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02-22-2010, 07:29 AM
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Every dolphin's gone surfin'! Stunning pictures as hundreds play among some monster waves
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 10:41 PM on 17th February 2010
These huge breakers would put the fear of God into most surfers. But when you're a dolphin, they can only mean one thing: Playtime.
Gliding effortlessly through the ocean these masters of the ocean made light work of waves up to 25 feet high.
In pods of up to 400, the creatures crowded into the swell of the water as it broke. And with seemingly little effort they tore through the surf, leaping high in the air as they went.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CBE7000005DC-650_964x415.jpg
Formation fins: The dolphins form a line as the wave builds up heading towards the shore in South Africa
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CE75000005DC-653_964x453.jpg
On a crest of a wave: In pods up to 400-strong, these surfing dolphins made light work of monster waves up to 25 feet high
At points some of the more daring dolphins achieved jumps up to 20 feet high, appearing to spring straight over the powerful walls of water. Others burst through the wave in perfect formation.
Photographer Greg Huglin snapped these incredible pictures on the south coast of South Africa.
The 57-year-old dad-of-two, from Santa Barbara in California, said: 'The first time I saw dolphins surfing the waves I was completely blown away.
'I was in South Africa filming white sharks and happened to stop in a small town where a shop was advertising dolphin and whale watching boat tours.
'I went along and after that I spent three months every year for the next six years filming and photographing the dolphins.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CBD9000005DC-251_964x576.jpg
Leaping high: At points some of the more daring dolphins achieve jumps up to 20 feet, appearing to spring straight over the powerful walls of water
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251711-0854CBE1000005DC-310_964x596.jpg Snap: Professional photographer and film-maker Greg Huglin snapped these incredible pictures on the south coast of South Africa
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251711-0854D224000005DC-691_964x550.jpg Surf's up: Like humans, it is possible the dolphins take to the surf for pure enjoyment
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CE81000005DC-178_964x654.jpg
Masters of the ocean: The dolphins are clearly having fun as another giant wave builds up
'You can see them surfing any time during the day. Sometimes an entire pod is asleep and suddenly they all wake up and go ballistic.
'I've seen them go from practically dormant to having 200 of them frantically trying to escape a pod of approaching orcas.
'The transition from sleep to panic takes only seconds.'
Like humans, it is possible the dolphins take to the surf for pure enjoyment.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251711-0854CBCD000005DC-99_964x578.jpg Solo flight: Mr Huglin has built a huge collection of breathtaking photographs and film, which show the animals in action
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854D469000005DC-85_964x582.jpg
A packed ocean: The huge collection of dolphins playing off the shoreline
But Mr Huglin believes there could be other reasons behind their attraction to the waves.
He said: 'I believe they do it for fun but it may also have something to do with mating and chasing potential partners.
'It might also be something to do with hiding from predators - the wave sounds help mask their location.'
Mr Huglin has built a huge collection of breathtaking photographs and film, which show the animals in action.
He said: 'I can't ever get enough of filming dolphins. They're so unpredictable and move so fast.
'Getting shots of them surfing waves is really difficult but I love it.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1251711/Every-dolphins-gone-surfin-Stunning-pictures-hundreds-glide-monster-waves.html#ixzz0gGd65fxN (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1251711/Every-dolphins-gone-surfin-Stunning-pictures-hundreds-glide-monster-waves.html#ixzz0gGd65fxN)
Every dolphin's gone surfin'! Stunning pictures as hundreds play among some monster waves
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 10:41 PM on 17th February 2010
These huge breakers would put the fear of God into most surfers. But when you're a dolphin, they can only mean one thing: Playtime.
Gliding effortlessly through the ocean these masters of the ocean made light work of waves up to 25 feet high.
In pods of up to 400, the creatures crowded into the swell of the water as it broke. And with seemingly little effort they tore through the surf, leaping high in the air as they went.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CBE7000005DC-650_964x415.jpg
Formation fins: The dolphins form a line as the wave builds up heading towards the shore in South Africa
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CE75000005DC-653_964x453.jpg
On a crest of a wave: In pods up to 400-strong, these surfing dolphins made light work of monster waves up to 25 feet high
At points some of the more daring dolphins achieved jumps up to 20 feet high, appearing to spring straight over the powerful walls of water. Others burst through the wave in perfect formation.
Photographer Greg Huglin snapped these incredible pictures on the south coast of South Africa.
The 57-year-old dad-of-two, from Santa Barbara in California, said: 'The first time I saw dolphins surfing the waves I was completely blown away.
'I was in South Africa filming white sharks and happened to stop in a small town where a shop was advertising dolphin and whale watching boat tours.
'I went along and after that I spent three months every year for the next six years filming and photographing the dolphins.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CBD9000005DC-251_964x576.jpg
Leaping high: At points some of the more daring dolphins achieve jumps up to 20 feet, appearing to spring straight over the powerful walls of water
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251711-0854CBE1000005DC-310_964x596.jpg Snap: Professional photographer and film-maker Greg Huglin snapped these incredible pictures on the south coast of South Africa
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251711-0854D224000005DC-691_964x550.jpg Surf's up: Like humans, it is possible the dolphins take to the surf for pure enjoyment
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854CE81000005DC-178_964x654.jpg
Masters of the ocean: The dolphins are clearly having fun as another giant wave builds up
'You can see them surfing any time during the day. Sometimes an entire pod is asleep and suddenly they all wake up and go ballistic.
'I've seen them go from practically dormant to having 200 of them frantically trying to escape a pod of approaching orcas.
'The transition from sleep to panic takes only seconds.'
Like humans, it is possible the dolphins take to the surf for pure enjoyment.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251711-0854CBCD000005DC-99_964x578.jpg Solo flight: Mr Huglin has built a huge collection of breathtaking photographs and film, which show the animals in action
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-0-0854D469000005DC-85_964x582.jpg
A packed ocean: The huge collection of dolphins playing off the shoreline
But Mr Huglin believes there could be other reasons behind their attraction to the waves.
He said: 'I believe they do it for fun but it may also have something to do with mating and chasing potential partners.
'It might also be something to do with hiding from predators - the wave sounds help mask their location.'
Mr Huglin has built a huge collection of breathtaking photographs and film, which show the animals in action.
He said: 'I can't ever get enough of filming dolphins. They're so unpredictable and move so fast.
'Getting shots of them surfing waves is really difficult but I love it.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1251711/Every-dolphins-gone-surfin-Stunning-pictures-hundreds-glide-monster-waves.html#ixzz0gGd65fxN (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1251711/Every-dolphins-gone-surfin-Stunning-pictures-hundreds-glide-monster-waves.html#ixzz0gGd65fxN)