26.10.2026 – Taking their leave
October 31, 2026
A lot of marine life was spotted today, from the huge sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) to the smaller Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). One of the sperm whales was with her little one and presented it to us by passing close to our boat. What a joy !
A good surprise from the morning trip of Ribeira Brava was two sightings of a species of shark found around Madeira : the smooth Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). They inhabit the deep and coastal waters around the island and can be occasionally seen near the shore on calm summer days to hunt for schooling fish or to enjoy warmer surface waters. They are maximum 4m long and are the second largest of the hammerheads. They are classified “vulnerable” by the IUCN and like others sharks are facing a number of threats. Juvenile smooth hammerheads have been recorded in coastal waters and caught by local fishermen around Madeira. This indicates that the shallow coastal areas act as pupping and nursery habitats. This shows how important Madeira is, not only for cetaceans, but for species of sharks and that coastal zones requires extra protection.
By Juliette Colançon
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 No sightings, Smooth hammerhead shark
13:00 Blainville’s beaked whale, Bottlenose dolphin
Steno
09:30 Bottlenose dolphin, Sperm whale
13:30 Blainville’s beaked whale, Bottlenose dolphin
16:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin
