On Tales
Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1000 km from the Portuguese main land. The island is part of the Madeira Islands group, which consists of Madeira, Porto Santo and Desertas Islands. The biggest of the islands is Madeira, and its landscape is as impressive as it is diverse. You can find black beaches, banana plantations, steep vulcanic cliffs, high mountain tops (the highest being Pico Ruivo ewith 1861m (6105ft)). Being an island, there is of course plenty of marine wildlife. Twenty eight species of whales and dolphins are known for passing by during various seasons. With its dramatic landscape, Madeira is surrounded by deep waters and submarine canyons just a few miles offshore, which are perfect for deep-diving species such as sperm whales, beaked and pilot whales.
It goes without saying that when we visited Madeira last month, we were going to do a tour on water. We chose to do this tour with On Tales, because they offer private and group tours in an environmentally responsible way. The company chooses to use biodegradable materials and reuse some of the resources, whenever possible. Most of the cleaning and hygiene products carry the EU Ecolabel, depending on their availability. The Miranda, a 10-seater Bayliner 2355 Ciera, has been awarded both “Blue flag 2019” and “Blue flag 2020 and 2021”, as a reward for On Tales´ commitment to respect the environmental code of conduct. The company is sure to reaffirm this investment for the coming years. The management team also seeks to support the local economy by choosing regional products served on-board or to use for business needs. Currently an environmental project in partnership with local artisans to create merchandising materials for the company is being developed. Besides that, all the wildlife that needs help are being provided with the necessary assistance when injured.
Blue Flag is is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. The Blue Flag program is operated under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmental Education and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
On Tales was founded in 2015 to give people the opportunity to contemplate the magnificent creatures that live in the Madeira seas in a way that respects their natural habitat in the sea. You depart from the Marina da Calheta to admire the south coast of the island. The On Tales team aims to provide their guests with the best possible experience. Guests only have to relax and indulge into the ocean’s charms.
On Tales introduces their guests to some of the wonders of the Madeira coasts, attending to their needs whenever possible and maintaining a healthy relationship with sea-life, to allow future generations to enjoy it as much as we do. You can enjoy the excellent service on board the Miranda offered by On Tales´ qualified professional crew who are all passionate about marine life. Named “Miranda” from the Latin “adorable”, “admirable” or “marvellous”. It is also the name of Prospero’s daughter in “The Tempest”, by Shakespeare. Miranda is definitely up to the standards of the experience we aim to offer, meeting all the requirements for a respectful exploration of the ocean.
During our tour, which is also very well suited for children, we were lucky enough to encounter two species of dolphins (Spotted and Bottlenose dolphins), various bird species and a Bryde whale. Our captain was super friendly and very passionate about telling us more about the different species. At the end of the tour we had the possibility to take a dip in the water, which was surprisingly not that cold. After some splashing and diving we were welcomed back on board with a big towel by the crew. We headed back to the marina after a 2.5 tour and thanks and goodbye to all the beautiful animals that came to greet us during our time on the water. What a wonderful afternoon.
Plus: Bathing and hair towels, snorkelling equipment (goggles, tubes & fins), blankets are available and free of charge for use while on board. Fresh drinks (sparkling wine on private charters) are offered during the tour. On Tales sent us all photos taken during the tour (we did a private charter).
Location: Av D. Manuel I , Porto Recreio da Calheta, Madeira, Portugal
