Ocean Wildlife

One of the greatest pleasures of being at sea is simply watching the ocean in all its moods. I spent hours on our recent trip leaning against the balcony rail thinking of very little, relaxing, and keeping half an eye open for any passing wildlife. There was some, including....

....a number of small pods of dolphins but, like these ones seen off Portugal, they passed the ship by, never turning to swim with it or gambol in its bow-wave. Perhaps, travelling at over twenty knots, they knew it was too fast for them; perhaps they had already encountered big ships like ours and had a healthy respect for it.

We sighted few whales, this one part of a small pod passing through Strait of Gibraltar. In addition, we saw jellyfish and seaweed, and....

....a few seabirds, like this gannet.

It is difficult to compare the sightings on this trip with those of the past but my impression was that the oceans are worryingly depleted. I can remember scores of dolphins and large pods of whales, and seabirds in masses around bait fish - but maybe these are the imaginings of an old man.