Photographer Captures Video of Awe-Inspiring 'Super-Pod' of Thousands of Dolphins

This isn't the first time we've seen a dolphin stampede with thousands of the marine mammals, but that doesn't make this latest footage of a rare, "super-pod" event any less epic.

Photographer Chase Jarvis from Seattle captured the event, which he describes on his blog as a "top 10 life moment" off the coast of South Africa. Jarvis writes on his blog that he and a colleague were sailing when the water appeared to "boil" with bait fish for about a mile -- in all directions. He calls this a "ball of bait fish." Then they saw the dolphins.

Here's his account:

Only then did we realize we were experiencing the rare “superpod” of dolphins. Not dozens, not hundreds, but thousands of them — so thick you could have walked across their backs had they been game for it.

As they approached our boat and quickly surrounded us, our cameras were blazing…every camera, iPhone, point-and-shoot, DSLR, GoPros, every camera imaginable was firing off frames…until we realized that they were with us, and that the moment was actually too rare to shoot photos. After just a few minutes, we all put down our cameras, we stopped talking, and we simply took in the beauty with our eyes. In all of my days as a photographer, there have only been a handful where I’ve been witnessing / participating in an event like this and simply stopped shooting to take it in. This was one of those moments.

Watch the few minutes of footage that was recorded of the event:

Check out Jarvis' blog post for more information and to see some still shots of the dolphin "stampede" here.

Related:

• Day at Brazilian Beach Turns Into Amazing Dolphin Rescue Mission
• California Rescuers Strategize the Best Way to Get Stuck Dolphin Back to Sea
• Trust Us: This Video of a Dolphin Being Birthed Is Fascinating
• Why Are Hundreds of Dolphins Dead on Peruvian Beaches

(H/T: The Grind)