Apparently, the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA isn’t the only aerial spectacle happening along the Orange County coast.
Wild footage captured during a local whale-watching trip shows a pod of dolphins absolutely launching themselves from the Pacific, rocketing several body lengths into the air before crashing back into the water.
See the footage, linked here, and below.
The sequence looks almost choreographed. Dolphins race beside the boat, accelerate through its wake and suddenly go airborne—some clearing the surface by remarkable distances while passengers watch from just feet away.
And these animals can seriously fly.
During a similar Newport Beach encounter, more than 100 bottlenose dolphins surrounded a whale-watching boat, with some leaping an estimated 10 feet into the air.
Related: Why Do Dolphins Like To Surf?
Jessica Rodriguez of Newport Landing Whale Watching called it a “stunning show of athleticism,” explaining that such “high flying” is unusual for bottlenose dolphins and can demonstrate their playful behavior and strong social bonds.
The latest show comes during an especially strange stretch for Southern California’s ocean.
Just days ago, whale watchers encountered 10 to 13 Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales off Newport Beach—animals far more commonly associated with Mexico and Central America. Rodriguez called their return “incredibly exciting,” particularly because the group included familiar adults and a new generation of young orcas.
See those images, linked here, and below.
The obvious question: What’s happening out there?
Southern California is already experiencing unusually warm water from a marine heatwave, while a strengthening El Niño is adding another layer. NOAA says coastally trapped Kelvin waves are moving warm water northward and will help produce “unusually high temperatures” along the West Coast, particularly Southern California.
Scripps scientist Clarissa Anderson puts it simply: “We can always say that waters will be warmer and that they will be higher.”
Warmer conditions can also shuffle marine species northward, although scientists caution against blaming every unusual encounter solely on El Niño.
The dolphins themselves aren’t unusual visitors.
But their performance certainly was.
And between flying dolphins, tropical orcas, and increasingly bizarre warm-water visitors, Southern California’s ocean is putting on quite a show.
Related: Watch: Killer Whales Punt Dolphins 20ft High During NorCal Hunt (Video)
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