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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBoat caught in middle of dolphin stampede
It was a rare, breathtaking sight: In a flash, a pod of about 1,000 common dolphins began a stampede, churning across the blue-gray waters off Dana Point at a rapid pace.
Dave Anderson, the captain of Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari, said that in the decades he's spent on the water and out among Southern California's dense dolphin population, it's a phenomenon he's encountered only rarely.
Yet last weekend, it happened again ... and it happened twice: once on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday morning. Boat hands captured Sunday's stampede on video.
"It's one of those things you can hope for it, but you can't plan for it," he said.
"It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of beautiful and interesting things" on the water.
more
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/hundreds-of-dolphins-stampede-off-dana-point.html
underpants
(182,826 posts)shraby
(21,946 posts)catbyte
(34,402 posts)What an awesome experience that must've been! Our zodiac was surrounded by a pod of only around 24 dolphins while we were whalewatching between Maui & Lanai several years ago, and I will never forget it. Cetaceans are magical.
That was sooooo cool! What a treat to have seen that!
cbayer
(146,218 posts)We could see them coming miles off and they stayed with us for a very, very long time.
They love to play in the wake created by the bow of the boat - racing, rolling and darting back and forth.
It is truly magical and anyone who has the great fortune to be in the middle of one will have a rapturous experience.
formercia
(18,479 posts)We were heading South and they, North. At one point they covered an area as far as the eye could see, in all directions. It happened in 1965. I doubt if anyone will ever see that many Dolphins in one place again.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)And no matter how much video you take or still pictures or anything, you just can't share that experience.
I feel so very fortunate, as I am sure you do.
formercia
(18,479 posts)All I could do was sit there and go..WOW!! If I had a camera, I probably would have forgotten to pick it up.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)I hope someday to be able to have such an experience!
The closest I've come to that is when I was staying at a hotel on the banks of Lake Chicot, Arkansas, and was awakened to the sound of tens of thousands of ducks flying low above the waters of the lake. My only regret is that I did not have a video camera to record the spectacle.
formercia
(18,479 posts)It would make it so much easier to protect the Environment and our fellow Earthlings.
greytdemocrat
(3,299 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)slackmaster
(60,567 posts)...when they're four feet away, and they swim a whole lot better than you can.
And it's a good thing it wasn't a stampede of Miami football fans.
Budgies Revenge
(216 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)bongbong
(5,436 posts)my boat was surrounded by, it must've been 200, dolphins. Quite a sight.
benld74
(9,904 posts)Earth_First
(14,910 posts)I know dolphins being extremel agile and whatnot, however in a pod of that size; it seems dangerous to the safety of the dolphins to purposely navigate a boat that close to this......
Maybe not.
Lochloosa
(16,065 posts)Trust me...i've been on the water my whole life...they were cool.
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)As I stated, I had wasn't entirely sure.
I'm glad for the sake of everyone involved that being able to see something that amazing is safe for all...
malaise
(269,049 posts)Thanks
tblue37
(65,403 posts)mokawanis
(4,442 posts)when I was visiting a friend in Malibu. They came up on us from behind and swarmed all around the boat. Truly an awesome experience.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)humans aren't alone and our waters/lands should be protected for all of us. Like a big HEY! YOU!! Remember we're here, please protect us and the environment!
Absolutely stunning sight this is!