[VIDEO:] Local Waters Overrun (Overswum?) by “Dolphin Stampede”


You may have seen the reports on the recent giant squid invasion in Orange County waters.

We included video of this from one boat operator out of Dana Harbor.

Now a second has posted an eye-opening video of its own, but it's not of giant squid wreaking havoc but a “dolphin stampede.”
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“A
huge pod of about 1,000 Common Dolphins stampeded off the coast of Dana
Point, California, like a herd of wild horses,” explains Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale
Safari. “This has happened twice
recently though it is very rare. The line of wild dolphins could be seen
from miles away churning up the water and, to the delight of whale
watching passengers and crew aboard  the dolphins turned and stampeded directly over to the boat.
Often this unusual behavior happens without warning and without any
observable cause, as was the case this time.”

[VIDEO:] Giant Squid is the Dana Wharf Star But Its Catcher Also Gives a Strong Performance

Capt. Dave's posted this video on YouTube Jan. 6, and it already had nearly 500,000 views as of this afternoon:

Perhaps anticipating some “blowhole” back, Capt. Dave included this “special note” with the footage:

There
has never been a case of a dolphin being struck by a whale watching
boat prop in the history of whale watching in Southern California, as
far as I am aware. If this ever occurred the passengers who love
dolphins as much as we do would immediately report it. And with social
media everyone would know. We have deep water off California and the
dolphins are completely aware of our prop and that it is moving. They
can and do easily stay away if they choose too, though most nearby
dolphins come over to the front of any passing boat to surf the pressure
wave created by the boat moving through the water.

When we first
started whale watching many years ago we had the same concerns and
asked the government body in charge of such things, NOAA, if we should
take any special precautions with our propellers, etc., and they told us
that they had never had a report of a dolphin being struck by a prop in
our area and not to worry about this. We would never do anything to
hurt these animals, which I have personally risked my life to save. And
anyone who continues to believe so has never been out with us to see
what we do. Or is simply ill informed, like we once were.

His company broadcasts live from http://www.whalewatchingtv.com. If you'd like to hop aboard the good captain's tub, phone 949.488.2828 or visit http://www.dolphinsafari.com or http://www.facebook.com/dolphin.whale.watching.

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