Offshore Islands & Whale and Dolphin

As seen on BBC Blue Peter, Pebble Mill, Land Of Dreams, Active 8 etc etc 

Duration
2.5 Hours depending on season and logistics

Suitable For
Ages 8 and above unless we agree otherwise.

Expect to see
60000 gannets on Grassholm, Dolphin (90% sucess) Whales 25% sucess  Porpoises, Seals, Puffins, Shearwaters etc

Departures
Normally 9am and other times on demand

Availability
Daily from mid May to end Sept

Prices
Adults £60, Children £30

Discounts
See our discounts page for group, OAP, web and other discounts 

Dogs
Sorry but this sailing is too long for dogs wanting a widdle

” breathtaking encounters with dolphins all around us”    

Jackie Morris, Leading Book Illustrator

We were the first back in 2002 to pioneer the Offshore Islands Voyage, which includes Whale and Dolphin Watching.
The abundant sea life is derived from nutrient rich water upwelling to the surface as it reaches offshore reefs. This creates a food cycle from phytoplankton up to the mammoth Whales in an area acknowledged for its biodiversity.

All our Rigid Hull Inflatables have been designed & built for this Offshore Route & are equipped with full inboard seating and the latest navigational aids. The Voyage is approximately two and half hours long.

The Voyage departs from St Justinian (2 miles from St Davids) and firstly covers the south end of Ramsey Island. From there is westwards into the Irish Sea and via the offshore Island of Grassholm. En route there are normally good sightings of harbour porpoise.

Grassholm is a spectacular sight being covered in 60,000 breeding Gannets and forms the second largest colony in the Northern Hemisphere. This small island also offers some excellent sightings of  Atlantic Grey Seals that fish the turbulent waters.

Depending on the weather conditions we can then make a Northerly or Southerly sweep along the edges of the Celtic Deep. It is here that we enjoy most sightings of Whales and Dolphins. Sightings include Common, White Sided, Bottlenose and Rissos Dolphin, Orca (Killer Whale), Minke Whale, Fin Whale and Pilot Whale.

Porpoises are seen on most sailings, dolphins on 90% and whales on 25%. The offshore sailings are made from end of May to the end of September. The best times are June and July for Orca ( and again in Sept), Minke July through to Sept, Dolphins most of the year but peaking July to September. We have observed up to 31 Minke and over 500 dolphins on a sailing (but please remember that we have also had sailings with no sightings !!). For many though just reaching the rarely visited Island of Grassholm is reward enough.

We also see basking shark, large sunfish and turtle from time to time. Inshore the Porpoises are seen daily with occasional sightings of whale.

When conditions allow we also offer a longer four hour Voyage 20 miles offshore. This is normally very early in the morning and on particular tides to an area that produces a frenzy of activity by cetaceans.

The Voyage is suitable for all ages but please take account of the wind chill offshore and that young ones may find it a little long.

All photographs on this site are taken from our vessels by Janet Baxter, Lyndon Lomax, Richard Helon and our crews.

And dont forget we

• are the only company born and bred in St Davids and are Welsh speaking

• operate a professional company with formal office open all year and are the largest employer

• are the largest operator with the largest and most modern fleet

• the longest standing operator

• Carbon Neutral and a major sponsor of local charities and green initiatives

But above all … we are passionate and care