A breathtaking dolphin display captivated researchers off the Haifa coast this week, as a large pod of mothers and calves performed continuous leaps for more than an hour during a deep-sea survey.The event was documented on Tuesday by scientists from the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa’s School of Marine Sciences, together with the Delphis NGO. The dolphins were also recorded acoustically, and researchers are now analyzing whether two different whale species were heard during the survey.
Footage of the dolphins
(Video: Eden Barzilay)
Unique glimpse into dolphin behavior
“This sighting of bottlenose dolphins at such distance and depth, far from fishing boats, gives us a rare look at behaviors not often observed,” said Yaeli Mevorach, a doctoral student studying cetacean communication. “It raises fascinating questions: Do completely separate pods remain offshore at all times? What drives them away from the coast?”
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Dolphins off the coast of Haifa
(Photo: Dr. Aviad Scheinin)
Dr. Aviad Scheinin, head of top-predator research at the station and a co-founder of Delphis, said the pod displayed rich social behaviors. “We observed group resting and an endless jumping display,” he said. “These findings reinforce the understanding that the Carmel slope is a vital habitat for marine mammals in Israel’s deep waters and highlight the importance of continued research, documentation, and protection.”
The survey was conducted aboard the University of Haifa’s research vessel Sagitta, in cooperation with the EcoOcean association, as part of an ongoing study of Israel’s deep-sea Carmel slope that began in 2022 under Scheinin’s leadership.
According to Scheinin, the area records unusually frequent visual and acoustic observations of marine mammals compared to Israel’s other deep-water zones. The unique topography, he noted, brings deep-sea habitats much closer to shore than along Israel’s southern coastline.