14.08.2022 – Simply be in the now

These Sunday morning tours always bring with them a stillness, gentleness and peacefulness. The world is still, the day is fresh and everything is so quiet. Sometimes I also think the silence is still inside people before the day takes its course. This is the intense experience of simply being in the now. It was the same this morning when we encountered the resting, peaceful Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). Their clear, distinct breathing was easily audible. Adjusting yourself to this breathing rhythm will inevitably result that you’re taking deeper breaths yourself. In our hectic times it is so important to pause, take a deep breath and connect with the inside, to re-establish yourself. Pilot whales are excellent teachers for us. I believe that all the guests experienced this intensively as well.

A young animal played around its mother. It kept rolling sideways, raising its flippers, sticking its head out of the water, and diving under its mother. Marine mammals are very tactile creatures. For them, touch is a form of communication. They swim body to body, flipper to flipper. The touch expresses, “You are a part of me”, “I like you., “We stand together.” This confirmation of solidarity contributes to successful life. Pilot whales in particular have strong supportive behavior.

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stayed nearby. They also showed themselves near the boat. These two species can be found together worldwide, but it is not yet clear why they sought each other’s proximity.

Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) were surfing in the bow wave of the Ribeira Brava. Our guests were amazed and fascinated by the curious, lively, sociable dolphins. Spotted dolphins have a tendency to turn people into such a colorful bunch of friends. It makes me happy every time. As you watch them, everything around you stops and at the same time it is in perfect flow. It’s a gift for our hearts.

On our evening tour, we encounter a school of Bottlenose dolphins. As they approach the boat, you can feel their power, experience their elegance and appreciate their impressive size. Bottlenose dolphins are, to us, the most well-known of the dolphins, as unfortunately they are often kept in captivity.

If you want to protect Pilot whales (Tajii/Japan and Faror Islands) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tajii/Japan), you can find our petition page here.

https://www.lobosonda.com/whale-watching/marine-protection/

At the end of this beautiful Sunday I would like to ask you to remember these beautiful encounters with another, compassionate species, I would like to ask you to stop now and then, breathe deeply, connect with your own inner, peaceful place of stillness… this will be a great support for you in these chaotic times of change.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

15:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins

Stenella

10:00 Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins