In Fathoms: The World in the Whale
May 11, 2026
Senhor Luis was born in 1939 in the small fishing village of Câmara de Lobos here in Madeira. He was a fisherman for more than 60 years, he has received countless distinctions and is addressed in his village as a “grande homem” (great man).
Senhor Luis is a real man of the ocean, a place where he has definitely spent the majority of his lifetime. The vast blue expanse is his real home, where he is happiest and He definetly spent more time on the ocean as on land. Out there is where he is the happiest. The wide Blue is his real home, here he is in his element. Senhor Luis is one of the few men in Madeira, who still knows how to sail in the traditional way and he is able to steer our Ribeira Brava confidently in all situations.
Senhor Luis was part of the company from the very beginning. He experienced Lobosonda in its infancy and in those days cruised out to sea with Rafael to show tourists how to fish in the typical Madeiran way.
Over the years, he has developed an outstanding sense for marine animals. Nothing at sea escapes his watchful eyes and he has an impeccable sense of smell, within the team we even say: he can smell a whale miles away! Senhor Luis is aware of his rare talents and loves it when he finds the cetaceans himself. When the guests are happy, so is he.
Senhor Luis’s favorite marine mammals are the elegant Tropical whales and the incredible Orcas. Our company’s most emblematic captain is now in retirement – but the ocean will always be in his heart and he will always be a part of our team.
