A Fleeting Glimpse of Southern Right Whale Dolphins

Between Tristan da Cunha and South Africa, we always knew there was a chance—however slim—of seeing the elusive southern right whale dolphin. Sleek, striking, and nearly mythical, they’re known for their penguin-like black-and-white coloring and complete lack of a dorsal fin. Most people go decades without ever laying eyes on one.

Then, it happened.

Sara and I were scanning the horizon when we caught a flash—porpoises? Penguins? “Dolphins!” we shouted, half questioning, half hoping. “No... king penguins?” “No! Southern right whale dolphins!!” In that moment, excitement cracked through our disbelief. It was brief, no more than seconds, as the pod slipped through the swell and vanished.

Even some in our team who’ve spent over 20 years searching didn’t catch them in time. That’s how rare and fleeting these sightings are. Their low profile and erratic surfacing mean they’re often mistaken for seabirds or missed entirely.

But for those few moments, we were among the lucky ones. To see such a rare species—even just a glimpse—was a reminder of the wild unpredictability of the Southern Ocean. It’s the chase, the hope, and these flashes of magic that keep us scanning the sea.