Before these islands where inhabited by humans, these animals were already living in the area, especially in the warmer waters of the southern region. For centuries, while the aborigine population was evolving, these cetaceans were swimming in the waters as they do now, as well as during the bloody and cruel conquering period when Spaniards were expanding their empire, or when Nelson imposed English language to the locals, and also when the tourist “boom” started in the sixties. However, the presence of these animals seems to be something new both for locals and visitors.

 

The tourist exploitation of the local marine life started at the beginning of 1990, especially near the coast of Tenerife, where whales can be seen about three miles form the coast, and in other islands where dolphins can be seen near the coast. This activity provided fishermen a new way to earn their living, after fish exploitation diminished.

 

Two decades later, some fishermen still live from whale and dolphin watching marveling tourists when one of these animals swim next to the boat or make some acrobatic jumps. The same happens with whales (pilot whales mostly), who show their majesty and delicate movements.

 

It is ironic that those animals that some decades ago represented a threaten and a nuisance for the fishermen because they used to compete for the fish and took it away from the fishermen nets, are now the same that provide the main source of incomes for these people, maybe for generations of them, because some of these specimens live up to 45 years. This new relationship brought peace between them with no need for bloody battles with harpoons, guns or other weapons.

 

Nowadays, these cetaceans provide employment opportunities for numerous workers of about thirty companies which are dedicated to this activity. Some employees have been visiting the same animals for so many years now that they can identify them form a long distance.

 

From the total, our company (Eden Catamaran) was one of the nine boat trip operators operating in Tenerife south, that signed an agreement with the local Council to improve their services, committing to the sustainability of the activity, the conservation of marine life, the promotion of environmental awareness within visitors, and to improve boats’ wastes disposal, the use of recycling materials, cleaning in general, and to conduct research activities on board. Other companies participating are: Nostramo, Mar de Ons Tenerife, José Antonio Hernández Martín, Whaleadventure, Teserca Yacht, Pedro Carmelo Martín Jiménez, Marítima Ludomar and Jaime Ricardo Vergara Delgado.

 

The document also includes the creation of a trained guide position whose job will be to provide information to the passengers about these animals in those boats which transport more than 25 passengers per trip. In smaller boats, the skipper will have that job. Besides, the information shall be provided at least in two languages (Spanish and English) and a talk about environmental awareness shall be given before each trip. The document also establishes that the staff of each company shall receive continuous training in the aspects mentioned above, and that customer satisfaction surveys shall be conducted regularly.

 

Routes and duration. 

  

Because the main characters are the whales and dolphins, the offer of the companies is focused in the most important aspect: to make tourists actually watch them. However, there have been some changes about the duration of the trip (2 to 4 hours average if the weather conditions are good), and the size and characteristics of the boats including their appearance (if they look like a sail boat or a pirates’ boat, although they might be power-driven), the number of seats, the size of the deck, and the watching conditions (the existence or not of a glass bottom).

 

Usually, the companies that operate in Tenerife south leave from Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Los Gigantes ports. The cetaceans also swim and live in the northern area of the island, but the temperature and weather conditions in the south make easier to find these animals.

Most tourists are European young people, although ages vary from children to old people. Children under 4 years old have discounts in their tickets or they travel for free. Ninety percent of the passengers hear about this activity after they arrive to the island although there are some travel agencies that include whale watching in their packages.The longest routes are also the more complete ones, leaving whale watching as grand finale for their trips. Boats that leave from Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas travel near the southern coastline of the island visiting beautiful natural areas such as the Masca beach, and then they go to the whale watching areas near the fish farms. Dolphins can be seen easily by the tourists who quickly learn where to look at, although the guides help them too. These animals have between 1.9 and 3.9 meters long and according to the companies there is a population of 30 specimens approximately in the south. Due to their social nature, dolphins allow tourists to watch them and enjoy their movements like in the aquariums, but here they have the advantage of being in their natural environment which provides them a longer life expectancy (from 30to 35 years).The number of pilot whales is even larger. According to the companies, there are about three hundred specimens and females specially live 45 years approximately. To watch them, boats have to travel about three miles from the coast and situate between Santiago del Teide and Guía de Isora. A variety of dolphins live there too, but the big black-backed whales catch the attention of the tourists. As dolphins, some of them swim quietly and majesty with their baby whales. They do not show their heads as much as dolphins do, but they provide fantastic shootings when they expel water in the surface. In spite of these are not the largest whales, they offer a magnificent show to the tourists who leave marveled and exited about the experience. Some boats also have glass bottoms which offer a privileged view of these animals.