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Dolphin’s gravity-defying jump caught on camera, dubbed ‘Michael Jordan’ of the sea

Researchers with the Pacific Whale Foundation in Wailuku, Hawaii, captured a pantropical spotted dolphin jumping an estimated 15 feet in the air, dubbing it the "Michael Jordan" of the sea.
Officials with the Pacific Whale Foundation wrote on Instagram that pantropical spotted dolphins grow to about 6 to 7 feet long and weigh around 250 pounds, making such leaps proportionally extraordinary.
Researchers say jumps like this are not unusual for the pantropical species, though the photograph is remarkable for capturing the animal at the very peak of its leap, a rarely seen perspective.
Recently, cameras strapped to dolphins by the National Marine Mammal Foundation recorded 6 months of footage and audio, enabling scientists to study hunting strategies and communication methods of these marine companions.
The Navy and the National Marine Mammal Foundation train and study dolphins to protect American seas, with these animals helping identify undersea mines and safeguard the nation's underwater nuclear stockpiles.

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