A LARGE dolphin has been spotted in a sighting off Weymouth bay.

Dan Bell, owner of Jurassic Jet Ski Tours, was taking people out for a jet ski trip along the coast when he spotted the much-loved marine mammal.

He said: “We run tours from Weymouth and I had three customers out with me. We were just on a normal routine trip down to Durdle Door and at about Osmington Mills I could see something splashing around and as we got near you could see the dorsal fin.”

The dolphin disappeared under the water just as he was trying to take a video of it, but it soon reappeared.

Dan said: “It went under me and then it came out right in front of me.”

The dolphin followed the group for a while, which Dan thought might have been because it was attracted to the wash of the jet skis.

He said it was definitely not something you see every day out by Weymouth bay and he felt honoured to have seen it.

He said: “I have been jet skiing for seventeen years and I have never seen a dolphin on the jet ski before.”

Dan believed it was a common dolphin, grey in colour, and quite a large one.

He said: “It was at least seven or eight feet long. Quite a big one – as big as me and as big as the jet ski.” 

The group were instructed by Dan to be careful around the dolphin, telling the group that they should let the dolphin come to them. 

He said that those on the trip were very excited by the dolphin’s appearance, adding that it made for a memorable journey out. 

He added: “It is a great sight to see and it pleases the customers.” 

Dan believed the dolphin was in the area because it was following a fishing boat

After it left them, the dolphin headed off west towards Weymouth.

Last month, a pod of thirty dolphins were spotted by people out on the water just off Hengistbury Head, which later put on a playful display at Old Harry Rocks.

The marine mammals are often seen off Dorset coast, especially off Old Harry Rocks, Kimmeridge, Studland and Portland

The Sea Watch Foundation, which monitors dolphin and whale sightings, is currently encouraging more volunteers to count sightings of the creatures off the Dorset coast for them.