17.05.2023 – Close
May 23, 2023
19.05.2023 – Perfect mixture
May 25, 2023
We had some strong winds creasing up the waters in front of Calheta but that didn’t stop our spotter from finding a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) heading briskly east. There are no better dolphins for this kind of weather! Spotted dolphins arrive in large groups in the islands waters so they are less difficult to find than other species and are usually extremely curious, making sightings an absolute delight even on a windy ocean! The dolphins swam and leapt near our boats, leaving all our guests smiling and happy.
The ocean got a little windier in the afternoon and both our boats managed yet another lovely sighting with spotted dolphins. This time the animals were a little more challenging to find since they were travelling in a dispersed formation but we had a lovely time once we found them nonetheless. Despite the choppy conditions, our spotter managed to track down a handful of curious Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a pair of shy Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) for our traditional boat, allowing us to return to the marina with a boat full of smiling guests.
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose Dolphins
Stenella
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
