“I lived here for over three decades before I saw a dolphin,” smiles Wietske Hoekstra as she steers the boat across Ibiza’s glittering south-west waters. “One day a pod appeared out of nowhere and began bow-riding beside us. Their speed, the jumps… we just laughed in disbelief. It was a deeply emotional moment for me.”
Born in the Netherlands, Wietske arrived in Ibiza in the early 1980s – “a different island, a different world” – with plans to charter boats. Four decades on, she’s become known as Ibiza’s dolphin whisperer, thanks to her rare connection with these intelligent, playful creatures. “They teach me so much,” she says. “They’re incredibly social and so full of joy.” Soon, fins appear in the distance. “I think they recognize my boat. The older ones definitely know my voice.”
One of her favorites, Thinfin – named for his damaged dorsal – swims close. “Each dolphin has a signature whistle, like a name. Once I heard a mother call her calf away from me underwater. It was amazing to witness that moment of trust and instinct.” Wietske estimates approximately 30 dolphins currently live around Ibiza, though pods constantly change due to weather, food, sleep, and socializing patterns. “They have a fission-fusion society – males bond together, females stay with their mothers and sometimes pods come together just to play. They’re a lot like us, really.”
She’s also a passionate advocate for marine protection. In 2014, she joined the Mar Blava Alliance, formed to stop oil exploration near the Balearics. “Cairn Energy’s plans would’ve been catastrophic. But the unity shown by the islanders – everyone from Ibiza to Formentera – was so powerful. We said no. And we’re still saying no.”
As we float in silence, dolphins breach, whistle and slap their tails, putting on a show just for us. “Every dolphin is different – some are shy, some silly, some incredibly brave,” she says. “But they must stay wild and free.” Wietske’s message is clear. “Please, respect the ocean. It gives us life. Don’t litter, don’t speed, and treat it with the love it deserves. The dolphins’ future – and our own – depends on it.”
