Ocean discovery tour of the Azores

Planet

WHALE WATCHING, ANIMAL WELFARE AND RESEARCH

The three whale and dolphin watching trips are operated by a long-established local company with a strong marine biology and research programme. Wildlife welfare is central to the way the trips operate, not simply a regulatory requirement.

Whales and dolphins are never fed, trained or artificially attracted to the boats. Traditional land-based lookouts locate naturally occurring wildlife offshore, and crews follow local approach distances and operating rules. The team will also go beyond the minimum required where they believe an animal is becoming crowded. For example, if several boats begin gathering around the same whale or dolphin group, the skipper may choose to leave the encounter — even if their boat arrived first and guests would prefer to remain — rather than add further pressure to the animal.

This means the experience is always led by the behaviour and welfare of the wildlife rather than by trying to maximise viewing time at any cost.
Research is also integrated into the operation. Marine biologists and researchers collect information including photographs, species records, locations and behavioural observations, contributing to long-term monitoring and photo-identification work around the Azores. Guests learn about the animals they encounter, the techniques used to study them and the wider marine ecosystem throughout their trips.

The company also supports the development of marine science beyond its own tours, working with students and researchers and supporting postgraduate research, including PhD-level projects and scientific collaborations.


SUMMER AND AUTUMN WILD ENCOUNTERS

Ocean Discovery runs from June to October, outside the main spring migration period for the large baleen whales. Instead, the emphasis is on the remarkable diversity of marine wildlife using Azorean waters through summer and early autumn. Resident sperm whales may be encountered alongside species such as common, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, pilot whales and other visiting cetaceans, while turtles and seabirds can also form part of a day at sea.

No particular species is ever guaranteed and the boats do not ignore other wildlife in pursuit of one target animal. Each trip responds to the species naturally present on the day, allowing guests to experience the Atlantic as a genuinely wild and constantly changing ecosystem.


MARINE EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL CONSERVATION

The local marine team is involved in education and community outreach, including work with schools and young people to increase awareness of the whales, dolphins and wider marine environment surrounding the islands.
They also take part in practical initiatives such as beach and coastal clean-ups and marine-litter projects. These activities sit alongside research and public education, helping connect tourism with the scientific and community work taking place locally.


A SIMPLE SINGLE-ISLAND HOLIDAY

The vacation is based entirely on São Miguel, with seven nights in Ponta Delgada and no domestic flights or island changes required.
Away from the ocean, the included Furnas day explores São Miguel’s volcanic landscape and geothermal traditions, including the use of natural underground heat to cook the traditional cozido meal.

People

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND EMPLOYMENT

The vacation relies on locally based skippers, guides, lookouts and marine biologists who combine scientific knowledge with generations of practical experience observing the Atlantic around the Azores.
The traditional vigias, once part of the islands’ whaling industry, now use their extraordinary ability to locate whales and dolphins to support wildlife observation instead. It is a striking example of how specialist knowledge once associated with hunting has been repurposed around living animals and tourism.


EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND THE NEXT GENERATION

Our local partners work with students, researchers and young people through school outreach, field experience, mentoring and scientific collaboration. Support for postgraduate and PhD-level research helps develop the next generation of marine scientists while contributing to a better understanding of cetaceans and the wider North Atlantic ecosystem.


CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT

We prefer to work with partners whose approach can be seen in practical actions: careful wildlife observation, research, education, staff expertise, community involvement and a willingness to prioritise animal welfare even when doing so may shorten an encounter for guests.
We regularly review the experiences we offer and speak directly with local teams about how tours operate, how wildlife is approached and how the visitor experience can continue to improve.