Dolphin, whale??

[rex_seadog]

We were sailing around Start Point, Devon on Saturday and just as we entered the race I spotted a 'sea creature' heading towards us. When about two boat lengths away it dived below the surface and that was the last I saw of it. I have had several encounters with dolphins and porpoises but this seemed to be much larger. I'd hesitate to estimate its length as I only saw it head on. Its head seemed to be quite wide and rounded and I could clearly see its dorsal fin. I know bottle-nose dolphins can grow to about 4 metres but this didn't appear to have the typical beak-like snout. Perhaps it was a pilot whale but I understand that these tend to congregate in large groups (pods) and I only spotted the one.
Suggestions would be welcome.

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[snowleopard]

it would be either a pilot or minke whale, both reasonably common in uk waters. the minke is larger and the dorsal fin is about 3/4 of the way back from the head.

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[david]

I'm at Torpoint (Plymouth) and regularly see pilot whales and basking sharks, although the pilot whales are usually quite away off shore but I've seen basking sharks in Cawsand bay.

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[Ohdrat]

Minke whale from the diving behaviour.. Pilot whales tend to spend more time on the surface.. sometime you'll see a Minke blow and submerge 2 or 3 times before finalling diving properly.. Minke have a relatively (to the rest of their body) small fin..

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[Sybarite]

Sounds like a pilot whale to me. They aren't always in pods.

John

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[poter]

Just throw it into the pot...................Although it sounds like a pilot Whale..
could it just have been a basking shark???

poter

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[oldharry]

Could have been a Pilot whale, but in that area far more likely to be a basking shark, which tends to coast along near the surface with the fin showing, unlike Dolphins which tend only come to the surface to breath.

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[dulcibella]

The description of a "rounded head" doesn't sound much like a basking shark or a minke, but is highly characteristic of the pilot whale. My money's on that.

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[rex_seadog]

Exactly my own thoughts. I've seen basking sharks several times but this was quite different.
Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions.

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[peterk]

whale ID

Hi REX,
What color was your whale?
Pilot whales are usually black.

Try the LINKS on www.juprowa.com/kittel

for a few websites on whales and dolphins
- the orca and the pilot whale f.e.are technically DOLPHINS.

good luck for spotting more of my friends!

...peter

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[Salty]

Re: whale ID

A similar shark vs dolphin debate around this photo from a surfing forum. To be honest, it would be fairly academic if I was the surfer, I'd have completely crapped myself whatever it was.

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[BrendanS]

Re: Direct from snopes.com

......the urban legend site

Click on the image. Right click on the picture, and select properties.Select your own gullability rating

1) I thought this was a realistic image
2) I thought twice, but wasn't sure
3) I'm barking mad and thought that life at sea was always like this
4) Are you kidding!

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[Salty]

Re: Direct from snopes.com

yeah yeah smart arse, I know it's linked to the urban legends site. But before you get too cocky about spotting that, the 'is it true, is it false' debate is about whether its a dolphin or a shark (the photographer reckoned a shark, evidence suggests dolphin), not that the photo is doctored (you'll see that if you actually follow the link you brought up in 'properties')