Having a whale of a time! Incredible pictures show playful dolphins racing a huge tanker ship using the boat's wake to propel themselves

Dolphins captured on camera as they played alongside the 73,000 ton German container ship off the Florida coast

On an otherwise calm day the dolphins used the waves from the boat to launch themselves into the air



Photographer Richard Steinberger spotted the pod as he filmed an advertisement from a nearby boat


These pictures capture the moment a group of playful dolphins bravely race a huge 73,000 ton container ship, using the boat's wake to propel themselves high up into the air just feet ahead of the tanker.



On what was an otherwise calm day with few waves, the dolphins took advantage of those created by the massive 984ft long German freighter as it cut through the water some 20 miles south west of Islamorada in Florida's shipping lanes.

Commercial marine photographer Richard Steinberger, from Denver, Colorado, spotted the dolphins from a nearby boat 300m away as he filmed an advertising campaign for Boston Whaler boats.

The 42-year-old said:'We approached within a safe distance of the ship and followed her for a short distance so I was able to capture a handful images. The dolphins only jumped for a couple minutes but we were incredibly fortunate to have witnessed and captured their playfulness.'

He added: 'The whole encounter provided much joy and excitement - and of course the fear of not getting a clean shot as the boat was rocking quite a bit.'

Whale of a time: A group of playful dolphins bravely race a huge 73,000 ton container ship, using the boat's wake to propel themselves high up into the air just feet ahead of the tanker

Making a splash: On what was an otherwise calm day with few waves, the dolphins took advantage of those created by the massive 984ft long German freighter

All at sea: The pod flew out of the sea and into the air as they raced through the water some 20 miles south west of Islamorada in Florida's shipping lanes

Spotted: Commercial marine photographer Richard Steinberger, from Denver, Colorado, spotted the dolphins from a nearby boat 300m away as he filmed an advertising campaign for Boston Whaler boats

Catch of the day: Mr Steinberger said: 'While I was waiting for guys to catch fish, a huge freighter began heading towards us. As it approached we all of a sudden noticed dolphins jumping the bow wake.'

Lucky break: Mr Steinberger said that he was 'incredibly fortunate' to have witnessed the dolphins racing as they only raced for a few minutes