10.06.2026 – Portugal’s day
June 17, 2026
Today, only our Steno went out for tours, but what a successful day it was!
All tours were lucky enough to encounter Bryde’s whales and bottlenose dolphins, providing fantastic sightings for everyone on board. The afternoon tour was treated to an additional highlight with a playful group of Atlantic spotted dolphins, delighting passengers with their energetic behavior.
The day also brought sightings of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), the most common sea turtle species found in Madeira’s waters. The Madeira archipelago serves as an important feeding and development area for thousands of young loggerheads carried across the Atlantic by ocean currents.
Many of these turtles originate from nesting beaches in Florida, the Caribbean, and Cape Verde. Madeira’s warm and productive waters provide a safe habitat where they can grow before continuing their incredible oceanic migrations.
Although loggerhead turtles are classified as endangered and face threats such as plastic pollution and accidental capture in fishing gear, ongoing conservation and research efforts in Madeira are helping to protect these remarkable animals and the marine ecosystems they depend on.
A day filled with whales, dolphins, and turtles is always a special one, and today’s guests aboard Steno were fortunate to experience some of Madeira’s incredible marine wildlife.
By Gemma Stockmans
Sightings of the day
Steno
09:30Bryde’s whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde’s whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde’s whales, Bottlenose dolphins
