When we pulled out to sea heading to Prince Rupert Island, I noticed some unusual patterns of movement in the water. Once I zeroed in on the anomaly, I could see what I thought were dolphins. I could see a group of them seemingly playing a good distance from our ship.

With the help of AI technology, my guess was wrong. They turned out to be several Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli). It is the largest porpoise species, known for its distinctive black and white markings, robust body, and high-speed swimming in the North Pacific Ocean. Unlike most porpoises, they are very social and actively bow-ride fast-moving vessels, creating a unique “rooster tail” splash as they surface. They are named after naturalist William Healey Dall and are considered the fastest small cetacean, reaching speeds of up to 34 mph.