They see me jumping they love it !!!!

Every day being out there in the ocean is an adrenaline rush for me. I live, breath and feel alive when we are out there.

But someday’s are a little bit more special than others, and some we remember a little bit more. Today was one of those days.

We navigated under the clouds to find a jumping Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), showing its pectoral fins, which are the longest fins found on a marine mammal. This baleen whale jumped out of the water displaying it’s body at least 20 times. Observing a whale jumping is one of the most impressive things one can ever experience when going out at sea. Yet why humpback whales breach is a mystery. Different hypothesis on the subject have been proposed, some researchers say it is to get rid of the whale lice or barnacles that are found on a Humpback whale’s body. Other theories state that it is for fun, to have better vision or to demonstrate territorial behavior. Yet we will not know why the beautiful Humpback whale we saw today was jumping and displaying its fins the way she did, all we know is that it was beautiful.

 

 

We stayed with her and decided to navigate seven nautical miles offshore to observe a Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The resting Sperm whale decided to show off its tale in order to let us know he or she was planning on feeding underwater rather than staying at the surface.

 

Navigating home we were lucky enough to find a pod of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), the aerial displays were magnificent, there is no better feeling than seeing a dolphin jump in its natural habitat. What a rush, the best feeling is when a guest came back to the base and said- ” I have never thought I would experience something like this, It makes me so aware of how majestic these animals are”.

 

The afternoon gave our guest nothing but a great feeling when in the waters another species of baleen whales were presented in the water, this time it was two Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), their slender and impressive dorsal fins always makes guest and crew members sing together the letters – “oooooohhhhhh “.

 

 

Sperm whale and Bottlenose were still in the area in the afternoon as for our jumping Humpback whale, all we can hope for is that she safely swims and jumps up Northern rich food waters hoping she can come back next year.

Anaïs Builly

About Anaïs Builly

Anais Builly is Marine Biologist and Master of Biology, Ecology and Ecosystems, and of Bioproducts & Bioproduction of Marine Ecosystems, studied in France and South Africa. She is also Marine Wildlife Guide & Community Manager at TERRA AZUL. She is passionate about conservation of marine mammals, and loves being out in the ocean everyday.

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