The code of conduct
What boats do near whales and dolphins
These rules come from the code of conduct for watching marine mammals published by IFCN, Madeira’s institute for forests and nature conservation.
- Slow down earlyBelow 12 knots within 500 metres of the animals, and below 8 knots within 300 metres.
- Keep 50 metres awayThen let the animals decide whether to come closer.
- Approach from behind, on a parallel courseLeave the animals a clear 180° in front of them.
- No sudden turnsAvoid sharp changes of course or speed, and watch for animals diving or surfacing.
- Never split a groupNever come between a mother and her calf.
- Don’t chaseIf animals keep moving away from the boat, the encounter is over.
- Never feed them or throw anything inFood makes animals dependent on boats, and bread or biscuits can harm them.
- Keep noise downNoise disturbs animals and can also draw them towards the boat.
Reading the animals
Signs that animals are disturbed
- A sudden change of direction or speed.
- Swimming away again and again.
- Longer dives and shorter times at the surface after a boat arrives.
- Repeated tail slapping on the water.
- Adults placing themselves between their calves and the boat.
- A whole group diving at once with tails raised, as sperm whales do.
When you see these, a good skipper moves away slowly.
As a passenger
What you can do
- Book with an operator that follows the code, and ask how they approach animals.
- Don’t ask the skipper to get closer or to follow animals that are leaving.
- Stay seated and quiet during an encounter.
- Take your litter back to shore.