A recent video filmed during a whale-watching excursion off the coast of Orange County, California, quickly spread across social media.
The footage shows more than a hundred bottlenose dolphins surrounding the boat and performing leaps up to 10 feet high — roughly 3 meters.
Passengers watched as the animals gathered speed in the vessel's wake and literally soared above the water, displaying acrobatics rare for this species.
A representative of the company Newport Landing Whale Watching, Jessica Rodriguez, called the spectacle "an amazing show of athleticism" and noted that such "high soaring" is not often seen in bottlenose dolphins.
According to her, the behavior speaks to playfulness and strong social bonds within the pod.
The footage was taken during one of the excursions off Newport Beach, where the dolphins did not merely swim alongside but actively interacted with the boat.
Similar footage has appeared before, but the fresh clip stood out especially against the backdrop of recent marine sightings in the region.
What makes these marine mammals put on such performances right alongside the vessel?
The video was published, among other places, on pages dedicated to viral content, and it quickly racked up views among nature lovers.
Viewers note how synchronized and energetic the leaps look, as if the dolphins are deliberately putting on a show for the onlookers.
The event coincided with a period when unusual gatherings of marine creatures are being recorded in the waters of Southern California.
