07.08.2019 – The madeira sun

The madeira sun is a force to be reckoned with. It makes our island into the little paradise that it is. It shows us graceful dolphins twirling under the surface and brightens up our pictures to ensure bright memories. Like the Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) that are always a joy to see but seem to shine especially as the golden rays bring out the best in them. The sun can also be quite overwhelming, if underestimated it will drain your energy, or leave your scorched, so a water bottle and hat are vital on any midday adventure on Madeira.

Yet strong as these beams of light are, and deeps as they may shine into the clear waters. The deep divers we saw today can still elude them completely! Short finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorynchus) are easily recognised as deep divers because of their large melon-shaped head, that houses a powerful echolocation organ for those deep sea hunts. The feed at a depth of around 300 meters, under the photic zone, with no colour but black and blue and barely any light to speak of. The sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus) we saw today go much deeper than that. After about 1000 meters they reach the aphotic zone, were no light penetrates at all. The only light is the bioluminescence of anglerfish and other little fish, and their favourite prey, the giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is bright red, not that this makes any difference, since red is the first colour to disappear under water. The sperm whale as been recorded at depths of close to 2000m meters, if they can go further, we do not know, some scientists have hypothesised much deeper dives.

This incredible feat of nature is dwarfed by one species we saw today, we were extremely lucky to find Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris). The current deep dive recordholder, adding on another 900 meters for an incredible 2,9 km dive. Able to withstand the crushing pressure they make the longest journey of all to find their food. But as you may have noticed in one of madeira’s many fine restaurants, calamari is delicious and certainly worth the trip.

This succession of deep diving whales that graced us with their presence today is only possible due to the dep waters so unusually close to shore.  Even still, we have to keep our eyes on the horizon, because wen they dive, they disappear. And they are a treat not to be missed.

By Scott Dorssers

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Cuvier’s beaked whale

13:30 Short finned pilot whale

Stenella

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin,

15:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Short finned pilot whale, Sperm whale