WATCH: Video of dolphins off the coast of San Diego goes viral

A video of a pod of dolphins playing and jumping through the air in the waters off the coast of San Diego has gone viral, garnering millions of views.

The video, shot by local company Gone Whale Watching, shows dolphins performing incredible aerial acrobatics near San Diego. Photographer Erica Sackrison told CBS8 that it almost felt like the dolphins were “doing Olympic-style jumps, like they were all trying to be like Simone Biles and just touch the sky and come down.”

According to Gone Whale Watching, conditions along the San Diego coast are currently ideal for whale, shark and dolphin watching, and in recent months the team has observed an influx of aquatic life into the waters.

Whale-watching company guides say the good weather and clear waters make sightings much easier, but add that there is likely to be a boom in local squid populations – a popular food source for both great white sharks and dolphins.

For the most part, the dolphins and sharks stay relatively far from San Diego beaches, meaning you'll likely need to take a boat or join a whale-watching tour to see them. If you have access to a boat, Gone Whale Watching advises keeping your speed as low as possible because “you don't know what might be just beneath the surface.”

Want to see dolphins, sharks or whales in San Diego? Check out our guide to the best whale watching tours in La Jolla.

Media credit: Image licensed from Adobe Stock

Mike Peterson is a San Diego-based writer, editor and strategist. When he's not writing and editing the La Jolla News, he can often be found practicing yoga, rock climbing or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.