Part II - Azores, Portugal : Witnessing a Huge Pod of Dolphins Hunting in Unison on a Whale-watching tour

My First Whale Watching Adventure in the Azores

I’ve been dreaming about seeing whales since I was a kid. While most children were glued to cartoons, I was the odd one out, watching National Geographic and BBC documentaries about the ocean and its giants. So, when I finally got the chance to go whale watching in the Azores, it felt like a childhood dream coming true.

After a quick lunch at a restaurant by the harbour, we made our way to the boarding point, arriving about 15 minutes before departure. The excitement was already building. After gearing up and sitting through the safety briefing, we were shown a short presentation about the ocean. What stood out was the voiceover- it was deep and commanding, almost like the ocean itself was speaking. There was one line that really hit me:

“These humans have crawled out of me. They take from me more than what they can give back. At any moment, I can take everything back if I want.”

It was a powerful reminder of how small we are compared to the ocean’s vastness.

Before the presentation ended, I slipped out to the boarding area to grab a spot in the first row of the boat. If you ever do this, trust me, the front row is where the action is. On these fast Zodiac boats, you feel every bump and splash, and the filed of view is unbeatable. But a word of warning: it’s not for everyone. If you have back problems or get seasick easily, the front row might be a bit too intense.

In addition, there was another layer of adrenaline that came from the ride itself. This operator uses only small Zodiac boats that go at breathtaking speeds, cutting through the waves. Unlike the bigger boats, Zodiacs are the best for whale watching since they can manoeuvre quickly to match the whales’ sudden changes in direction.

Heading into the sea

After a few kilometres into the deeper sea, we saw our first dolphins, some of them swimming right under our boat. I remember our guide saying that dolphins in the Azores were some of her favorites for the simple reason that they live a pretty carefree life. They are unbothered by human activity and just go about their lives as they please.

Our first dolphin sighting

Dolphins whizzing past our boat

Soon, we set off, heading much farther offshore than I expected. Once we were out there, everyone started scanning the horizon for any signs of wildlife. The captain was in constant contact with spotters onshore, getting real-time updates on where animals had been seen. It was impressive to see how these guys operate.

Suddenly, the boat picked up speed and we headed in a new direction. In the distance, we saw another group dolphins leaping out of the water. One dolphin jumped so high, at least 10 or 12 feet, that I could hardly believe my eyes. Sadly, it was too quick to catch on camera. We followed the pod for a while and realized it was a big group, probably 40 or 50 dolphins, all hunting together. Watching them move in perfect unison was like seeing a well-rehearsed dance troupe, each dolphin knowing exactly where to be.

A big dolphin pod hunting in unison

Dolphins are incredibly smart and social animals. They use a series of clicks and whistles to communicate and even have unique “names” for each other. They often hunt together, using teamwork to herd fish into tight groups, making it easier to catch their prey.