Two dolphins unusually close sighted off Santa Ponsa

Two dolphins unusually close sighted off Santa Ponsa

Passerby films the marine mammals on a calm sea

On early Tuesday morning, as the first delivery vans were still gently rattling through the narrow streets of Santa Ponsa (see Santa Ponsa: A mild, sunny day on the promenade) and the cafés filled the air with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, two dolphins drew attention along the shoreline. A man walking along the promenade stopped, took out his phone and filmed the animals swimming just a few meters from the shore.

The sea lay mirror-calm, the light was soft, and gulls croaked in the background — one of those scenes you wouldn't expect if you're used to the busy pace of the season. The animals surfaced and dove in unison, as if they had briefly claimed the bay for themselves. For the walkers, some out with dogs or collecting shells, it was a surprising moment that was talked about for a long time.

In our waters of the western Mediterranean live, among others, the common bottlenose dolphin and the striped dolphin. Dolphins do visit coastal areas from time to time — but they rarely stay so close to the beach. The sighting served as a reminder that the Balearic Islands can still be oases for marine life, if we give them space.

Such sightings lift people's spirits. The fisherman on the pier raised his eyebrows and laughed: "You don't see that every day." The owner of a small kiosk on the promenade set her coffee cup down to watch the video. That's the tone Mallorca often has: natural surprises between everyday life and tourism.

Many boat tour operators advertise dolphin sightings in summer, such as Dolphins Up Close: Following a Magical Trail with Cruceros Cormoran off Mallorca, and there are codes of conduct meant to give the animals space. On land you can also react respectfully: keep your distance, don't try to touch or feed the animals, and avoid bringing motorboats unnecessarily close. That way these encounters remain stress-free for both people and animals.

The closeness of the two dolphins was a reminder of why coastal care is important. Clean beaches and less noise on the water increase the chances of such encounters. It's no coincidence that calm mornings often bring the best nature moments — the sea recovers, and animals approach the bays.

For residents and friends of the island it is a small gift: a piece of wilderness in the middle of everyday life. If you now feel like watching for yourself, follow simple rules and ideally observe with binoculars or from a safe distance. A few minutes of silence by the water can sometimes be the best medicine on Mallorca.

And for anyone who missed the video: these moments return — if we respect the seas. Maybe the next surprise will be a bit further out, maybe again so close that you only see the animals' snouts. In any case, it's worth letting your gaze wander over the sea more often.

In short: Two dolphins passed close to the coast of Santa Ponsa on Tuesday morning. The encounter was filmed from the shore and reminds us how valuable and fragile the marine world around the island remains. A small note: observe respectfully, keep your distance and avoid noise on the water — then such encounters remain possible.