“It was on my Bucket list”-He said.

One of the reasons I love my job is because I can talk about dolphins and whales with people, and they actually want to hear what one has to say. It is always so nice to talk to people who practice whale watching as a life passion.

On the boat today the loveliest man came having the most amazing stories about the different species he had seen throughout his life. “But guess what Anais, I have never seen a sperm whale”- he said.

Having a big understanding on how the activity works and passion for the ocean it was needless to say that we did not know what we were expecting to find this afternoon out in the waters.

Sailing East we encountered a Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) observing her sunbathing is always a nice reminder about the reptiles that are aquatic as any other reptile spend a certain amount of time warming themselves in order to survive.

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Coming to great us a group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatusapproached the boat, spy hopping in order to see what, what was going on. This behaviour is usually portrayed when dolphins or whales need to observe what goes on at the surface. My favourite behaviour if you ask my opinion.

We continued to encounter at the end of the southern part of the island two resting Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus), sea conditions were in our favour today, making it really easy to see the direction in which they were swimming to. Diving after 15 minutes in order to find food, and fluking to tell us they were staying underwater for a fair amount of time.

Journey finished with a mother Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalusand its calf swimming and diving, giving our guest today a better understanding between toothed whales and dolphins and baleen whales.

Another day filled with life and surprises and the best part was when our guest ended up telling me -“I finally have seen a sperm whale, the whale after 20 years that I have never managed to see”.

So there you go guys the story how a passionate patient whale watcher’s dream came true today.

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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