17.07-2019 – Far and wide

Today started with quite a tricky morning, as our Stenella took off to find a giant far from shore. We had to look far and wide to find sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the deep waters far due south west of Madeira.

These calm creatures, catching their breath at the surface between dives may seem like gentle giants. However, to the fish and squid of the deep sea they are the scariest things in the dark. Diving down with perfect echolocation they will lock onto a prey that has no idea what’s coming. And before they know what happened they are inside the whale’s stomach.

But impressive as they might be to see, they don’t make for a good snorkelling experience. Although sperm-whales tend to be indifferent to humans, an accidental slap from a tail of an animal that can easily weigh 50 tonnes could do a lot of damage.

Luckily, the Ribeira Brava found some Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), a very active group, playing in the waves. And one quick call ensured an unforgettable snorkelling experience for our morning tour.

The winds out west can be strong around Madeira and the waves that come with it tend to hide the animals well. But as our brave guests kept their eyes on the sea, all our trips managed to successfully find either the sperm whales or spotted dolphins that were roaming these waters today.

Although quite different members of the cetacean family, both these species belong to the toothed whales and share the same ancestors. Using the same tools: a strong tail, a sensitive echolocation system and a powerful bite, these skilled predators have evolved in very different ways to become what they are today, yet both masters of the hunt!

We were lucky to see them as always.

By scott Dorssers

Sightings of the day

Stenella

9:00 Sperm whale, Atlantic spotted dolphin

15:30 Sperm whale, Atlantic spotted dolphin

Ribeira Brava

9:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin

13:30 Sperm whale