15.06.2024 – Change of Plan

Did you know that when loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) leave their nesting sites for the open water, they can more than double their dive time? At home in Florida, they will reach depths just below 30 metres, but here in the open Atlantic, it can be up to 75 metres. An impressive change of plan. Speaking of changes of plan, we had one of our own after a spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) encounter this afternoon. “Ok, guys, the spotters have yet to see anything else,” I said to guests. “We’ll head in and show you a stunning cave on the Madeiran coast line.” We slowly headed, but before too long, Captain Daniel awoke with a call, strangely in English. “So theyre coming towards us,” I heard him say before we puled a full 180. While initially confused, once we reopened the boat, the guests were delighted to realise that making their way towards them were two 14–17-metre-long Sei whales (Balenoptera borealis), the third largest in the Baleen World. While there was some disappointment that we therefore had to miss out on the beautiful Madeiran coat line, it just goes to show that changing plans is not always a bad thing. 

By Peter Worth

Sightings of the Day

Stenella

09:30 Pilot Whale, Bottlenose Dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins, 

13:30 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Atlantic Striped Dolphins

16:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Sei Whale

Ribeira Brava 

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins, 

13:30  Atlantic spotted dolphins