24.10.2026 – Mixed species
October 30, 2026
Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) are by far one of our crew’s favourite dolphins. In all honesty, I also feel I can relate to them in one aspect; they do not like the water any cooler than 20ºC and usually leave before it gets that cold. When they leave the dolphins regroup into larger pods to travel safely through the Atlantic Ocean, so seeing larger pods of these dolphins at this time of the year often seems to us that they are slowly taking their leave.
Seeing a species that filled your summer trips with spectacular sightings slowly take its leave from the island is a little sad – even if you know that they’ll be back the following year. Sightings of such large groups are nonetheless incredible! The large pod surrounded our boats this morning, the ocean teeming with these charismatic and acrobatic little dolphins.
In the afternoon, the pod had already moved too far offshore for our boats but our sad goodbye was soon soothed by a lovely sighting of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the afternoon.
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins
Steno
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins
