10.08.2025 – Calima

Today we could experience a meteorological phenomenon which sometimes happens in summer on the island of Madeira. I speak about Calima. Calima is meteorological phenomenon that occurs when fine sand and dust particles from the Sahara are lifted into the atmosphere and transported by prevailing winds.

This phenomenon reduces the visibility greatly and we felt this effect as we struggled to spot the Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) around 12km from the shore. After finding though we had a beautiful sighting of them also seeing their special behaviour the synchronised swimming.

By Horst Schulte

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Rough-toothed dolphin

13:00 Rough-toothed dolphin

Stenella

09:30 Rough-toothed dolphin

13:30 Rough-toothed dolphin

16:30 Rough-toothed dolphin