22.04.2025 – Dolphin day

Today was dolphin day and we could really see the different characters of the main dolphin species we can see here on Madeira.

In the morning we had the Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). The first of them is a winter guest here in Madeira and leaves us when the water gets warmer, although some still stay here. The other on the other hand is a summer visitor, following its main prey the different flying fish species. Bot of these dolphin interact with the boat and like to surf in the waves of the boats. This is beautiful for the guests as it is the closest they can get to wild dolphins.

On the second trip we had a third species of dolphin, the Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). This dolphin species is shy and does not like the presence of boats. That is why it is difficult to be seen, at least from close.

The third trip was then the highlight, as all of the most common dolphin species around Madeira were spotted. Apart of the three already mentioned it includes the Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus).

So definitely, today was dolphin day.

By Horst Schulte

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Short-beaked common dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Cory’s shearwater, Portuguese man-o-war

13:00 Striped dolphin, Cory’s shearwater, Portuguese man-o-war

Stenella

09:30 Short-beaked common dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Cory’s shearwater, Portuguese man-o-war

13:30 Striped dolphin, Short-beaked common dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Cory’s shearwater, Portuguese man-o-war

16:00 Striped dolphin, Short-beaked common dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Short-finned pilot whale