Freebird Tenerife

It’s the International Year of the Dolphin and thoughts are at last turning to how to protect them and other cetacean species such as whales. Last week a major conference took place at the Magma centre in Las Americas, with delegates from West African nations joining with experts from the Canary Islands.

Agreement was reached to promote Macronesia, that’s the Canary Islands, The Azores and Madeira, as a sanctuary for whales and dolphins, with all the governments involved committed to protecting these endangered species.

The Tenerife ministry of the Interior has threatened to hit whale and dolphin watching excursion companies with fines of up to 300,000 euros if they break the code of conduct for watching these graceful creatures.

Freebird welcomes these new moves, as they have always been committed to responsible tourism and have a deep respect for all sea creatures. If you want to see the full guidelines that Freebird operate by, look at the Eco Policy section on the Freebird Sailing website.

 On many of Freebird’s catamaran trips, you will meet volunteers from the Atlantic Whale Foundation. These students carry out research and plot the progress of the many dolphins and whales, a third of all known species, that pass through or are native to the Canary Islands.

There are few more uplifting sights in nature than dolphins and whales cavorting in the waves, it’s a sight freebird intend to be bale to bring you for many years to come.

Oh dear, someone missed the boat in Tenerife this week. The whales and dolphins wont have been impressed by this floating mini, they prefer to see passengers and crew enjoying themselves on the range of Freebird catamarans.

The specially adapted Mini was in Playa de las Americas this week, it’s one of a small batch built by BMW’s Spanish division for promotional work. At the weekend it will be moving up north to surprise people on Las Terresitas beach, near Santa Cruz.

Boat trips have got to be one of the best and most enjoyable ways of topping up a tan and on the Freebird Two whale and dolphin cruise, it’s a perfect setting.

After a couple of hours of sun and fun, a cooling dip was just what was needed. With my young family in tow, I was a little nervous about taking them into the open sea, but my concerns were soon proved to be groundless.

A secluded sandy bay just round from the busy resorts of Adeje, looked refreshing and enticing. With three exit points from the back of the boat and steps down to just above water level, even the kids joined in the fun. Calm, clear and above all safe, it was the perfect way to round off a great 3 hours excursion.

I asked my two boys later what they liked most about our trip. I was a bit taken aback when they said the penquins ! then I realised, they meant the balloon models made for them by Charlie the on board entertainer. Personally, I will often think of it as the day I braved the waters of the Atlantic.

A 20 ton, 14 metre long Finback or Razorback whale was washed up dead on a beach in Cadiz this weekend. Tests will reveal the cause of death but it’s another blow to the survival of these magnificent animals.

How lucky we are in Tenerife to have whales and dolphins swimming off our coasts. A third of all the world’s species either live or pass through these waters and there is no better way to see them than on a boat trip.

Freebird has been opening a window into their world for 13 years and their staff understand the delicate balance of nature that has to be maintained to protect these animals. Dont miss the chance to see whales and dolphins in the wild, it’s a sight worth fighting to preserve.

I get a bit concerned sometimes when I think of all the pleasure boat trips out there in the ocean off Tenerife. What impact are they having on the sea life, are they taking care not to pollute the very waters that attract them? I must share my experience of a recent trip on the Freebird Two from Puerto Colon to see the whales and dolphins.

Firstly it was good to hear the on boat guide announce that smokers should stick to one area of the boat and make sure they put their cigarette ends in the plastic cups provided. It seems such a small thing to flick a cigarette butt into the sea but animals swallow them and the filters expand in the water and prevent them from eating. Volunteers from the Atlantic Whale Foundation, were on board and helped to explain about the dangers these magnificent creatures face and gave out leaflets showing all the possible species we might see.

What really caught my attention though was when one of the crew leant out from the boat and scooped up a turtle that looked to be in some difficulty. Thankfully after a swill under the tap to clean it up and a quick once over, it was ready to be gently launched back into the waves.It was a nice insight into the daily concern and respect that these crews show towards a sea world that many would otherwise never experience at close quarters.