08.07.2021 – Lazy hitchhiker

We have experienced a lot of different things today!

A nameless Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in the distance was our first sighting.

Afterwards, we encountered a school of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). This high-sea variant is different from our coastal version, which is resident here, in its physique much stronger. Several animals surfed the bow wave of the Ribeira Brava, including a small calf, in which the birthmarks are still visible.

The Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) spread over a large area and quickly moved west. They, too, had offspring in the group. On a photo, you can also see the birthmarks of the small Pilot whale calf.

We discovered another Loggerhead sea turtle, which was given the honor of a name by our captain Carlos. And so she was baptized Joe. Here we come straight to the title of our blog, “Lazy hitchhiker”. Take a close look! Joe has a little crab friend sitting on top of its carapace. A real oceanic hitchhiker who travels in a lazy way through the blue expanses.

When we discovered ropes floating in the sea, we pulled it out and immediately had the chance to save a number of crabs and a few small fish.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales, Loggerhead turtles