Dolphin frenzy

Today we had a fantastic day out on the ocean swimming with and watching several different dolphin species. We tried to find a fin whale that our lookout had seen in the morning, but after waiting and searching and searching some more we never found it so we focused on the dolphins. We encountered bottlenose dolphins in the morning, including the group of Bubblemaker. Our small boat also encountered common dolphins and the catamaran Atlantic spotted dolphins in the morning. In the afternoon we searched a different area and again came across different dolphin groups. We had common dolphins closer to shore and Atlantic spotted dolphins further out. From our small boat we could identify Victor, the common dolphin with a folded dorsal fin. We got to see some nice behaviours including very high jumps from the Atlantic spotted dolphins and plenty of bowriding with our boats.

Photos from the morning:

Bottlenose dolphins

Bottlenose dolphin

Spotted dolphin

Common dolphin

One of our dolphin swimming boats

Photos from the afternoon:

A common dolphin we call Victor

Common dolphin

Atlantic spotted dolphin

A very high leap from an Atlantic spotted dolphin

An Atlantic spotted dolphin with its dorsal fin tip bitten off

Cory's shearwater

Great shearwater

We had some keen bird watchers aboard and were lucky to spot this pomarine skua

A tour of feelings

We got to taste and feel the Atlantic ocean as we had a rollercoaster ride to the whales but it sure was fun and worth it. Its a beautiful feeling to make the dream to see sperm whales come true for someone or to make the vacation perfect. We had several whales out there and it was a bit difficult due to the waves and the behaviour of the whales, always going on short dives. But in the end an adult and juvenile decided to pay us a quick visit and swim under our catamaran. What a blessing from these ocean giants. On the way back we also encountered Bubblemaker's group, and I think everybody who reads this blog regularly knows very well by now that we are talking about bottlenose dolphins. 

Photos from today:

Bottlenose dolphin leaping

Two familiar bottlenose dolphins - well call the one on the right side "Bubblemaker"

Sperm whale

Two sperm whale approaching, adult is underwater, can you see the white shadow?

Our second catamaran 4 Ventos

A busy morning full of whales

Today we started with the sperm whales, but we had a lot to see so we stayed long enough to see them well and enjoy their company but as they didn't want to show us any tail we headed of to some larger whales. Further out we had two fin whales, the second largest animal in the world. Like the sperm whales they had a frequent diving behaviour, but once again we got to see them well, especially from aboard Cetus, our catamaran. In the same area as the fin whales we also had a group of bottlenose dolphins that came over to greet us as soon as we arrived in the area, and some people also got to see some false killer whales that were also in this area. 

Photos from today:

One of the sperm whales

Another sperm whale coming up to surface

Fin whale just to surface

Watching the fin whales from aboard our catamaran Cetus

Six species of cetaceans and two of turtles

Today we have a long species list. We started with common dolphins and later on Risso's dolphins, just a few but curious for being Risso's. Then we took of far to see sperm whales. But on the way we saw both loggerhead turtles and leatherback turtles. And one of our boats also encountered beaked whales, a Mesoplodon species but we could not identify them as we were to busy watching sperm whales. In the afternoon we resighted the sperm whales and had a great time with them. And on the way back we encountered more then 60 Atlantic spotted dolphins. And the bottlenose dolphins were around too. More species sighted were a ocean sunfish and flying fish. 

Photos from the morning:

Sperm whale

Sperm whale

Common dolphin bowriding our catamaran 4 Ventos 

Adult and juvenile Risso's dolphin

Aboard 4 Ventos, with Cetus in the background (our two catamarans)

Aboard 4 Ventos

Cetus

Photos from the afternoon:

Curious sperm whale

Sperm whale

Adult and juvenile spotted dolphin

 Atlantic spotted dolphin about to surface

 Atlantic spotted dolphin