly. Mating sharks perhaps? No again.

In a fraction of a second I've considered and ruled out most of the logical options for something that big. They're moving faster now and coming straight at us and the realisation of how lucky we just got hits and they are on us as I start shooting.......
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DOLPHINS!!

Mother and baby and baby is keen to see what my flash is, banking in to have a look at what made that light. My camera has been playing up all week, the shutter button is jamming and I'm flicking from one unsuitable mode to another trying to get another shot as they shoot past, mother keeping the kid moving and providing a protective flipper to shield and corral her baby.

and then they're past us. Melting back into the blue and one of the most exciting 20 seconds of my diving career has ended and the reef is normal again.