A remarkable encounter with over 2,000 dolphins, including the elusive northern right whale dolphins, was captured on video last week off Monterey Bay, California.
Evan Brodsky, a boat captain and videographer with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, recorded the extraordinary gathering approximately 11 miles offshore while conducting research with two crew members. What began as a sighting of just a dozen dolphins evolved into one of the largest dolphin gatherings documented in the area.
"The water literally looked like it was boiling," said Brodsky. "It was foaming. There were so many dolphins there."
The super pod included hundreds of Pacific white-sided dolphins swimming alongside the northern right whale dolphins, which are typically found in deeper waters far from shore. The northern right whale dolphins, distinguished by their lack of dorsal fins, were accompanied by light gray baby calves.
"When they jump, they look like flying eyebrows," Brodsky noted, referring to their smooth, finless appearance. Adult northern right whale dolphins can reach lengths of 10 feet and weigh over 200 pounds.
Marine biologist Colleen Talty from Monterey Bay Whale Watch explained that such large gatherings might serve multiple purposes, including protection from predators, coordinated feeding, or social interaction. The presence of baby dolphins made the sighting particularly special.
The encounter occurred after Brodsky and his team spent four hours searching for whales with limited success. Rather than returning to harbor, Brodsky's intuition led them to stay on the water, resulting in this exceptional wildlife observation.
The northern right whale dolphins typically travel in smaller groups of 100 to 200, making this massive gathering a rare spectacle that draws wildlife enthusiasts from around the world to Monterey Bay, located about 120 miles south of San Francisco.
"We were so excited it was hard to hold in our emotions. We had the biggest grins from ear to ear," Brodsky recalled, mentioning that the incredible sight even moved one crew member to tears.