Dolphins and whales of the Azores

Enjoy the azure blue waters of the beautiful Azorean Islands of Portugal. Here we will swim with five different species of playful, curious dolphins traveling in large pods and riding the bow wave of our boats. Living in shore based resorts, we enjoy many of the 21 types of dolphins and whales who live here and migrate to these waters in the summer. Ask anyone who attended last year and you will hear about sun-filled days, full of laughter and dolphins, who spend joyful hours with us each day. The Sperm whales, the largest brains on planet Earth, also observe us, as we shut the engines down and watch them in the silent ripples of endless ocean. These waters of the beautiful Azores Islands are teeming with sealife!
 

Atlantic Dolphins of the Azores Islands July 9 - 15

As we return to our ancient birthplace in the waters of Atlantis, we share the memories of our dolphin communications then and now! Beginning our week with an afternoon of snorkeling practice in a natural lava pool, we will enjoy sumptuous dinners together watching the sun as it sets into the translucent blue waters. It is beautiful here and our hearts are filled with the promises of the dolphins and whales.
During the next mornings, we travel by private boat to meet hundreds of dolphins, and go in the azure blue waters to swim among Spotted, Common, Striped, Bottlenose and Rissos. Often we will see whales swimming by. To assist us, there are land-based whale spotters called Vigias posted along 450 km of the coastline. Observing the activity in the ocean, they locate the cetaceans and give us the coordinates. Which pod do we choose to meet first?

There is always so much to see! The waters are teeming with sea life. We may see schools of fish surrounded by dolphin pods and diving seabirds. The ocean bubbles and churns with their splashing and jumping. We are invited to participate and swim among them.

Joining us for part of our week is the Azorean marine mammel guide Frank Wirth, owner of Pico Sport Dive Shop in Madalena. He has much to offer us because of his knowledge, expertise and love for the dolphins and whales.

The area of Madalena is Joan's (the group leader) favorite location on Pico Island for its beauty, the local shops, sacred sites and ocean parks. We will visit gardens, lava pools, beaches and caves as part of our journey into ancient Atlantis.

In the evening we will enjoy the ambience of local restaurants for sumptuous dinners that include homemade breads, cheeses, pastries and freshly caught fish of the day. Local cuisine features fresh veggies, salads, fish, Portuguese sausage and chicken among other tasty dishes. For those who enjoy wine, this is the home of Mateus and many other world-class wines that originate in the many grape vineyards here.

accomodation:  Hotel Caravelas   This beautiful hotel is the meeting place for divers, whale watchers, dolphin swimmers, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. We are within walking distance of the town of Madalena - a picturesque seaside village with quaint shops, restaurants and historical sites. This oceanfront hotel has views of the cloud-enshrouded islands of S. Jorge and Faial which are both accessible by daily ferries.

dates:

Sat, 9th July 2005 - Friday 15th July 2005

The group will meet on 9th July 2pm in the meeting room to introduce each other and discuss the schedule for the seminar.

The dolphin seminar ends at noon on 15th July.

included:

accommodations (double occupancy), snorkeling in lava pools, four boat trips, dinners and all the latest messages of the whales and dolphins with Joan Ocean.

not included:

- flights to and from Pico island (I can help you with these arrangements - just fill out the flight options in the booking form)

- all taxi fees (airport to hotel is about 8-12 US$/EUR)

- additional meals & private expenses

price

   1,950.00 EUR  /  2,730.00 US$