02.07.2025 – Spyhopping Sperm whales

In the morning, our boats encountered two groups of friendly Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). The animals were loving the high swell and were showing off some acrobatic behaviour. Bow-riding animals also included a number of calves which is always lovely to observe.

Atlantic spotted dolphins were encountered for the rest of the day and were joined with some additional species. We saw Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris). The Sperm whales were especially exciting today as they were spyhopping. Spyhopping is a behaviour for which the animal raises its head vertically out of the water, apparently to have a look around, before smoothly sinking back beneath the surface. In my opinion, incredibly cute!

By Hannah Carstens

Sightings of the Day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Loggerhead sea turtle

13:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Striped dolphins, Sperm whales

16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Striped dolphins, Sperm whales, Blainville’s beaked whales