22.05.2026 – Names have meaning
May 28, 2026
Another great day for our boats to get out on the ocean water today. Beautiful blue skies, the sun out and the water nicely calm.
Good conditions for our spotter Silviano to look out over the waters to send the captains of the boats to the best spots.
Both our boats in the morning and afternoon had the luck to be out there and to witness the beauty of playful dolphins. A big school of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) was showing off with their speeds, amazing jumps and some other acrobatic moves. This school of Atlantic spotted dolphins is something you can look at for hours without being bored by them.
And they are our summer visitors, so we might see them for a while around Madeira!
We also had the pleasure being accompanied by the Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). These dolphins are a bit bigger than the Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, live here with a home range between Madeira and the Canary Islands and live in smaller schools.
Another call came in, a whale. We left our dolphins and looked out for the whale to be seen. On our way we saw 2 Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta).
The waiting started and yes in the far we saw visible mist or spray, the spouting of a whale.
We moved over to where the spouting was seen; we waited as the whale dived. Then…A bit closer we saw the spouting and the whale again, boat moved, whale dived…. waiting…. then, once more, another good change to get a glimpse of it. It was a Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni).
This is when we decided to move. This whale definitely was ‘shy’ and not in for all the attention.
What an amazing day that we had these lovely encounters out in the blue!
By Gemma Stockmans
Sightings of the day
Stenella
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde whale
13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde whale, Loggerhead turtle
Steno
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde whale
13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde whale
