Diners at Ocean Eddie’s enjoyed dinner as a dolphin performed flips near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.<\/p>\n
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. \u2014 Visitors at Ocean Eddie’s Seafood Restaurant in Virginia Beach experienced dinner and a dolphin show on Sunday!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Virginia Beach Aquarium experts are uncertain whether the acrobatic visitor was a spinner dolphin or a bottlenose dolphin. The dolphin\u2019s belly is dark colored, but bottlenose dolphins usually exhibit a white to pinkish colored belly.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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!<\/p>\n
The Virginia Beach Aquarium notes that similar dolphin displays are commonly observed during their dolphin-watching boat tours.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n