A skipper in Brighton was sailing through “perfect conditions” when he had an incredible encounter with common dolphins.
Skipper Kurt Lander saw six dolphins in the water but he knew the best way to share a magical moment with them was to let them choose whether they wanted to come close.
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"This footage from Kurt Lander is an excellent example of how a respectful approach to dolphins usually leads to the best encounters,” says Thea Taylor, managing director of Sussex Dolphin Project.
“After seeing dolphins in the distance, Kurt slowed down, maintained his course and gave the dolphins plenty of space, allowing the cetaceans to dictate the interaction,” says Taylor.
The result was spectacular. The pod swam over to Lander’s boat and enjoyed a bow ride: surfing on the waves created at the front of the vessel.
“Keep an eye out for the dolphin with a unique scar, which seems to have healed well and doesn’t appear to be affecting movement or behaviour,” adds Sussex Dolphin Project when sharing the footage on its Instagram.
If you see a dolphin in Sussex waters, you can report your sighting to help the charity with its research.
Image and video credit: Kurt Lander
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