Bottlenose dolphins: Couple sail with pod in Manx waters

A couple from the Isle of Man were lucky enough to sail with a pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins in Manx waters earlier this week.

Orry and Susan Corlett were sailing near Ramsey Bay when they were tipped off by the harbour master that the pod were in the area.

The couple were celebrating Mrs Corlett's birthday and said it was the "best birthday present ever."

Several sightings of the pod have been recorded on the east coast this week.

Mr Corlett said: "We were having a nice sail when we got the call and we couldn't believe our luck.

"We first met them about a mile from Ramsey Bay and sailed with them all the way to Maughold Head. They were so inquisitive and followed us for around 40 minutes.

'Amazing experience'

"We thought they were going to jump in with us at one point," he added.

Common bottlenose dolphins are widespread, except in polar waters. They are extremely sociable and sometimes hunt their prey in teams.

The 61-year-old from Ramsey added: "I've been sailing for more that 40 years and I have never seen one, so to see around 100 in one go was an amazing experience.

"The fact that it happened on my wife's birthday was to good to be true, she was delighted," added Mr Corlett.

The Ramsey couple only returned to the island this year after four years in France and said it was a "once in a life time experience."

The Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch has received several sightings of the pod making its way along the eastern side of the island.