04.06.2021 – Our charmers

Before a snorkelling tour I always tell my guests to behave calmly and respectfully in the. Water since our behaviour is directly reflected in that of the dolphins we are encountering. Our snorkelling tours mainly target encounters with Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) one of the most curious animals in our oceans and a magnificent creature to meet in the water.

This morning a medium-sized group of spotted dolphins carefully approached all snorkelers during the activity and carefully inspected each participant as they hovered by. The fearless nature of these dolphins prompts them to immediately approach suspicious looking things in the water to take a closer look and, once they’ve confirmed that all is safe, continue to go about their business. This is what makes spotted dolphins so unique and so important; they are incredibly easy to observe in the wild and proof that confinement is completely unnecessary if you wish to encounter a dolphin.

Our guests were surprised by many more lovely encounters during the tour including a sighting with some bow-riding Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), a peaceful pod of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) and a basking Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).

Our Ribeira Brava didn’t need to venture far to find some dolphins. Our spotter immediately found a group of Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) not far from the coast and later led us to yet another cheeky group of spotted dolphins. Although our guests were happy about all encounters today, the spotted dolphins get the popularity award of the day for making everyone smile so happily.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

14:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Blainville’s beaked whales, Striped dolphins, Loggerhead turtle