A large group of more than 1,500 dolphins, known as a “super pod”, was spotted frolicking in the waters off the coast of California. The stunning sight of these dolphins leaping and gliding was captured on camera, creating a breathtaking scene that stretched for miles along the horizon.
Captain Evan Brodsky, with the Monterey Bay Whale Watch, spotted the huge gathering of Risso’s dolphins in Carmel Bay and said he was “blown away.”
“It was amazing,” Brodsky said. “We were out there on the ocean every day and, you know, all of us were taking pictures.”
Leading the way was Brodsky, accompanied by a team that included marine biologist Colleen Talty, who were on a 20-foot inflatable boat on a mission to locate gray whales. Suddenly, the dolphins emerged from the bay, putting on a spectacular display of acrobatics.
Such a large group of adult and juvenile dolphins was likely the result of several pods coming together as they swam south, according to Talty.
Risso’s dolphins, a species that can weigh up to 1,100 pounds and grow as long as 13 feet, are known to travel together in smaller groups of 10 to 30 animals, as noted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The group was made up of several pods all swimming south, Talty said. (Captain Evan Brodsky/Monterey Bay Whale Watch)
The Monterey coastline is a particularly ideal place to spot them because they prefer extremely deep water. The area’s underwater submarine canyon means they may swim much closer to shore than in other parts of California, said Talty.
While it wasn’t the first time the Brodsky and Talty have seen a group of dolphins this large, they said such a sight is a rare occurrence.
“It was a really memorable encounter that I won’t forget for a long time,” Brodsky said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
