On our first trip today we had the luck to encounter some calves and juveniles of Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). As they are not able to dive as dddeep and long as the adults they normally stay at the surface under the surveillance of an adult animal and they use the time then to play while they have to wait. This was the case today. A calve approached curiously our vessel Stenella and investigated what was happening there. Meanwhile on Ribeira Brava we saw two juveniles playing together with a large plastic bottle. It was simply adorable watching these gentile giants in their natural habitat.
Another sighting today was the Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis). This is a Cochins which visits us in the summer months and it is known for its synchronised swimming like the greek phalanx.
By Horst Schulte
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Sperm whale
13:00 No sighting
Stenella
09:30 Sperm whale
13:30 No sighting
16:30 Rough-toothed dolphins