Whales & Dolphins
Pembrokeshire marine life offers up some incredible spectacles, and nothing is more special than coming into contact with a pod of playful Dolphins.
Dolphins
Depending on which trip you chose to join, we have regular interactions with different species of Dolphin.
Most regularly, we come across Common Dolphin. Common Dolphin are an offshore species, but come close to shore in order to feed. With their slender build, distinct grey top, and white underside, as well as their long, narrow beak, Common Dolphin can be easy to identify whilst out at sea. We have had countless interactions with these Dolphin, as close in as Rasmey Island, and will regularly pick up with larger pods on their travels as we head down to both Skomer Island and Grassholm.
Risso Dolphin are also well known to us and the Pembrokeshire seas. Risso Dolphins, which are larger, but less social than the Common Dolphin, are still a bit of a mystery, with average life span being still unknown. They have numerous scratches and scars caused from both other Risso’s, or from being bitten by their favorite food source, squid. These large white marks stand out against their dark grey bodies, which makes identifying them out at sea far easier.
Often whilst out on both our Skomer island, and Grassholm Island trips, we come across pods with their calves.
Bottlenose Dolphin, are another species which we come across whilst out on our trips. They are highly intelligent, and have the third largest encephalization levels, of any mammal on earth. Their pronounced beaks, and built in smile, caused by their curved mouths, allows us to identify them amongst other pods of Dolphin which we encounter whilst out at sea.
Strumble head offers excellent opportunities for cetacean watching, and in particular seeing the Bottlenose Dolphins. Whilst heading out on one of trips from Fishguard Harbour, we often come into contact with pods just off the break water, which offers a fantastic specital.
Whales
Most commonly, it is the Minke Whale, in which we come across whilst out at sea. Minke Whales, which can live for up to 60 years, are the second smallest baleen whale, reaching lengths of up to 35 feet long, with females being larger than their male counterparts.
Minkes are filter feeders, and so have hairs on their baleen plates, found inside the mouth, which help them catch small fish or plankton. They are opportunistic eaters, and will hunt for larger fish like cod, and haddock, if smaller fish is unavailable.
Whilst embarking on our 10-Hour Pelagic trip, in which we venture out to the Celtic Deep, we have been joined by Minke whales. Unconcerned by our presence, the Minkes go about their business looking for their food, and continue their migratory passage.
Both Humpback Whales and Fin whales have also been spotted in these same waters.