Thousands of Dolphins Spotted Near San Diego
Thousands of dolphins spanning across 7 miles of ocean were sighted off the coast of San Diego on Thursday, a boat captain told NBC 7 San Diego.
Capt. Joe Dutra of Hornblower Cruises said he saw a “super mega-pod” of common dolphins Thursday around noon while he was on his daily tour. He said the pod was more than 7 miles long and 5 miles wide.
Dutra said the boat tour followed the pod for more than an hour and said he’s never seen anything like it.
“When you see something that is honestly truly beyond belief,” the captain said.
Guests aboard the boat started screaming and pointing when they first saw the school of adult and juvenile common dolphins. Dutra estimated there were about 100,000 dolphins swimming in the area.
“They were coming from all directions, you could see them from as far as the eye can see,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff out here… but this is the biggest I’ve ever seen, ever.”
Whale and dolphin watching tours have done particularly well this year, with dozens of animal sightings reported.
Marine mammal expert Sarah Wilkin said the reason the large pod might be there is because there’s plenty of food in the area, including sardines, herring and squid.
“They’re attracted to kind of the same thing, they might wind up in the same place,” she said.
Though dolphins typically travel in groups of 200 or less, Wilkin said “super-pods” are not unheard of.
“They’re definitely social animals, they stick together in small groups,” she said. “But sometimes, the schools come together.”
Dutra, who’s been boating for decades, said he felt lucky to enjoy such a rare phenomenon.
“You had to be there to experience it,” he said. “It was truly spectacular.”
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Thank you, that is quite a site.
Amazing, but if u were in a boat, why were u amongst the dolphins. Aren't there laws for how close you can go to dolphins and whales?
you should habe stayed clear of the school, moron.
This was a war. The northern mega pod was heading to Mexico to attack the southerns who had taken fish from the border in a raid. The battle occurred later that week and was won by the north who enslaved the southerns and put them to work .
I demand a recount! ;-)
@anonymous-you've obviously never been in a boat when the dolphins surround it. They love to play in the bow waves and the wake. They are extremely fast and agile swimmers.
Saw a similar video of a superpod like this but it was filmed off the coast of South Africa and a pod of orcas were chasing the pod
What a wonderful thing to see this. Thank you for sharing.
I have seen pods before off the coast of California, not this large though when I was on a Mexico cruise, or once out of LA on the way to Hawaii. They come near you because the boat stirs up the fish and they like the water movement, it must feel good on their skins.
Wow, that is amazing...Thank you for sharing this with us.
Taiji can't kill these ... Stay FAR away from them dolphins ...
i hope they're heading to japan to tip their whaling ships!
thanks! ♥
I ask the question as to whether we humans deserve such majestic & intelligent creatures to live with. When I see footages of Dolphins been corralled in their own environment, in Japan, and the Netherlands, been clubbed to death in the name of Japanese traditions, I don’t know what the Dutch call it. I call it barbaric.
So do I the Japanese people and the Chinese well most of the asian countries are cruel I mean look wot they do too the dogs before they Eat them tear the fur off them and boil them alive its called the dog meat trade ! and look wot the Chinese enjoyment invite a group of buisness men rich men place twelve tigers in front of them must be in cages !and yes electrocute them cook them and eat them oh and wrap it up for presents I mean thats sick and barbaric !