02.09.2025 – Typical

Our day began with a pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) far off the coast of the island. This species typically displays a very interactive behaviour with our boats but does have its “less interactive” days. Associating “typical behaviours is generally a tricky thing; while having such associations helps our team better anticipate a situation, the sighting ultimately depends on the situation at hand. Cetaceans can be busy doing their thing, with little time to spare for eager admirers approaching them on a boat. Respecting these variations in behaviour is essential to achieve a responsible sighting.

While our traditional boat did not manage the sighting of the spotted dolphins in the morning, it shared the sightings of the elusive Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the afternoon. Both species are also subject to variations in behaviour, with the beaked whales often even showing curiosity in our boats. The normally curious Bottlenose dolphins, on the other hand, may react timidly to boats if they already had been observed that day.

This variation in behaviour is one of the many reasons why we do not guarantee sightings for our guests. We simply do not know what to expect, even if we know which animals to expect. The ocean is a beautiful blue expanse of the unexpected, which is why we love it so much.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 No sightings

13:00 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins

16:30 Bottlenose dolphins