17.07.2017- A good host

Our team at Lobosonda has the absolute privilege of observing the diverse variety of cetaceans roaming the Madeiran waters every day during whale-watching trips. It is a privilege we have the pleasure to consciously acknowledge over and over again and it is what makes our job so fulfilling. Seeing dolphins underwater and watching them interact with you is another experience altogether. It’s difficult to describe how remarkable this encounter is and every guest we accompany during our snorkeling excursions has the fantastic opportunity to create their own memories with these beautiful animals underwater.

Our speedboat Stenella was absolutely surrounded by Atlantic spotted dolphins this morning and our guests were thrilled and, in all honesty, so was I. There were at least 30 individuals, juveniles and adults, inspecting and interacting with us underwater. What made this tour even more special was the cooperation on the part of our guests. With their calm and respectful demeanor, the memorable experience was complete and the smiles on all our faces enormous as we returned to the Lobosonda office.

During the midday trip the same group of dolphins surrounded the Stenella vessel almost as if they recognized us and were expecting us to return into the water. The animals were in the middle of a feeding when we arrived and, once their bellies were full, swam up to greet us with their usual charming behavior. They leapt, surfed the waves of the boat and adapted their swimming speed at the bow to turn up and look at us. It truly never gets boring with Atlantic spotted dolphins. Before encountering the spotted dolphins, we were able to observe a small school of Bottlenose dolphins in the middle of a travel dive. Although less interactive, the sheer size of the animals and their group dynamic also never fails to impress us.

 The ocean can be a formidable place for human beings but, if treated with respect and caution, it spits out magic and memories for us to treasure. We are the guests out there and the Atlantic ocean really is a fantastic host.

by Paula Thake

Todays Sightings:

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins (Snorkelling)

12:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

15:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins