A remarkable super pod of dolphins was spotted off the California coast, with over 1,500 Risso’s dolphins. It was captured on camera, leaping and gliding gracefully over Carmel Bay, stretching across miles of coastline.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Risso’s dolphins usually migrate in considerably smaller groups of only 10 to 30 animals. This extraordinary encounter left the whale-watching crew in awe as they saw the dolphins’ rapid motions. Brodsky and his team, who were initially looking for gray whales, watched in amazement as the dolphins leaped out of the water, their bulbous heads and stocky bodies visible from a 20-foot (6-meter) inflatable boat. Some of the biggest dolphins can grow up to 13 feet (3.9 meters) in length and weigh up to 1,100 pounds (499 kg).

Dolphins Playfully Engage with Whale Watchers

Colleen Talty, a marine biologist, was on board to monitor the annual passage of gray whales to breeding lagoons off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. She described the encounter as “incredible,” pointing out that some dolphins were swimming at the front of the ship, bow riding—a technique where they use the waves to move forward.

According to Talty, the dolphins were breaching frequently, slapping their tails, and coming toward the boat as though they were taking part in a loud celebration, suggesting that they were having a good time. The wide variety of dolphins, both young and adult, indicated that multiple smaller pods had merged and were swimming south together. Talty stressed that while super pods have been recorded in the area before, they are rare.

Standing at the bow of the boat, Talty once looked down to see many dolphins turning on their sides and looking directly at her. The team was careful to maintain a steady path as the dolphins continued to engage with the boat, avoiding abrupt movements that could disturb or injure the animals.

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A Rare but Stunning Occurrence in Monterey Bay

A super pod of dolphins spotted off the California coast due to their preference for deep waters, Risso’s dolphins can be found around the Monterey coastline. Compared to other places along the California coast, they can swim significantly closer to shore thanks to the underwater submarine canyon in the area.

The whale-watching team initially misjudged the size of the megapod. Brodsky said he was amazed when the drone was launched and told everyone to look at the screen to see how many dolphins were present. He emphasized that no matter how many times he witnessed the scene, it never ceased to astound him.

As they watched the remarkable occurrence, Brodsky and his colleagues ensured they did not disturb the pod, still in awe of the dolphins’ enthusiasm. “You don’t want to make any sudden maneuvers and potentially injure an animal. That’s the last thing you ever want to do,” Brodsky stated. “So we just cruised along with them. It was an incredible experience.”

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