June 14 - 21, 2026 Azores Islands, Portugal

🌊⛰️ Pico Island A Meeting Place of Species


 The Azores, and Pico Island in particular, sit in a unique position in the Atlantic Ocean where deep ocean currents meet volcanic land. This creates a rare environment where many marine species pass through, feed, and travel.  For centuries, these waters have been a natural meeting place for whales and dolphins moving across the ocean. The depth close to shore, combined with open migratory routes, allows encounters to arise naturally — without chasing or disturbance.  This unique geography makes Pico Island a powerful place to explore presence, humility, and relationship with the living ocean.

🌊 Ocean Encounters & Respectful Presence

Animals are never called, attracted, or forced into interaction.  Time in the ocean begins with observation. We first locate animals from a distance and follow respectfully to sense whether they are open to proximity. Only when their behaviour clearly shows openness do people enter the water.  In the Azores, strict local regulations allow only two people in the water at a time.

Many people feel a deep pull toward dolphins and the ocean. This attraction is natural. Dolphins embody intelligence, presence, and a kind of aliveness that resonates strongly with humans.
 
Across the world, you may encounter language such as “finding your dolphin guide” or “following your dream of connecting with dolphins.” While these phrases often come from genuine longing, they can also create expectations that don’t always serve the animals — or the people.

In my work, I approach dolphins and other ocean beings not as guides or symbols to claim, but as autonomous beings with their own choices, rhythms, and boundaries. Connection, when it happens, is not something we seek or manifest. It arises through presence, humility, and respect. Rather than asking what an animal can offer us, this work asks something different: How can we arrive in a way that is honest, grounded, and open — without expectation?

Sometimes this leads to powerful encounters. Sometimes it leads to quiet observation, distance, or simply being in the ocean without meeting another being at all. All of these experiences are equally meaningful. The value of this work is not measured by what is seen, but by what is felt and integrated — a deeper sense of presence, respect for life, and connection to ourselves and the world around us. This approach is not about chasing a dream or adopting a spiritual identity. It is about learning how to be in relationship — with the ocean, with animals, and with ourselves.

 When we meet nature in this way, connection becomes something we receive, not something we take.


FROM DEPTH TO SUMMIT , PICO, AZORES ISLANDS
RETREAT

Kate Hamsikova

I’m Kate, the founder of Natural Born Swimmers and a passionate water lover. Water is my second home, where my dolphin friend taught me how to move, relax, and feel truly safe in the water. Since 2009, I’ve been teaching baby, toddler, and preschool swimming classes, focusing on water safety skills for young children. I also run pregnancy aqua classes, helping expectant mothers experience the calming and supportive power of water, especially in the third trimester.

My mission is to help families build confidence, connection, and joy in the water from the very start.

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© 2026 Kateandtheocean