Sadly, we’re used to reports of decreasing marine life and the awful effects of pollution – but for once, this is a sunshine story! Conditions in the waters of San Diego have been so great lately that they’ve seen an influx in both sharks and dolphins. A local tour company, Gone Whale Watching, recently captured a breathtaking video of dolphins leaping 20 feet in the air – it’s almost as if they’re celebrating.
Scroll to the end to watch the magical display!
Viral Video of Dolphins Gaining Millions of Views
The video of these high-flying dolphins has quickly gone viral, amassing over 8 million views in just a week. The footage, which shows dolphins bursting out of the water and performing what some have likened to Olympic-style jumps, will make anyone’s jaw drop.
An Incredible Display of Aquatic Acrobatics
It was Gone Whale Watching photographer Erica Sackrison who captured the stunning display. Even though she sees dolphins almost on the daily, even she was taken by surprise when she noticed everyone on the boat pointing at the dolphins.
The dolphins appeared to be performing synchronized jumps, reminiscent of Olympic athletes. Many have probably seen dolphin put on shows in captivity, but it’s a whole different ball game when you see it in the wild and you know that they’re doing it out of their own volition.
Dolphins Reaching New Heights in San Diego Waters
In the footage, the bottlenose dolphins can be seen leaping higher than the boat’s wheelhouse, a sight that left passengers in awe. Sackrison described the experience as “awesome,” comparing the dolphins’ jumps to those of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
The Role of Food in Dolphin Behavior
According to Dominic Biagini, founder of Gone Whale Watching, the presence of abundant food sources likely attracted the dolphins to the area. He mentioned that anchovies and squid are common in San Diego waters, which might explain the increased number of bottlenose dolphins in the region.
Unprecedented Dolphin Activity off Mission Bay
On the day the video was taken, Sackrison and her fellow passengers encountered large pods of dolphins every few miles off the coast of Mission Bay…