13.07.2026 – Diversity

Today, a total of five different species of marine mammals were spotted across our various tours – an impressive demonstration of the remarkable biodiversity found in the waters around Madeira.

The species observed were Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni), Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus).

Madeira’s exceptional diversity of marine mammals is largely due to its unique geographical location. Just a short distance from the coast, the seafloor drops dramatically to depths of several thousand metres. This steep underwater topography promotes the upwelling and mixing of nutrient-rich waters, supporting a highly productive marine ecosystem and a rich food web.

At the same time, the deep waters close to the island provide ideal habitat for squid, the preferred prey of many deep-diving marine mammals. Species such as Blainville’s beaked whales, Risso’s dolphins, and short-finned pilot whales are specialised deep divers, regularly foraging at depths of several hundred to well over a thousand metres. This unique combination of deep ocean habitats and productive waters makes Madeira one of Europe’s finest destinations for observing a remarkable variety of whales and dolphins.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Tropical whale, Pilot whales

13:00 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Tropical whale

16:30 Bottlenose dolphins,

Steno

09:30 Tropical whale, Pilot whales

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales, Risso’s dolphins