The Strait of Gibraltar has the unique distinction of not only connecting two continents, but also two major water bodies of the world. The fourteen kilometre wide Strait is the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and this has led to the creation of an extremely unique marine ecosphere in the area. The Mediterranean Sea has a higher density and salinity than the Atlantic Ocean, and because of this difference in densities, the Mediterranean water mass flows into the Atlantic in this region. This communion of these unique water habitats makes both the topography as well as the eco system of this place unique, providing the ideal place for naturalists to witness different forms of marine flora and fauna that are not found anywhere else. Apart from providing the ideal environment and marine beauty for scuba diving and snorkeling, the Strait of Gibraltar is one of the best places for whale and dolphin watching in the world.

 

The whole world congregates for whale and dolphin watching in Spain, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar, since the rate of sighting a cetacean on a whale or dolphin watching trip is almost ninety eight per cent. Fifteen species of cetaceans (the family of whales, porpoises and dolphins) are found in the waters surrounding Andalusia. While some of them are migrants and tourists in search of food in these waters, four are known residents. Two out of these fifteen cetaceans - the Harbour porpoise and the Striped dolphin are extremely rare and have been officially classified as being close to extinction. The Harbour porpoise is only found in the Bay of Cadiz and the Black Sea.

 

The most commonly seen cetaceans that you might get to watch while on a whale or dolphin watching trip are Fin whales, Sperm whales, Beaked whales and Long-finned Pilot whales. Other cetaceans like the Bottle nose, Common and Risso dolphins can be sighted much closer to shore, while you will have to move past the continental shelf in order to see the whales. Chances of seeing the Blue whale, the largest mammal known to man, are slim, even though they do inhabit this area from time to time. Minke whales and Humpback whales are also present in the waters, but hard to sight.

 

Many whale and dolphin watching services can be found in Tarifa, La Linea and Gibraltar, with these three being the main points for whale and dolphin watching trips. Tour operators offer whale and dolphin watching trips on board their boats where they will take you to the natural haunts of these creatures so that you can see them up close and personal. Most of these trips last for a minimum of two hours. Many of these tour operators have boats with glass bottoms to increase your chances of seeing more and more species of marine life. A number of operators have special equipment like binoculars, hydrophones and whale and bird watching guide books that enhance the pleasure and the productivity of your whale and dolphin watching trip in Spain.

 

Other operators might have a naturalist on board (someone who is researching cetaceans or is an expert on marine life) who educates customers about the different species that they see and also gives them adequate and interesting information about the marine life and ecology of the area.

 

When choosing a whale and dolphin watching operator in Spain, make sure that you get a boat that has some whale watching instruments and a naturalist on board, especially if you are a tourist. This will be partly responsible for making your once in a life time experience of whale and dolphin watching in Spain more informative, interesting, enjoyable and memorable. Do not worry about the fact that you might come back without seeing a whale or a dolphin from one of these trips, because the chances of coming back without a sighting are extremely small. Many good tour operators will even offer you a free ticket for another ride in case you do not get to see a cetacean on your first trip.