12:51, 07 Nov 2025Updated 12:59, 07 Nov 2025
This is the amazing moment a curious dolphin joined a group of kayakers for a paddle in Scotland.
Hugo Foley, 28, says it was an “epic” surprise when the mammal joined them as they paddled under the Forth Bridge in South Queensferry, Edinburgh.
Footage shows the dolphin swimming between the kayaks and inspecting their paddles while the group look.
Hugo, who is originally from Hull, East Yorks., says that the dolphin swam around them for 15 to 20 minutes.
He says this was his first experience like it – despite paddling there regularly.
Hugo said: “We usually spot seals when we are there, but never a dolphin. It was quite incredible really.
“We thought we would just see it for two minutes and it would be off, but the dolphin was really curious about us and just spent like 15 minutes interacting with the group.
“It was very playful. The whole thing was just immense. It was just epic.”
Hugo, who has been in Scotland for 12 years and co-founded water sports company Driftwood Adventure, posted the video from October 18 to social media which received a lot of attention.
From the post, he discovered that the dolphin is very popular with locals and has been nicknamed Derek.
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He added: “It seems to be a bit of a celebrity this dolphin. When we posted it online a lot of the locals had commented saying it was Derek the dolphin.
“He is quite well known and well-liked around the area.
“I thought like a thousand people would see my video, but it has had like half a million views. It is getting lots of positive feedback.”
Dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected by law, and it is an offence to intentionally approach or recklessly disturb these animals.
The government guidance on what to do when encountering a dolphin is to slow down, stay at least 100 metres away, never encircle them, and do not touch or feed them.