02.08.2017 – Uplifting

Another day, another snorkelling tour. We had such cooperative and thankful guests today which is always so uplifting because it again manifests a simple truth: you cannot get used to seeing a dolphin underwater. Every time it happens, it’s absolutely remarkable.

Our boat was bursting with enthusiasm as we dashed out with the Stenella to the spot where the animals were seen by our spotter. Our younger guests were particularly eager to get into the water and handled the physical endurance needed for this activity incredibly well. The calm and respectful behavior of the accompanying adults in the water only made this trip even more rewarding for us.

The guests on all the other trips also managed to encounter Atlantic spotted dolphins and in the later afternoon pilot whales were seen on both vessels and the Ribeira Brava crew even managed to localize a Sei whale. This enormous and gentle creature is often mistaken for its close relative, the Bryde Whale, another baleen whale roaming the Madeiran waters during the summer months. These whales are the third largest baleen whales, challenged in size only by the Blue- and the Fin whale, with animals reaching body lengths of up to 20m.

by Paula Thake

Todays Sightings:

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Pilot whales, Sei Whale

Stenella

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins

18:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Pilot whales