A breathtaking spectacle unfolded off the central coast of California as a super pod of more than 1,500 Risso's dolphins was filmed leaping and gliding across Carmel Bay. On Friday morning, Capt Evan Brodsky and his team embarked on a whale-watching expedition, hoping to catch a glimpse of grey whales. Instead, they encountered a rare and spectacular sight—a miles-long cluster of dolphins.
The dolphins, belonging to the Risso's species known for their stocky bodies and bulbous heads, can weigh up to 1,100 pounds (about 499 kg) and reach lengths of up to 13 feet (3.9 meters). Initially, the team estimated only several hundred dolphins, but drone footage captured by Brodsky revealed the true magnitude of the pod.
"Once we put the drone up, I was just blown away … I kept saying: ‘Look at my screen. Look at my screen. Look how many there are,’” – Brodsky
The Monterey Bay area, with its deep waters and underwater submarine canyon, provides an ideal habitat for Risso's dolphins. While these dolphins typically travel in smaller groups of 10 to 30, the sighting of such an extensive gathering is exceedingly rare. The dolphins were observed energetically leaping from the bay and peeking around as they soared through the air.
"They were just having a great time. So they were breaching everywhere… tail slapping, coming right over to the boat. They looked like they were having a big party," – Colleen Talty
The majestic display captivated onlookers, with dolphins stretching as far as the horizon. The Monterey coastline's unique geography allows these creatures to swim closer to shore than they do elsewhere along the California coast, making this region a prime location for dolphin sightings.
"They were on the horizon I feel like as far as I could see," – Capt Evan Brodsky
However, witnessing such a natural event requires caution and respect for marine life. Brodsky emphasized the importance of taking care not to disrupt or harm the animals during their exuberant display.
"You don’t want to make any abrasive maneuvers and potentially injure an animal. That’s of course the last thing you ever want to do," – Brodsky