A giant pod of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) was sighted by a tour boat off the coast of southern California in February.

Photo of the ‘super mega-pod’ by Antonio Ramirez, a passenger aboard the Hornblower Cruise that spotted the dolphins.

The Captain, Joe Dutra, told NBC San Diego, “They were coming from all directions, you could see them from as far as the eye can see. I’ve seen a lot of stuff out here… but this is the biggest I’ve ever seen, ever.”

Marine mammal expert Sarah Wilkin with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service told NBC San Diego that the large pod could indicate there is an abundance of food in the area. “They’re attracted to kind of the same thing, they might wind up in the same place,” she said. “They’re definitely social animals, they stick together in small groups. But sometimes, the schools come together.”

Captain Dutra said that the pod measured seven miles long and five miles wide.