WHALE WATCHING IN MADEIRA
Through experiencing how other operators do their whale- and wildlife tours, we get new ideas which might develop our business. You learn a lot about yourself through seeing others.
Therefore Daniel and I took the chance to go dolphin watching in Madeira when we were there over New Year. Funchal harbour is crowded with competing operators fighting over customers. We picked a small, more timid and extremely friendly company called Ventura which seemed to focus more on quality than quantity – just like Gentle Giants.
We felt like home onboard their beautiful wooden boat Ventura do Mar when leaving harbour together with captain Jorge and marine biologist Raquel Marques. Our tour was almost private, the weather was great and we encountered several groups of curious and beautiful bottlenose dolphins.
Both Daniel and I were surprised by how very similar their tour was to our whale watching. The team work between captain and guide, the guide's speeches, the whale book in the end and many other things - still we brought some new ideas with us home. It was great fun to once again join a tour abroad and meet colleagues from outside the coast of Africa; both people and whales.
(LIA)
This is one of many beautiful bottlenose dolphins we encountered.
Daniel talking to captain Jorge; a fisherman with great passion for the sea - just like our own captains.
We were both surprised by how similar Ventura's whale watching in Madeira is to our own. Fun to see!
Daniel and I felt like home onboard Ventura do Mar.
Marine biologist and guide Raquel, doing the ropes after a successful trip - just like in Húsavík.