19.09.2021 – Saving the day

The ocean didn’t look very promising to our spotter as he began searching for Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the waters of the Southwest. The silver glare from the overcast sky didn’t help but our crew remained hopeful for a surprise. The reward for our patience soon arrived as we moved inshore towards Calheta and were surprised by a group of juvenile spotted dolphins. The animals were curious about our snorkelers at the beginning but soon began dashing east, making the activity a little harder for our second group of participants. Nonetheless, all were left relieved at the fact that we managed to find some dolphins and thankful that it all worked out.

In the afternoon both our boats had to cover a fair distance to find animals but both got lucky with sightings of more spotted dolphins as well as of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). On their midday tour our crew on board the Stenella even managed a sighting with Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) thanks to the hard work and concentration on the part of our spotter.

Things got rocky aboard our Ribeira Brava after we met the spotted dolphins further out at sea; a few clients struggled with seasickness while others searched the ocean for more action, which then arrived as a dynamic group of Bottlenose dolphins. When things get hard at sea, spotted dolphins or bottlenose dolphins always seem to be the species to save the day!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

15:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

14:00 Sperm whales

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins