A MAGNIFICENT bottlenose dolphin has been staging its own aqua show in Carmarthen Bay, to the delight of spectators.

Tempted in by warm waters and plentiful fish stocks, the lively creature has been spotted jumping, splashing and cavorting close to both Saundersfoot and Tenby.

There was a grandstand view close to Moknstone Point on two successive nights last week for members of Wiseman's Bridge Rowing Club and others on the water.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority planning officer, Andrew Richards, was among the rowers and was able to take photos and a video.

"It was incredible to see the dolphin from the water so close to the boats, and made for a really memorable evening," said Andrew.

"I believe that it's rare to spot a bottlenose dolphin off the south coast, but recent sighting could be linked to significant fish activity within the bay."

Also out on the water on Wednesday evening was Judy Williams of Penally, who described the sight of the dolphin as 'magical'.

"It was a lovely evening, and the sea was flat calm, and we were watching the dolphin for nearly two hours," she said.

"It must have leapt out of the water hundreds of times, and we could see it catching fish and playing with them. It was absolutely delightful."

The National Park's director of discovery and delivery, James Parkin, said the sighting highlighted that "there really is no substitute for getting out there and enjoying our amazing coastline and the surrounding waters".

"Now is a fantastic time to spot seal pups in the sheltered coves along parts of the coast, either catching glimpse by sea or from the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast path," he said.

Bottlenose dolphins usually live in groups of between 10 and 30 members, called pods, but in 2009 a 'super-pod' of around 1,500 animals was spotted off the Pembrokeshire coast by volunteers from wildlife charity Sea Trust.