Diners at Ocean Eddie’s enjoyed dinner as a dolphin performed flips near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Visitors at Ocean Eddie’s Seafood Restaurant in Virginia Beach experienced dinner and a dolphin show on Sunday!
Diners at the restaurant caught a glimpse of a dolphin enjoying time in the sun with flips in the surf. The sea creature could be seen near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.
Virginia Beach Aquarium experts are uncertain whether the acrobatic visitor was a spinner dolphin or a bottlenose dolphin. The dolphin’s belly is dark colored, but bottlenose dolphins usually exhibit a white to pinkish colored belly.
Aquarium spokesperson Kristina Hedgepeth says the behavior is a “bit robust” for spinner dolphins. The animal is breaching the water, but not exhibiting any spinning behavior.
While it’s not entirely clear what the dolphin is doing in the video, educators say dolphins will jump this way to show off, communicate, remove a parasite or simply for enjoyment!
The Virginia Beach Aquarium notes that similar dolphin displays are commonly observed during their dolphin-watching boat tours.
Dolphins can be seen in most of the Chesapeake Bay, according to researchers at the University of Maryland. While the mammals are a frequent sight near Hampton Roads and even the James and York rivers, they can be seen near Annapolis and the Potomac River during the warmer months.
Despite their frequent appearances, dolphins face significant threats including habitat loss, pollution, fishing bycatch, and climate change. Some species also suffer from vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements.
Marine experts also emphasize safety protocols for swimmers: maintain at least 150 feet of distance, avoid separating dolphins (especially mothers and calves), and never enter the water when dolphins are present.
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