We started with two fin whales, one of which kept us guessing as it carved tight circles at the surface, changing direction and popping up in unexpected places. While we were tracking its path, we spotted massive splashes on the horizon… and that’s when the real show began.
A huge pod of ~200 bottlenose dolphins was moving through the area, spread across several subgroups. We eased in with the sleepy section first — engines off, dolphins milling quietly around us, the whole ocean feeling unhurried.
Then we met the mischievous crew.
We’d catch glimpses of them wrestling just below the surface, and before we could finish pointing them out — AIRBORNE. Full launches, big splashes, nonstop energy. It was one of those moments where you don’t know where to look because everything is happening at once.
A perfect mix of calm, curiosity, and classic dolphin chaos.
Naturalist, Alison
