Dolphin, seal and whale watching in Wales

2005 proved the best year on record for Whale watching in Wales, with a pod of 6 huge Fin whales being the highlight of the season. Minke and Pilot whales are also regular visitors, and the occasional Killer whale (or Orca, actually a species of dolphin) can be seen. Dolphins are present and can be seen all year round, and in 2005 a pod of over 2000 Common dolphins was seen off the Pembrokeshire coast. These megapods are the result of a number of smaller pods gathering together, usually for a short time only, and are very very rare, you should not expect to see one of these; pods of 5-30 are the norm.

Bottlenose dolphins are reasonably common, while Risso's and Atlantic white-sided are more unusual. It is thought that Cardigan bays resident population of dolphins numbers between 150-200, and is the only resident population in England and Wales. They are almost always seen from the whale and dolphin watch boats that operate in this area.

Grey seal swimming off Skomer Island.© Crown Copyright 2006

Harbour porpoises are probably the most common sighting, while Grey seals, Basking sharks and Sunfish and a wide variety of sea birds are also seen.

Quick Facts

Minke, Pilot and Fin whales.
Very occasional humpbacks (see recent sightings).
Orca (Killer whale), Common and Bottlenose dolphins.
Grey Seals, Basking sharks and Sunfish.
Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire Coast are the hot spots.

Where to go
There are two principal areas for watching marine wildlife in Wales, Cardigan Bay and the Pembrokeshire coast, particularly the Llyn Peninsula. It is also possible to see whales and dolphins from the shore, though plenty of patience is needed. Newquay pier and Lynas Point (Anglesey) probably provide your best chances.
Seals can be seen on the shoreline at various points around Wales, try Cardigan Island, Ynys Lochtyn, Cwm Tudu and New Quay.

Notable whale, dolphin and marine sightings around the UK and Irish coasts.

August 2006. Humpback seen in the Forth estuary.
July 2006. 2 Minke whales seed off the Dorset coast.
July 2006. Orca seen much more regularly than normal of Shetlands.
July 2006. Minke whales seen in unusual numbers of West Cork, Ireland, as well as sunfish and jelly fish.
July 2006. Minke whales seen in unusual numbers off Aberdeen.
July 2006. Unusual dolphin sightings off Nth East Scotland, including Rissos, white beaked and common.
July 2006. Killer whales seen off Northern Ireland.
July 2006. First record of a Fin whale off North Berwick Coast.
June/July 2006. Basking sharks seen by the basket load off Cornwall.
June 2006. Humpbacks seen off Wales.
June 2006. Humpback freed from nets off Isle of Skye.
June 2006. Orca seen off Shetland Islands (Filmed for Springwatch with Simon King).
June 2006. 12 Bottlenose dolphins seen in several places off Cornwall.
June 2006. Minke whale seen of Manacle, Cornwall.
June 2006. Possible Piliot whale sighting off Portloe, Cornwall.
May 2006. 2 Fin wales seen in the Inner Hebrides.
There have been dozens of reports of baskings sharks from Cornwall and the West Coast of Ireland.

Recent Wales news

More Wales news

Related News Articles

21 Fin whales spotted in Irish Sea

One of the largest ever known gatherings of Fin whales in British waters has recently been observed in the Celtic Deep, 50-70 nautical miles off the coasts of north Cornwall and south west Pembrokeshire.

The Book of Shells

We've all picked up a shell or two on the beach, but outside the very most common ones, we have no idea what we are handling. The glorious 652 page book will be able to answer that question for you, no matter where in the world you are.
Read full review »

Britain’s only resident orca pod – No breeding for 20 years

The conservation status of the group is thought to be critical since no live calves have been sighted since research began almost two decades ago.

Is southern Sri Lanka the world's top spot for seeing blue and sperm whales?

The Blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka.

Details

Ten top places to watch whales.

Southern right whales of South Australia.

This is one of the best viewing areas in the world with up to 70 whales, including calves, congregating in the seas adjacent to the Bunda cliffs.

British Columbia Whale Watching guidelines.

Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the rear.
Approach no closer than 100 metres and shift your motor into neutral or idle.
Keep noise levels down - no horns, whistles or racing of motors.
Start your motor only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel.
Leave the area slowly, gradually accelerating when you are more than 300 metres from the whales.
Approach and depart slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction. Do not "leapfrog."
Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales.
Maintain low speeds and constant direction if travelling parallel to whales.
When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore.
Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales.
If there is more than one vessel at the same observation site, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in encircling the whales.
Minimize the time spent and the number of vessels with any one group of whales.
Limit time, as above, and then move out to allow other vessels access to good viewing positions.
Coordinate activities by maintaining contact with other vessels, and ensure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines.

Reader offer. whales and dolphins

Reader offer:
Whales and Dolphins of Great Britain is available at £9.95 (down from £11.95),. Contact Cetacea Publishing, Nook Farmhouse, Ashby Road, Shepshed, Loughborough, LE12 9BS. Tel: +44 (0) 845 1086385. Email: info@cetaceapublishing.com . Order on line: www.cetaceapublishing.com . Please quote Wildlife Extra as the coupon code and update the page to get your discount. Major credit cards accepted.

Click here to see Explore's selection of whale watching holidays.

Click here to a selection of whale watching holidays with the Dolphin Connection

It is also possible to swim with whales, even orca (Click here to read about swimming with killer whales).

Notable marine sightings around the UK and Ireland, 2007.

20th January. 6 Bottle Nose dolphins off Stonehaven. (Courtesy of Ian Sim/Seawatch.)
November. Humpback feeding off Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, possibly in the area for 2 weeks. Interacting with Bottle Nose Dolphins. (Courtesy of Ian Sim/Seawatch.)
September. Minke whale found dead on Devon beach.
August. 2-3 Minke whales off St Abbs Head/Coldingham Bay in Berwickshire.
August. Minke whale in Fraserburgh Harbour.
July. Northern Bottlenose whale strands in River Orwell, Ipswich.
June. Humpback seen off North Devon.
June. 10 Minke whales sighted off the Isle of Man.
May. Several Minke sightings off Isle of Man, plus a Sei whale.
May. Repeated sightings of Orcas off Orkneys
May. Rare sighting of Bottlenose dolphins in the Channel, click here for details.
April. Several Orca sightings off Northern Ireland
April. Fin whale in the Moray Firth.
April. Orca seen off Isle of Man.
March. 2 Humpbacks seen off Anglesey/Isle of Mann.
March. 3 Killer whales seen off Shetland.
March. Sperm whale strands on Orkney.
March. 6 Killer whales seen off Orkney.
March. A pod of 15 Sperm whales seen by fishermen off Caithness.
January. A pod of nine killer whales seen in the Firth of Forth.

The definitive field guide to the world's marine mammals.

10% off 'Whales, Dolphins and Seals', now £11.69.

Photos, illustrations, maps, hotspots and plenty of information, by far the best book in its field. Includes information on all whales, dolphins, seals, sea-lions, Polar bears, sea otters, dugong and manatees.

Click here to buy this book.