Dance of the dolphins -- 50 dolphins put on amazing display for researchers off County Donegal - VIDEO

Dolphins swimming in Lough Swilly

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Dolphins off the coast of County Donegal at Lough Swilly

Photo by Basking Shark Project

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Dancing dolphins is a rarity but a team of researchers of Ireland’s Northwest coast recently witnessed just that.

The Irish Basking Shark Project research team was recently joined along the Donegal coast by a pod of approximately 50 dolphins. Luckily the team was able to get some amazing footage of the dolphins dancing around the speedboat at Lough Swilly.

The dolphins danced and swam alongside the boat on Friday, before taking a right turn and swimming towards Malin Head. According to the video’s blurb on YouTube, “by evening they had traveled quite a distance, and were en route to Malin Head and onwards.”

A spokesperson from the Basking Shark project told IrishCentral that the crew, both locals involved in the marine rescue services, were out on the water to observe the basking sharks in the area.

For those hoping to catch a glimpse of some truly amazing aquatic wildlife it seems this area of Inishowen, County Donegal, is the place to go. The spokesperson told IrishCentral, “This year we have had orca, killer whales, dolphin, sunfish, seals and harbor porpoise, as well as porbeagle shark.”

However, dolphins travelling in such large numbers in the area are unusual. The spokesman said, “The large number together is unusual. We have had dolphins in small groups, but not normally this large.

“Earlier this year we had a pod of Orca, Killer whales pass by (see video here), as well as basking sharks. This was one of the first confirmed reportings of Orca in Irish waters, captured in detail and providing unquestionable proof.”

For more information on the Basking Shark Project visit their website.

Here’s the footage of the dolphins from “Deep Six” on YouTube:

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