12.07.2020 – Wave rider

Our Ribeira Brava set out onto a calm Atlantic on this hot midsummer morning and it didn’t take long until a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) inquisitively approached our traditional boat. Even on a very calm ocean, our boats create some subtle waves and several species of dolphin use these waves to economise energy as they travel. Spotted dolphins tend to instantly approach our boats when we enter a sightings area and ride the waves at our bow before darting to the back of the boat and using its wake to glide at the surface. This usually means that our boats are literally surrounded by these inquisitive creatures, making the sighting even more spectacular! The clear water around the archipelago enabled us to fully admire the different spot patterns on the individual dolphins, allowing us to distinguish grey, spotless juveniles from the more mature, darkly spotted adults.

After enjoying a sighting with the spotted dolphins, our masked crew and guests decided to brave the midday heat and head to the coastal waters of Ponta do Sol to check another possible sighting. As we approached the area our spotter soon informed us that the activity he had observed at the surface must’ve been that of tuna or another pelagic school of fish. This prompted us to slowly head back to Calheta along the coastline, allowing our guests to admire the quaint villages of Madalena do Mar and Ponta do Sol on the way.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins