posted January 23, 2013 08:37 PM            

While the divers were observing manta rays, they were approached by a bottlenose dolphin. Luckily for all of us, they captured the encounter on video and uploaded it to YouTube. Keller Laros, one of the divers, heard an unusual squeal from the dolphin. Laros realized the dolphin was in distress; a fishing line was wrapped around its pectoral fin. He described how he tried to remove the fishing line: "I was trying to unwrap it, I got the fishing hook out of the pectoral fin. ... I was worried if I tugged on it, it might hurt him more."

The amazing part of the video is how cooperative and gentle the dolphin is as the divers help him. Laros was able to get the hook out and snip the fishing line near the dolphin's mouth.

"The way he came right up and pushed himself into me, there was no question this dolphin was there for help," Laros said. Several YouTube commenters have praised Laros and his team for their effort.

It should also be noted that at the beginning of the video, there is a disclaimer that reads, in part: "We do not advocate attempts by laypersons to rescue marine life. The assistance provided to this dolphin was given by professional divers with thousands of hours of experience at this dive site. It was an unusual event. The compassion extended to this animal by the divers is something we should aspire to do, not criticize."

So far, the rescue has been viewed more than 466,000 times on YouTube. People are in awe of what the divers captured on film and what they were able to do.