SAN FRANCISCO — An unusual sighting occurred off the coast of Monterey Bay when a captain managed to film a rare super pod of over 2,000 dolphins. This remarkable event included the elusive northern right whale dolphin, which is seldom seen so close to shore. Usually, these dolphins are found farther out in deeper waters, but last week, Evan Brodsky, a captain and videographer from Monterey Bay Whale Watch, came across this extraordinary gathering about 11 miles from the harbor. Notably, northern right whale dolphins are one of only two dolphin species that lack a dorsal fin.
Commenting on their appearance, Brodsky remarked humorously, “They’re all smooth; when they jump, they look like flying eyebrows.” On that joyful Friday around noon, he was accompanied by two crew members for a research outing when they first noticed around a dozen dolphins. As they continued to follow them, they estimated the number grew to more than 2,000 dolphins, featuring light gray calves and numerous Pacific white-sided dolphins.
The experience was overwhelming, described by Brodsky as filling them with immense excitement and wide smiles. He shared that one of his coworkers was even moved to tears at the spectacle. The northern right whale dolphins typically form pods of 100 to 200 individuals and are known for their social nature, often mingling with species such as Risso’s dolphins. Brodsky himself recently captured a super pod of these Risso’s dolphins via drone.
These dolphins can reach up to 10 feet in length and weigh more than 200 pounds. According to Brodsky, people from all over the globe hope to catch a glimpse of northern right whale dolphins in the deep canyons of Monterey Bay. Colleen Talty, a marine biologist at Monterey Bay Whale Watch, explained that the dolphins might cluster for various reasons, such as protection from predators, feeding, or socializing.
“It’s rare to see baby dolphins, so witnessing them is rather special,” Talty noted. Monterey, the location of this captivating event, is positioned roughly 120 miles south of San Francisco.
