Definition of a cetacean
Cetaceans (from the Greek ketos, "sea monster") are mammals. The main physical difference between them and fish is their tail fin: fishes' tails move horizontally (from left to right and back again), while cetaceans' fins move vertically (from top to bottom). Cetaceans are warm-blooded creatures that breathe through their lungs. Their young feed on their mother's milk. The cetacean order is divided into two suborders: odontocetes have teeth and a single nostril, while mysticetes have horny baleen plates, food filters and two nostrils. There are around 80 species of cetacean, some of which remain largely unknown to researchers. Hunting, fishing and pollution are taking their toll on many of them, and some are critically endangered. All visits are fruitful, and the simple fact of sharing a few moments with dolphins ensures magical, unforgettable memories.
In search of cetaceans
It's a unique and unmissable experience in the Azores. It's hard to visit the archipelago and not try your luck. Even if some islands are more suitable for cetacean watching, you can set sail in search of them on virtually all of them. In Ponta Delgada, specialized operators operate all year round. In Terceira, the offer is varied and many programs combine accommodation and activities at sea. Faial, São Jorge and Pico form what is known as the Triangle, and are ideal for whale and other marine animal watching. On Faial, sea excursions depart from the famous port of Horta and are accompanied by scientific guides and technicians trained at the University of the Azores. Finally, Pico is the island where the whaling tradition is most deeply rooted, and where it all began. It's here that the offer is the densest and it's here that you'll have the best chance of seeing these monsters. Pico and Faial are also home to museums and ethnographic centers.
Who is it? What is it? How do we do it?
Cetacean watching is an activity open to all. There's no age limit for admiring the beauty of nature! As the outings are relatively long (allow at least 3 hours at sea), we advise you not to take children under the age of 5 on board, as the trip could be a little long for them... Especially if the sea is rough! It can be hard for adults to cope with a slightly angry ocean, so don't impose it on little ones. For your outing, remember to take along suitable clothing, a seasickness pill if conditions are not the calmest, water, a snack and, of course, your camera to immortalize these unique moments.
Be patient and enjoy
We don't take to the sea at random! All outings are carefully prepared, with plenty of explanations about cetaceans and the precautions you need to take to avoid interfering with marine life. We'll give you a few tips to put the odds in your favor: always stare out to sea and concentrate on spotting whale blowing (easier to spot). If you're lucky, you'll experience some once-in-a-lifetime moments while watching. A dolphin's fin on the horizon, a whale's jet of water that pops up and surprises you and why not come across the king of the Azores, the sperm whale... Enjoy the moment and immortalize it. Your camera is indispensable for recording this unique encounter. However, if you don't get the chance to observe cetaceans, don't be discouraged! Although the experience is obviously not the same, there are also opportunities ashore. Numerous museums and interpretation centers will help you discover these fascinating mammals. Finally, don't hesitate to climb into one of the old lookout posts. They are located at strategic points on the various islands and offer astonishing panoramic views. Whatever your adventure, it's sure to be fantastic. And keep in mind that this is a must-see. There are very few places in the world where you can see them in their natural environment, up close and personal, all year round.
Protected cetaceans
With the growth of cetacean-watching activities, it's important to establish rules to respect the animals and avoid disturbing them. We remind you that we are the ones interfering in their natural habitat, so it's up to us to behave decently. Setting up a tourist attraction of this kind is never without consequences. If we want to witness this magnificent spectacle in the proper manner, we must respect the measures put in place. To protect whales and limit the impact of whale watching on their behavior, a decree was passed in March 1999 by the Azorean regional government. Certain rules must be observed when approaching mammals:
Approach the animal from behind, at a constant, reduced speed;
During the approach, avoid altering the boat's course or speed. Never approach under sail;
Never approach closer than 50 m and leave the engine idling;
Avoid the presence of several boats within a 150 m radius of the group;
If there areseveral boats, never encircle the animals, but stay together, on the same side;
Do not stay more than 15 minutes with the same animal;
When moving away from the group, keep your speed down to within 300 m of the animal;
Do not swim with large cetaceans. However, under certain conditions, it is still possible to swim with blue and white dolphins, Risso's dolphins, spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Note that some agencies now refuse to offer this activity for ethical reasons. Find out about the service providers who offer it, as the activity is highly regulated and must be carried out within a strict framework: no more than two swimmers at any one time, on small boats accommodating a maximum of 8 people. Staff must be trained to provide first aid in the event of a problem. Indeed, swimming with dolphins involves going out into the open sea, where currents and waves can be strong. Even if this is the dream of many people, it's important to take a step back and ask yourself the right questions to balance your personal pleasure with the well-being of the animals...
Whaling
Although whales are no longer hunted today, this activity was important to the cultural identity and economy of the archipelago. First practiced in the 19th century, whaling was officially banned in 1982, but it wasn't until 1986 that the ban was fully implemented. As an anecdote, the last whale was killed in 1987 in protest by some former whalers from the island of Pico. A little like in Moby Dick, using ancestral techniques, the hunters set out to sea in large open boats, harpoons in hand. There were usually 7 crew members on board: a "skipper" in charge of operations, a man to throw the harpoon and 5 others to row the boat. In fact, it all started from the observation posts. The true starting point of the hunt, the keepers could spend long hours observing the sea in the hope of spotting a whale. Once the animal was spotted, a well-rehearsed ritual took place: launch a rocket and wave a white sheet without losing sight of the whale. Once these signals were given, the crew would set out to sea for a chase that could last hours or even days, before capturing the animal with a rope and bringing it ashore. This was followed by other tasks such as tearing the whale's body to pieces, using its blubber and transforming it into oil, pulverizing the bones and using them as fertilizer... As you can imagine, whaling was practiced primarily for economic reasons. It was an important source of income at a time when whalers were often the only people with cash on islands where bartering had long prevailed. Today, the old hunters who tell their stories are not rheumatized old men drawing on a sailor's pipe, but young men, far from retirement; they have reluctantly moved from being island aristocrats to the more commonplace position of their farming neighbors. They are café owners, fishermen or civil servants, and they nostalgically tell each other whale stories. Once an important tradition on many islands, whaling has now become a tourist activity, and only your eyes will be able to harpoon them!
Swimming with sharks: trendy but wary
Aware of the tourist windfall and the potential of the Azorean maritime area, water sports activity providers are bursting with imagination to come up with ever more attractive outings. So, after whale watching and swimming with dolphins (fortunately regulated practices!), some are now offering shark diving. While this may seem trendy at first glance, it is in fact seriously damaging to the balance of the ecosystem. In some countries, reef sharks cohabit almost naturally with man - proof that this often stigmatized species is not always as aggressive as people think. But in the Azores, the situation is different. We're not talking about the same species here, and sharks tend to shun human presence. So, to approach them, we bait them. And as a result, by offering them bloody meals on a platter, it's a safe bet that they'll gradually move closer to the coast, this time becoming a real threat to humans, whom they'll have associated with appetizing morsels of meat. Let's not get into shark hunting. Let's stay where we are and enjoy the many treasures already within our reach.
