12.07.2018 – Closer

Everyone who embarks on a whale-watching tour is eager to have close encounters with the animals. The guests this morning had a wonderful sighting involving Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as well as a brush with a small group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) during the snorkeling activity. The spotted dolphins were soaring and spiralling around us in the water, scanning us with clicks and communicating amongst themselves using whistles and burst pulses. The same species also accompanied our traditional boat for some time during todays afternoon tour. Most dolphin species are inquisitive by nature and often approach our boats out of curiosity but this can not be assumed for all members of the toothed whale family.

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), for instance, occasionally approach but, as with most intelligent creatures, whether this happens is a question of character. Some animals are more curious than others like the individuals encountered on todays Stenella noon trip as well as on yesterday’s Stenella afternoon trip. On both occasions one of these gentle giants carefully swam towards our zodiac and slowly drifted alongside our vessel. Furthermore, the crystal clear Madeiran waters allowed us to see the ventral features of the animal that are usually concealed beneath the oceans surface such as its long, slim lower jaw.

It is indeed rewarding to be in the company of such remarkable creatures and watch our guests smile at these encounters. We even had a birthday boy on board the Stenella trip at noon today, who was particularly happy about such a spectacle on his special day. Personally, these are the experiences that make me love my job even more than I already do. The price our guests pay for each trip covers a service where our team does the best it can to provide them with memorable cetacean sightings. Everything apart from that effort is up to the animals themselves and together we show our guests how unbelievably spectacular and diverse our oceans truly are.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins (snorkeling), Bottlenose dolphins

12:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales, Loggerhead turtle