A boat near Laguna Beach, California delighted in watching a ‘megapod” of dolphins as they swam. This massive group of dolphins was estimated at around 100 dolphins or more. They leaped out of the water, diving back down alongside the boat. “No way!” one man exclaimed in the video. The sounds of the wind whipping by as the boat sped along can be heard alongside the people marveling at the dolphins.
An Afternoon Swim
The dolphins swam with the boat for 25 minutes. Dolphins live and swim in pods and are very social. They tend to stay together for both protection and socialization. This can also make it easier for them to get food. Most pods are around 20-30 dolphins but they can be smaller or larger. To make up this megapod, multiple smaller pods likely came together. They began to ‘stampede,’ which can be seen as they jump in and out of the water. This is also called ‘porpoising’ and helps them travel faster with less resistance through the water. A jet ski can be seen zooming alongside the dolphins in the video. It is always a good idea to keep your distance from wild animals, especially when they are in protected waters. But even wild dolphins are generally curious about people and watercraft, in particular. They like to frolic in their wake. Dolphins are also very smart and recognize even small changes to their marine environment. This area is known for having a lot of dolphins. There is even a State Marine Reserve Conservation Area just offshore.
