The waters off Madeira are among the best in Europe for whale and dolphin watching. The island sits over a stretch of deep Atlantic where the submarine topography creates upwellings that concentrate fish, and the whales follow. Boat trips from the Marina run throughout the year and regularly encounter bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and pilot whales. Sperm whales are seen in most months; blue whales and sei whales pass through in spring.
Several operators run trips from the Marina, typically two to three hours long. Look for boats that carry a marine biologist alongside the captain — they know the behavior patterns, can read the surface signs, and will tell you something useful about what you are actually seeing. The best conditions are in calm mornings before the Atlantic swell builds through the day.