{"id":44175,"date":"2024-11-27T14:47:09","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T13:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2b462155-2b77-4c3f-a618-33ae71db9f19"},"modified":"2024-11-27T15:27:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T14:27:24","slug":"something-surreal-was-just-seen-off-the-coast-of-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/something-surreal-was-just-seen-off-the-coast-of-san-diego\/","title":{"rendered":"Something surreal was just seen off the coast of San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was a bioluminescent dolphin megapod \u2013 one of the most enchanting natural spectacles on Earth. <\/p>

By Melissa Hobson\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 27 November 2024 at 13:47 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Whale watchers in San Diego on the Southern Californian coast were treated to a nocturnal spectacle as bioluminescent plankton in the water caused animals \u2013 including a megapod of dolphins \u2013 to glow radiant blue. <\/strong><\/p>

Having already seen lots of fish and critters light up in the bioluminescent<\/a> water,\u00a0Gone Whale Watching San Diego<\/a>\u00a0had their sights set on something even more special: a megapod of dolphins they knew were in the area.\u00a0<\/p>

Watch the dolphin megapod light up as they swim through the bioluminescent plankton\/Nicole Schriber, Gone Whale Watching\u00a0 <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

“Guided only by moonlight and the glowing waves, we made the 20-mile journey in what was otherwise complete darkness,\u201d says the company\u2019s founder Domenic Biagini on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cIn the end, we didn’t find the dolphins; the dolphins found us,\u201d says crew member\u00a0Nicole Schriber<\/a>\u00a0who took the glowing dolphin videos.<\/p>

“Small dolphin species, especially common dolphins, enjoy riding the pressure wake created by boats (known as bow-riding), so they tend to zoom on over whenever they see a boat approaching,\u201d she explains.<\/p>

And that\u2019s exactly what happened. The dolphins appeared out of nowhere to swim alongside the boat, \u201call while glowing a brilliant blue,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was absolutely surreal, like something out of a movie.\u201d<\/p>

“Don\u2019t ever let anyone tell you magic isn\u2019t real,\u201d says the team at Gone Whale Watching\/Nicole Schriber, Gone Whale Watching\u00a0 <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

Bioluminescent dolphins have only been filmed a handful of times before, she says, and this is some of the brightest bioluminescence they\u2019ve had since 2020.\u00a0<\/p>

“Don\u2019t ever let anyone tell you magic isn\u2019t real,\u201d says Gone Whale Watching on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>

The dolphins were just one of several animals to be lit up by the bioluminescent plankton\/Nicole Schriber, Gone Whale Watching <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

More wildlife stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>