Drone captures pod of dolphins swimming alongside boat

By Mark Hodge @Mrhodgey

A POD of playful dolphins are filmed swimming alongside a boat by a flying drone camera

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Videographer / Director: Kurt Roll
Producer: Mark Hodge, Chloe Browne
Editor: Kyle Waters

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Front seat: Kurt's drone captures the dolphins as they swim along with the vessel

This incredible footage was captured by filmmaker Kurt Roll, 15 miles off the coast of San Diego, California.

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Bird's eye view: the playful dolphins enjoy being propelled by the current of the boat

The phenomenon of dolphins swimming with sea vessels is known as 'bow riding’, where the intelligent mammals enjoy being propelled by the current of the boat.

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Deep blue sea: The pod of dolphins swim in synchronicity

This unique video, shot in 2014, shows the loveable creatures weaving between each other as they glide through the surf, while leaping out of the ocean as they race the boat.

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Kurt previously filmed dolphins 'bow riding' under the water before he attempted the drone footage

And Kurt, 58, insisted that filming the group of around 50 dolphins from an aerial perspective was an amazing experience.

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The intelligent mammals clearly enjoy swimming along with the fast moving sea vessel

He said: “I hadn't filmed dolphins with my drone before but I had previously captured whales in a similar way.

“There were roughly 50 dolphins swimming along with my boat, but in the past I have seen hundreds - they are common to the San Diego area.”

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Filmmaker Kurt Roll on his boat, as it cuts through the ocean's deep blue water

California native Kurt has 30 years experience in flying remote control aircraft and photography.

In 2013, he filmed a similar group of dolphins in Baja California, Mexico, swimming underwater alongside his boat.

He said: “I absolutely loved watching these amazing animals move and people really seem to love my video – who doesn't love dolphins?”