Stampede of sea creatures leaps 10 feet in air off CA coast. See ‘rare’ sight

Boaters were left stunned after seeing 100 sea creatures off the coast of California, a whale-watching company said.

Boaters spotted 100 ”excited” bottlenose dolphins as they raced alongside passengers on Aug. 28, Jessica Rodriguez, the communications manager at Davey’s Locker Whale Watching in Newport Beach, told McClatchy News in an email.

The large pod rode the boat’s wake, making for a “stunning show of athleticism,” Rodriguez said.

The dolphins launched from the water during the “energetic display,” as the ”playful” ones erupted 10 feet into the air during the “rare” behavior called “high flying,” she said.

This behavior is not common among bottlenose dolphins, and Rodriguez said it shows how unbreakable their “social bonds” are.

This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Stampede of sea creatures leaps 10 feet in air off CA coast. See ‘rare’ sight."