15.09.2021 – It’s the little things..

While every encounter at sea is greatly appreciated by our team and guests, the most awe is directed at the biggest… but also at the smallest of animals! Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) are one of the smallest cetacean species visiting Madeira’s waters but what they lack in size they make up for in character! Their curious nature has earned them the reputation of being one of the easiest cetaceans to observe and study in the wild, making them an ambassador species against captivity! 

These inquisitive dolphins are one of the two cetaceans species in Madeira where commercial snorkelling is permitted, which can mean a lot of pressure from different boats when only few spotted dolphins are moving through the waters the south coast. Today our crew got into a situation we’d rather avoid; we snorkelled with a group of dolphins in Funchal, the most congested area along the South coast. As we entered the water, two catamarans began approaching the area so we kept the encounter very brief to avoid overburdening the animals. The impact on the extensively observed group was obvious; the animals began swimming briskly south and were avoiding all contact with the boats. Our guests saw the reaction of the dolphins and agreed with our decision to keep things short and were all simply happy to have met these wonderful creatures in the water. 

Together with their similarly sized but extremely evasive taxonomic cousins, the Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), our crew also managed a sighting with a few shy Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), the largest of all toothed whales. We also met some more groups of Atlantic spotted dolphins, including one that had the tiniest calf, that may have been born fairly recently. 

Whether they may be big or small, our team does its best to be as vigilant and careful as possible with all encountered creatures in the ocean and this often results in brilliant sightings. 

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Striped dolphins

15:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella 

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Striped dolphins, Loggerhead turtle

14:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Sperm whales

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins