Soon after leaving the Marina, we got the call from Vigia Carlos, that there is a pod if dolphins 2 miles out of Calheta. Both our vessels headed that way and while guests onboard the Stenella enjoyed a family of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis), our traditional fishing vessel was lucky to spot a pod of Pilotwhales (Globicephala macrorhyncus) on the way there. This pod included three small calfs, that were probably only a few days old as we could still see the fetal folds on their body by being fold up in the belly of their mother. There is just something about animal babies – but those ones were especially adorable! Pilotwhales aswell as Spotted Dolphins stayed with us for the afternoon tour.
When we departed from the harbor in the evening, we started the tour with a ocean discovery as our Spotter couldn’t find anything yet. Things turn fast on the ocean and soon we got a call there’s a few Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) out. Daniel our skipper showed the perks of our fast Zodiak and in almost full speed we made it to the Sperm whales in short time. Those bull sperm whales really leave an impression and seeing them fluke as a display for a deep dive is one of my favorite shows in whale watching! We counted around 5 sperm whales diving.. how exciting those times are having deep divers around!
by Paulina Kalita
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Pilot whale, Atlantic Spotted dolphins
15:00 Atlantic Spotted dophins
Stenella
9:30 Pilot whale, Atlantic Spotted dolphins
14:00 Pilot whale, Atlantic Spotted dolphins
17:00 Sperm whale