06.10.2026 – Different personalities
October 14, 2026
Today we had two fantastic tours on the waters around Madeira, with the morning tour with Steno and the afternoon departure from Ribeira Brava both bringing some wonderful dolphin encounters.
During the morning, we were lucky enough to see four different species: bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis).Bottlenose dolphins are one of the species that can be encountered around Madeira throughout the year and are considered one of the more resident dolphins of the archipelago. Striped dolphins are also present year-round, although their numbers and distribution can vary.The rough-toothed dolphin is a much less predictable sighting. It is considered an irregular and mainly seasonal visitor to Madeira, with sightings occurring more often during the warmer months.
The Atlantic spotted dolphin is also more seasonal, generally being encountered from spring through autumn. Their beautiful spotted markings become more pronounced as they mature, making them a particularly striking species to see.
In the afternoon, our Ribeira Brava tour brought us back to rough-toothed dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, giving us another opportunity to observe these two very different species in Madeira’s Atlantic waters.
With deep ocean waters surrounding the island, Madeira provides habitat for both resident and seasonal cetacean species. Every trip is different, and that’s what makes time on the ocean so special — you never know what might appear next!
By Gemma Stockmans
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins
13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins
Steno
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins, Striped dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins
