Freebird in tune with the song of the sea

If you were asked to describe the attractions of Tenerife in two words, you might well plump for sun and sea, so if you get the chance to combine the two, it has to be worth taking.

Freebird catamarans have been a familiar site off the south coast of Tenerife since 1994 but each voyage is unique and even the experienced crew are never sure what they may find out in the water. The passengers are keen to see dolphins and whales and the crew know just where to find them. Bottle nosed dolphins are the most common sight, but even they come in two varieties. As for whales, few things can match the sight of these huge animals gliding so gracefully through the water. Normally pilot whales are sighted but as the Canary Islands feature a third of all dolphin and whale species in the world, as residents or passing through, there is always the chance of a special encounter. With an excellent sense of timing, Freebird came across two blue whales on Christmas Day a few years ago. These rare beauties were between 25 and 30 metres in length and were quite happy to pass right alongside the boat, for the lucky passengers that day, it certainly beat the usual pair of socks as a Christmas present.

There are lots of other interesting creatures hidden beneath the Atlantic and every now and then they like to make an appearance, and the crew are always ready to offer any help they may need.

Like a refugee from a Jules Verne novel, a giant squid came calling on one memorable trip. Measuring in at 5 metres from head to tentacles, it looked worse for wear after a close encounter with a whale. The crew pulled it aboard and kept it wet for the trip home and then handed it over to students from La Laguna University in the north of the island for them to treat and study.

Just recently a turtle crossed the Freebird’s path, this one seemed to be struggling so it was scooped up and treated to a shower in the sink to remove dirt and parasites. A closer inspection showed no signs of harm so it was returned gently to the waves.

All these surprises help to make each trip special but just having a boat full of happy holiday makers, learning about the environment is a great reward for the crew. Families particularly find the trips enthralling, for many it’s a once in a lifetime experience and their sense of awe and wonder never fails to delight the crew. On board entertainers help to ensure that all runs smoothly for the younger sailors and a chance to swim in the sea at a secluded calm cove is gratefully received as a respite from the topping up of the tans.

It’s always quite a sad parting of the ways as the Freebird returns to port, but it’s a heart warming thought for all the Freebird staff that they have helped to build memories that will last long after the tans have faded.