California may not live up to every movie stereotype, but there’s a reason it’s known for its coastal lifestyle and sandy beaches. There’s nothing quite as magical as being out on the water on a sunny day! You can see marine mammals like sea lions, harbor seals, and whales while cruising California’s coast, but a lucky group of whale watch tour guides recently witnessed something even more magical.
It was a ‘stampede’ of dolphins! The massive pod must’ve included thousands of dolphins, and watching them leaping out of the water by the dozens is simply breathtaking! Luckily, @abc7newsbayarea shared footage of their spectacular find.
It’s like a photograph out of National Geographic came to life before their eyes! This is a moving sight, even on a screen, but I can only imagine how exhilarating it is to watch and photograph in real time.
Related: Tiny Baby Dolphins Learning to Jump Will Make Anyone’s Day
Domenic Biagini, owner and operator of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, was among the lucky group to see the pod. The tour group director estimated there were between 2,000 and 7,000 dolphins!
“A normal-sized pod of common dolphins is somewhere between 100-500,” he explained. “To see a group of that size take off in every direction at the same time is genuinely breathtaking.”
Reactions to the Massive Dolphin Pod
Some commenters were so awe-struck by the pod of dolphins that they didn’t believe what they were seeing. Even though several viewers asked whether this was another AI animal video, everything seems to check out. Other commenters even shared stories of their own dolphin sightings!
“I went whale watching in San Diego back in 2021, and I was able to witness this,” one person explained. “It’s absolutely magical.”
That sounds incredible! November is the ideal time to go dolphin watching in California, but lucky watchers may be spotted year-round. Why not see these beautiful creatures for yourself?
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This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Nov 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.