I read these inspiring stories and I often wonder if they are true. I checked this one out and yes it did happen. It was the basis of the 1988 film, The Big Blue that is still available on Netflix!
In 2009, renowned Italian free diver Enzo Maiorca was exploring the waters off Syracuse with his daughter Rossana when something unexpected happened. While descending into the depths, Enzo felt a soft bump on his back. He turned, expecting to see a curious sea creature — and found a dolphin urgently trying to get his attention. Without hesitation, the dolphin dove deeper. Enzo followed.
Around 15 meters below, they discovered a second dolphin, hopelessly tangled in an abandoned fishing net. It was fighting for air. Enzo quickly signaled to his daughter for a knife. Together, they worked swiftly and carefully to cut the net and release the dolphin. The moment it broke free, it let out a sound Enzo would later describe as “almost human — a cry of relief.”
As they surfaced, they realized why the rescue had been so urgent — the dolphin was pregnant. Just moments later, she gave birth in the open ocean. The male dolphin swam around the scene, then approached Enzo. In a gesture that felt deeply intentional, it gently touched his cheek with its snout — like a kiss of gratitude — before vanishing into the blue with its new family.
Reflecting on the experience, Enzo said: “Until man learns to respect and speak to the natural world, he can never truly understand his place on this Earth.” Nature always has something to say — if we choose to listen.
