28.04.2025 – Chilly weather, warm hearts

Brrrrr! After some warmer days our crew and guests felt a little chilly this morning at sea. The wind gradually picked up from the west and brought cold air from the open ocean. Despite the chilly air, we had some wonderful sightings on both our vessels. A large pod of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was heading east and stopped to bow-ride through the waves of our Ribeira Brava and glide alongside our Stenella. We were all thrilled to also see a few calves in the group, curiously approaching our boats alongside their mothers to take a peek at the strange land mammals gazing at them in admiration

After a great close encounter we all set off to meet a pod of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). On our way to the group the wind already began to pick up, forcing the pilot whales to lift their heads high above the waves as they travelled upwind. In between their movements, they stopped to socialise and we even managed to spot some animals peeking above the surface at us. Our Stenella even managed an additional sighting with Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis).

In the afternoon our spotter managed to locate the animals despite the wind and the sighting once again warmed the hearts of both crew and guests on this chilly day.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:00 Short-finned pilot whales

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

13:30 Short-finned pilot whales