Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours | Whale & Dolphin Watching

The morning tour is a 2 1/2 hour tour to the Great Blasket island and back and departs from Ventry harbour at 1000 hrs.

The afternoon tour departs at 1300 hrs and is a 4 hr guided eco marine tour around the Blasket island archipelago and Dingle Bay

The 3 hr evening tour departs at 1700 [minimum 5 people] and is based on our sightings of whales and dolphins on our earlier trips

Species most encountered are harbour porpoise, minke whales and common dolphins. There is a resident population of grey seals on the Blaskets and basking shark are plentiful in early summer. Puffins nest on the outer islands visited on the afternoon tour where we also often see Risso's dolphins. We are ocassionally visited by orcas [ killer whales] and humpback whales and fin whales are present in late summer and Autumn. Occassionally we are visited by bottlenose dolphins but Fungie the Dingle dolphin is present all year round

There is an abundance of seabirds including puffins, manx shearwaters, Arctic terns, storm petrels, kittiwakes,gannets, guillimots, razorbills, cormorants and shags, various seagulls and later in the season migrating seabirds like sooty shearwaters, great skuas, phalaropes and petrels. Choughs and wheaters are present on the Great Blasket

For a full day out we incorporate an optional 3 hr landing on the Great Blasket island on the morning trip and pick up from the island for the guided afternoon eco marine tour

Months

April • May • June • July • August • September • October

Duration

Short (1-3 hours) • Half-day (3-6 hours) • Full day (6-9 hours)

Vessel types

Small boat (0-50 passengers)

Times and prices

1000hrs  to 12300hrs                   2 1/2 hrs                  €25

1300hrs  to  1700hrs                    4 hrs                        €35

1700hrs  to  2000hrs                    3 hrs                        €30

1000hrs  to  1700hrs                    7 hrs                        €45

About our skippers and naturalist guides

Michael [Mick] Sheeran skipper of "Blasket Princess" has a lifetime experience lobster fishing and ferrying around the blasket islands and Dingle Bay, Co. Kerry.He also has done varied research and survey work with NPWS [National Parks and Wildlife Service], IWDG [irish Whale and Dolphin Group} and participated in various documentaries and wildlife programmes. He has an extensive knowledge of the optimum areas for viewing any whale and dolphin activity in the loca area

Britta Wilkens is the wildlife guide on board and "spotter" with crew Billy. Her speciality is sea birds but will answer any questions about our varied wildlife and hopefully help you spot our local porpoises, common dolphins, minke whales when present and also basking shark, grey seals and puffins.

Facilities

Access to wheelhouse • Carbon neutral • Deck with 360?vision • Disabled access • Naturalist guide(s) as well as skipper • On board hydrophone • Onboard research • PA system • Posters / displays / maps • Public participation in research • Reading material available • Restrooms / toilets on board • Scenic backdrop to encounters • Snacks / drinks • Support conservation • Use a code of conduct

We frequently

See a whale's tail • See leaping dolphins • Watch whales and dolphins

Baleen Whales

Humpback Whale • Minke Whale

Ocean Dolphins

Bottlenose Dolphin • Risso's Dolphin • Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Porpoises

Harbour Porpoise

Other wildlife and points of interest

Fin and killer whales (orca) basking shark grey seals sunfish puffins manx shearwaters, sooty shearwaters skuas Cathedral rocks on Inish na Bro Tiaracht lighthouse

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