Cetaceans of Madeira
Madeira: Volcanic, Remote and Green.
The Madeira Archipelago, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, is often called the Hawaii of the Atlantic. There are, however, two noteworthy differences, namely less beaches and more cetaceans !
See some of the most majestic mammals on the planet with your own eyes!
Most species migrate and pass by Madeira due to its strategic location. The only species living year round in Madeira waters is the Sperm whale (Psyseter Macrocephalus). In 1987, the government implemented strict anti-whaling laws Madeira is now a real official cetacean sanctuary. Even the whale and dolphin watching is regulated.
However, many species pass along Madeira’s coast. You might thus see one or more species during a whale & dolphin-watch excursion. The website madeirawhales is one source tracking sightings of each species for you throughout the year.
Common species sighted in Madeira
| Ceataceas / Month | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Bryde’s Whale | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Sperm Whale | x | x | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Short-finned Pilot Whale | X | X | X | X | x | x | X | x | x | x | X | X |
| Common Dolphin | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin | x | x | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | x | x |
| Short-beaked Common Dolphin | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Atlantic Spotted Dolphin | x | x | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | x |
X Frequent sighting month x Less frequent sighting period
Sperm Whale in Madeira Waters, April 2018 Source: Franki Slijpen
Less common species seen in Madeira
| Ceataceas / Month | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Fin Whale | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Sei Whale | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Common Minke Whale | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Cuvier’s Beaked Whale | X | X | ||||||||||
| Risso’s Dolphin | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Striped Dolphin | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Rough Toothed Dolphin | X | X | X |
X Frequent sighting month x Less frequent sighting period
Many other species enjoy the warm Madeira waters. Here are some examples: Blue Whale, Humpback Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Killer Whale, False Killer Whale, Fraser’s Dolphin, Blainville’s Beaked Whale, Sowerby’s Beaked Whale and finally the Gervais Beaked Whale.
Unlike other locations, you need to book a boat tour to see these fabulous sea mammals. There are rarely sighted from the shore. If you are lucky, you can also see the Loggerhead Turtle (not a sea mammal) swimming.
