Spermwhale

Date : Tuesday September 25th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-42N 028-51W
Species : Spermwhale Physeter macrosephalus
Total number seen : 3-4

Remarks
This afternoon we went whale-watching from Horta on the isle Faial. On the northside of Faial they sighted spermwhales. The spermwhales where more then an hour away. When we left the shelter of the isles we sailed on a swell of 4 or 5 metres high. It was exciting to look out for the blow. After a search of 20 minutes we saw the whales. It was a group of 2 or 3 adults and one calf. They only made shallow dives this afternoon, so we didn't see the tail.

The head of a spermwhale.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Date : Sunday September 23th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-22N 028-25W
Species : Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stenella frontalis
Total number seen : 50-100



Remark
This morning we've had a lot wind, force 4 to 5. Sergje of the whalecentre let the decision to us, becaus he couldn't guarantee that we see dolphins today. The lookouts say that the sea west of Lajes was pretty calm, so we choose to go.
Near the shore we've met a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins. We trailed the main group and from the group a few dolphins seperate and came to the zodiac and swim with us. From the bow of the zodiac we've got a great view.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Date : Saturday September 22th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-22N 028-12W
Species : Common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Total number seen : 50-100

Remarks
This morning we've also met a group common dolphins. It was a large groupand the swim with the boat and jumped out of the water. Wa actually saw one swimming on his backside. The weather was perfect and the water was warm and calm. A perfect day for a swim with dolphins.




We went back to Lajes for lunch and at 15.00 hours we went back to sea for the theme "Dancing with dolphins". We found the same group of common dolphins we saw this morning, west of Lajes.
The skipper Louis manoeuvred the zodiac in front of the group. We slided gently in the Atlantic Ocean and at a depth of 10 meters we saw 10 to 15 dolphins swimming beneath us. We could hear their sounds and klicking below the surface. It was an experience which is hard to describe.

Risso's dolphin

Date : Saturday September 22th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-22N 028-12W
Species : Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus
Total number seen : 6-7

Remarks
Today the weather was beautiful, no wind and a nice temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.
At 09.30 we left Lajes with the zodiac. The first group cetaceans we encountered where Risso's dolphins. We saw the dolphins east of Lajes, near Ribeirax. There where already 3 whale watch boats with the group, so we left this group alone and searched for something else.
More to the east we saw another group of Risso's. This group consisted of 6 or 7 individuals. Some of them where completely white. When Risso's are born they are dark coloured. When they get older they become more white at the time. When they are completly white they are at the age of 25 years. Risso's die at the age of approximately 30 years.

Short-finned Pilot whale

Date : Friday September 21th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-20N 028-20W
Species : Short-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Total number seen : 8

Remarks
After we left de common dolphins we spotted a group of pilotwhales. the group constisted of one male, a few females and some juveniles, in total 8 or 9 individuals.

The difference between a short-finned and a longfinned pillot whale is at the surface not to determine. The difference between the two species are the pectorial fins (long or short finned).
This is a short-finned pilot whale because we are in tropical waters. The long-finned pilot whale are present in artic and subartic waters

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Date : Friday September 21th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-22N 028-17W
Species : Common dolphin Delphinus delphis
Total number seen : 20

Remarks
This afternoon we went out with Espaco Talassa to find some dolphins. Our first encounter was a group +/- 20 common dolphins. They where on transit and not very playfull this time.
We left the group after 15 minutes because the lookouts on the Island spotted an other group cetaceans....

Risso's Dolphin

Date : Thursday September 20th 2001
Location : Atlantic Ocean, Azores
Position : 38-22N 028-15W
Species : Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus
Total number seen : 5

Remarks
This afternoon we went whalewatching with Espaco Talassa from the Isle Pico at the Azores.
After a briefing we left Lajes do Pico at 15.00 hours. The zodiac was led by "lookouts" from the island. The lookouts looked over the ocean for spermwhales during the whaling period. Now they are doing the same thing but instead of whalingboats they are leading now whalewatch boats.
The ocean was pretty rough so it was hard to find any dolphins. After a search of 1,5 hour we saw a small group of Risso's dolphins.

Risso's dolphin.