28.02.2023 – Patience and care

Although our crew is very lucky to have a job where we regularly meet fantastic creatures, life on the ocean isn’t always easy. Patience and respect are vital in our line of work; we must be patient in finding and approaching animals and, above all, respect all encountered marine life. Ever changing weather conditions can make finding cetaceans very hard during the winter months but all challenges can be overcome with a healthy does of luck and determination.

It took our team a while to find cetaceans today but, once we did, it was marvellous! Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were cruising through todays high swell. We met the Bottlenose dolphins first and, although the pod showed little interest in our boat, some of the animals did lift their heads to make eye contact with their admirers. After diving frequently just in front of the sun, a position where spotters generally have difficulty finding animals, the pilot whales also finally surfaced to rest and Daniels careful manoeuvres with our zodiac allowed us to truly appreciate this sighting for as long as possible.

After another long search, our crew found the same pods during our later afternoon tour and, again, managed to enjoy wonderful moments through careful approaches. Our spotter soon found yet another group of dolphins, a species he had been struggling to locate all day. Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), seasonal visitors that often discreetly cruise closer to the coastline in smaller subgroups, had begun their hunt on a shoal of Halfbeaks (H.balao). The spectacle involves a series of leaps from the cetaceans and never fails to impress our guests. What a rewarding day!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

16:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short0-beaked common dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales