Undergrad students from the University of Exeter were amazed when their underwater camera caught a lively pod of dolphins and at least one shark – all in under 10 minutes.
The students deployed a BRUV (baited remote underwater video camera) during a field trip in the Azores and were hoping to see predatory fish, perhaps even blue sharks, which can be found in these waters in the summer.
They weren’t disappointed as animals quickly thronged around the camera. “This was a really special deployment,” says Phil Doherty, a marine conservation science lecturer at the University of Exeter, Penryn Campus. "There was a huge amount of activity and life on the days we were deploying the cameras.”
First, they saw Atlantic spotted dolphins. “We could hear their clicks and whistles first before they appeared on camera in pretty large numbers,” he says.
Once the dolphins had finished playing, they left the camera.
But the action wasn’t over yet. “All went quiet,” says Doherty, then a few minutes later “a large blue shark appeared out of the blue and scratched itself on the rig and checked out the bait.”
- "What a sight" Gigantic sharks filmed leaping off Irish coast
- Drones capture lemon sharks hunting 'jaguar' fish in Brazil
The Azores – a remote archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean – is known for its spectacular marine life.
"The Azores is situated in incredibly deep water but has a high density of seamounts that create biodiversity hotspots, attracting large, migratory species,” says Doherty.
In this region, lots of different ocean currents mix together. “Due to these factors, the Azores is a hub of activity for large marine vertebrates, especially whales and dolphins.”
Top image: Azores underwater camera. Credit: University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation (Penryn based)
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
- 'Walking sharks' found off Australian coast. A closer look reveals extraordinary new discovery
- Spy camera dropped into sea off Washington coast and left there for more than 100 days. This is why
- Mega-shark remains found on beach in Australia. Experts say it was absolutely massive
- "Totally surreal": exceptionally rare white whale amazes divers in Tonga
