12.06.2026 – Peeping

Having whales and dolphins shown their pretty faces at the surface is always a magnificent thing! It really proves that we are not the only curious ones around. Today the Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were socialising like crazy during our sightings, with juvenile animals serving the most acrobatic leaps I had seen for a long time from this species. Between the aerial spectacles, many of the animals stuck their heads up at the surface to take a peek at us. Dolphins like to do that and can actually see very well at the surface. In fact, it was proven that he eye of a Bottlenose is extremely flexible allowing it to see almost as well at the surface as in the water!

The people watching continued with sightings of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the morning and a small group of Short/beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the afternoon. Both these seasonal visitors are known for their curious behaviour, but the same cannot be said for the Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) seen during today’s tours. These seemed more set on doing their thing below the surface, although this afternoon our guests aboard Steno got a fine look at two larger specimens.

We are very lucky – the curiosity and simple presence of cetaceans really does serve us well!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale

13:00 Bottlenose dolphins

Steno

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whales, Short/beaked common dolphins