A rare sighting of 30 dolphins performing incredible tricks and huge jumps has been captured on camera just a few hundred feet off the English coast.

The large pod of dolphins can be seen swimming in synchronisation and leaping over heights of 10ft in the air together.

Spectators on the boat were stunned as the playful dolphins swam up to them and started entertaining them – and carried on playing for them for two hours.

A rare sighting of 30 dolphins performing incredible tricks and huge jumps has been captured on camera just a few hundred metres off the English coast

The large pod of dolphins can be seen swimming in synchronisation and leaping over heights of 10ft in the air together

The footage captured by student Daisy Blake, 18, from Ventnor, shows the bottlenose dolphins performing jumps and somersaults for spectators

The pod of acrobatic dolphins were keen on impressing and at their closest to the shore were just 650ft away from the beach in Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

Incredible footage of the ‘amazing experience’ captured by student Daisy Blake, 18, from Ventnor, shows the bottlenose dolphins performing jumps and somersaults for spectators.

Husband and wife Sean and Lucy Strevens were out on their boat with the other spectators when the dolphins approached them to play.

Mr Strevens, 51, and Mrs Strevens, 33, live in Ventnor together and were stunned to see so many of them so close to shore.

The pod of acrobatic dolphins were keen on impressing and at their closest to the shore were just 200 metres away from the beach in Ventnor, Isle of Wight

The pod played along with the boat full of tourists for around two hours, leaping out of the water together

One passenger described how it was the closest he had ever been to dolphins despite spending most of his life travelling the world

Boat designer, Sean, said: ‘It was a great experience, I’ve been fishing in that area for 13 years so to see that many was amazing.

‘It was unexpected too, it’s so rare to see a big group like that. It makes it that much more special when you do because you know it doesn’t happen often.

‘The boat we were on is ours, the dolphins really enjoyed the attention we were giving them.

‘They weren’t in a rush to go anywhere and they were just happy to perform for us.’

Spectators on the boat were stunned as the playful dolphins swam up to them and started entertaining them

Another passenger had been fishing in the area for some 13 years, but had never seen so many at one time

The pod of acrobatic dolphins were keen on impressing and at their closest to the shore were just 200 metres away from the beach in Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Also on the boat was Jamie Bowden, 59, who said he has spent his life travelling the world but has never been so close to so many dolphins.

Mr Bowden, who used to work for British Airways and lives in Ventnor, said: ‘I was very lucky to get up close and see the dolphins, rather than just from the shore.

‘I’ve spent most of my life travelling the world, but I have never been so close to so many dolphins before.

‘The whole experience was incredible, they were really acrobatic and loved showing off.

‘They would leap into the air together, it was remarkable to see how high they could jump.

‘There were lots of people on the shoreline watching, getting a great view of the acrobatics – but their view was not as good as ours!’

People were watching from the shoreline but the best view was saved for those on the boats at sea

Passengers described the whole experience as ‘incredible’ and said that the animals enjoyed ‘showing off’

Seeing so many dolphins at one time performing tricks and jumps is rare around the English coastline