A high-flying dolphin put on a spectacular show as it shot 15 feet into the air off the coast of Hawaii — and experts from the Pacific Whale Foundation have dubbed the aquatic acrobat the Michael Jordan of its species.
The conservation group shared a snapshot of the critter on social media that was captured by a member of its research team and assured followers that the phenomenal photo was “not AI.”
Pacific Whale Foundation/Instagram
Likening the fab flipper to the retired basketball great who was nicknamed Air Jordan for his extraordinary leaping abilities on the court, the foundation estimated that the “Air Dolphin” flew upward at a distance measuring more than twice its length.
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The pantropical spotted dolphin, which typically weighs around 250 pounds and grows to about six to seven feet long, put on the energetic display near Maui’s west shore.
Larger species of dolphins have been known to soar 20 feet over the surface of the water — but this more petite porpoise was definitely punching above its weight.
“If a human could match this feat relative to their body size, it would be like jumping clear over a basketball hoop,” the foundation explains in their social media post.
The stunt earned kudos from fans on Instagram with one commenter joking, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain squeaking — uh speaking. We’ll be cruising at an altitude of … well, honestly I’m just winging it … Flight attendants, please prepare the snacks — preferably fish.”
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