15.05.2018 – Teamwork
May 23, 2018
17.05.2018 – Difficult undertaking
May 27, 2018
Today it was clear that the ocean wouldn’t be calm but definitely manageable. Out there the wind picked up quickly and we experienced a wild and beautiful sea. Lucky where we were, we met a fast travelling school of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), or was it the other way around, and did they meet us? To observe these powerful, strong Bottlenose dolphins which happily swam in our bow, circulating all around us and to hear their sounds was for sure an amazing, close, unforgettable experience for our guests as was as for the crew as well. One expression fits perfectly: Sensational!
On our way back, Filipe our attentive captain saw a breaching Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the distance. With sure instinct Filipe approached the area but no whale was in sight, then suddenly the whale breached another time close by. Very well done, Filipe! We saw the animal passing by and then it was gone. Joy, dominance, announce oneself, communication with his conspecifics, remove old skin/parasites? We can only guess what this behavior meant. Anyhow it was amazing!
By Fatima Kutzschbach
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whale
