Long before dolphin watching was a popular activity for tourists, dolphins were giving sailors a helping hand. They guided ships to safe harbour in ancient Greece and in 19th century New Zealand. They became symbols of safety and a sign of changing weather. Today, you can become part of a dolphin watching group in many places around the world. This is ecotourism.

In the United Kingdom, dolphin watching has risen in prominence over the past 20 years. In some areas, it has replaced fishing as a popular means of livelihood. You can arrange to see different dolphin species off the coasts of both Ireland and Scotland.

Ireland

If you plan a dolphin watching trip to Ireland, head to County Clare. At the mouth of the lovely Shannon River you have a chance to view bottlenose dolphins. They number between 100 and 140. The expedition involves getting on board a spacious boat and setting off into the estuary. A hydrophone will help you listen to the dolphins. The trip off the Loop Head Peninsula takes approximately 2 hours. Afterwards, you can visit some of the local villages, such as Carrigaholt, which features a late 15th century castle built by the McMahons. Once the scene of lively sea battles, the village now basks quietly on the coast, and is a charming market town.

Watching dolphins in Ireland is also possible in West Cork. Here you can catch sight of the short-beaked common dolphin. You can watch, amazed, as it performs its antics, surfing on the bow waves of ships. In County Kerry, you can see one of the country’s most famous dolphins: Fungie. A bottlenose dolphin, he arrived in Dingle Bay in the 1980s and has remained there ever since. Tour boats will take you Fungie watching and the trip will last about an hour.

Dolphin watching is also possible from ships sailing in and around Kenmare Town, Cloyne, Sherkin Island, Union Hall, Baltimore, Castletownbere, Kilrush, Cork City, Heir Island, Cobb, Dunquin and Whitegate.

Scotland

Scotland has various places where dolphin watching is a plentiful pleasure. A dolphin spotting trip leaves Inverness to sail on the Moray Firth – the wedge-shaped bay that defines the eastern coastline of the Scottish Highlands. There are more than 100 dolphins swimming and living in this estuary.

The Moray Firth is actually the farthest north European breeding ground for dolphins. The Moray Firth Wildlife Centre is an excellent starting point to arrange a trip to view these marvellous acrobatic creatures. You can also arrange to sail out to the Isle of Mull. Here, you can watch for Risso’s dolphins as well as for common dolphins.

The best time to go dolphin watching in Scotland is from mid-June to September. Bottlenose dolphins are, however, available for viewing all year around the Hebrides. They are in smaller numbers but you can arrange to go out by boat to try and see them. You can also consider dolphin watching at Taigh Solais, Ledaig, Tobermory and Argyll.