Horst Schulte | Lobosonda

I grew up with a blend of two different cultures, blending together Germany and Mexico. Living in Mexico it gave me the opportunity to experience the beauty off our oceans as this country has an ample coastline from the Pacific Ocean, to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. During those travels I fell in love with the ocean and wanted to dedicate my study to it.

During the study I figured then out that I love the interaction with guests and thus for me it came clear that being a wildlife guide is the right job for me. In 2025 I then moved to Madeira. I chose Madeira because it resembles a bit Latin America, my home continent, but also combines Europe, which is my German part. Lobosonda, with its traditional vessel gives me ample time to interact with my guests and show then my passion for the ocean and maybe spill it over to them. This is not as easy on the speed boats normally used for whale watching. Further that the wellbeing of the animals is so important for Lobosonda, was a crucial decision point for me.

Horst has experience in the marine biology field, especially marine ecology and marine citizen science.

He chose Lobosonda as he wanted to work in Macaronesian area and with its people. Thus he decided to become whale watching guide on Madeira. This allows him to share his knowledge with the world, but also live on an amazing island. He really liked that Lobosonda is a small company which makes for him the work ambience way more enjoyable.

Horst loves that there is so much to discover under the surface and that that world is so different from what we have normally around us. Also simply the diversity of ecosystems we have there is breathtaking, from the kelp forests, coral reefs and hydrothermal vents in the deeps sea.

One of his favourite cetaceans is the Pacific white-sided dolphin. He doesn’t have a reason for this, he just loves them and it’s his dream to see one in the wild one day… Another favourite is the Amazon river dolphin. This river species simply fascinates him with its strange lifestyle, which makes it a unique cetacean in the world.