Passenger Captures Video of 200 Dolphins Racing Behind Ferry
If you’re a tourist taking in the beauty of British Columbia, Canada, a ferry ride across the bay would probably seem magical and breathtaking, a rare chance to soak in the sights of someplace new.
But for locals, the daily ferry ride becomes just another commute. The route is pretty cut and dry, the focus is more on the destination and less about the journey.
But on Dec. 4, experienced ferry rider Henry Irizawa from Comox, British Columbia, experienced an incredible display of wildlife that will make his seemingly routine commute one to remember forever.
Irizawa told CBC News that he was on a ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay. It was a trip he’d made “at least 300 times.”
Then, the captain made an announcement that brought Irizawa to his feet, scrambling to the deck to take in the rare, completely unexpected sight.
From his viewpoint, it seemed the large body of water began to boil, with hundreds of furious, powerful bubbles rising to the surface.
The bubbling, dark shapes were actually Pacific white-sided dolphin, and they were swimming at a breakneck speed alongside the vessel.
Bystanders estimated that the dolphin pod was around 200 strong, leaping and bounding through the bay in an awesome display of God’s creation.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Irizawa told CBC. “It was nothing like I had ever seen.”
“Two hundred dolphins just having so much fun, jumping, racing.”
Irizawa has lived in the area for 10 years, he said, and had never before experienced something so majestic.
The rest of the passengers were left awestruck as well.
“People around me couldn’t speak,” Irizawa said. “It was so exciting.”
Thanks to Irizawa’s raw phone video footage, the rest of the world can see what only a handful of people got to experience in real time.
Irizawa posted the video online, where it quickly spread almost as fast as that dolphin pod.
Irizawa was kind enough to add that no dolphins were injured while swimming alongside the vessel.
All were content to “escort” the ferry through the water for a few magical moments, before changing course and going about their dolphin day.
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