30.09.2022 – A gift for the heart!

When encountering nature, you have to be willing to let go of everything and say “yes” to what you encounter. That is the best prerequisite for being surprised. An open heart welcomes what is happening in the here and now. Far too often, we are focused on the past or the future. As a result, the present moment, all the gifts that we could encounter along the way, are left behind. Who knows how much you’re missing out on?

Today one Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), a very cheeky one, jumped straight into our hearts. At least that’s how it felt. Communication does not only take place on a (non)verbal level, but also on a level that we often ignore. In the encounter with the dolphins, a “gate” often opens. Watching these beautiful animals and realizing that they are ready for interaction is so touching that it is easy to forget the trappings. A peaceful, joyful and relieving experience. It’s a chance to be in the here and now, for just this one moment. At this moment the heart resonates and a communication takes place that does not need words, but is very profound. What they say to each one who engages in this experience is very individual and can only understand by his heart. Marine mammals definitely have the ability to communicate on that other unseen but sensible level. In order to realize this – and take it with you, you have to let go of everything for a moment, open your heart and just be. Such an experience was gifted to us today at the Bottlenose Dolphins. A gift for the heart!

We also encountered a school of Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Even if they held back in contact, it was still nice to watch them with their wonderful leaps.

In the afternoon, we had a very calm encounter with Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Bottlenose dolphins. Both species stayed in small subgroups in a large area. The Pilot whales at rest exuded such a pleasant, relaxing calm. An experience to take away from the sea. Just take a step slower, breath deeply and take in everything calmly.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10.00 Bottlenose dolphins, Striped dolphins

15.00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales

Stenella

14.00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales, Striped dolphins

17.00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales, Atlantic spotted dolphins