WOAH — Next level dolphins out there today!
Something neither Captain Vanessa or I have seen out here!
We were hanging with a small nursery pod of short‑beaked common dolphins when we glanced north and spotted some VERY tall dorsal fins. Sure enough — a super active pod of Risso’s dolphins, sitting right between TWO ENORMOUS pods of shorties.
Then the whole horizon ERUPTED as the shorties STAMPEDING in every direction. Turns out a mixed pod of Risso’s + Bottlenose rolled in to break up the shortie party!
We got to chill with the Risso’s between dives — watching them breach and get playful (pretty classic when bottlenose are around). Honestly, the breaches might’ve been celebratory… our bottom finder was lit up with food readings.
Eventually we headed off to hang with the speedy shorties — surfing the wake, dancing through golden glassy seas, and giving us a sunset backdrop we will NOT forget.
— Naturalist Alison
