14.11.2024 – The double life

It was only by the time I had set foot on land again today, that I realized that this was my very last trip of the season. A couple of bad weather days were lying ahead of us, and we decided to head out only in the morning. I could not have asked for more, as our Spotter had found one of my very favourite species, Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) close by the shore. I cannot recall having seen Pilot whales as active before – we counted dozens of animals all around us, and I was too surprised to catch any of the leaps which the animals performed out of the water. Just as we had decided to head back to Calheta, we got surprised by a group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). These beautiful dolphins accompanied almost every single day of my season, how strange would it have felt not being able to say goodbye?

It has been an exceptionally exciting, overwhelming, surely at times exhausting but wonderful season. Madeira’s ocean surprised me in so many ways and exceeded my expectations by far. There are many encounters which I will surely never forget, just as I won’t forget many of my guests which enchanted my days with their curiosity and smiles. Our work wouldn’t be possible without or guests, just as my work would have not been possible without the amazing colleagues that I was lucky to share the season with. While I know that some of them (and a part of myself) would prefer to see me settling down on the island, I have decided to leave yet again, at least for now – there are more adventures to follow. I leave you with the wonderful words of Don Blanding, who knew to explain my life much better than I do myself. Goodbye!

By Sarah Kather

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Short-finned Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Short-finned Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins