Dolphins, Shark, Whales and the Cairns of Coll
Saturdays Whalewatch Explorer was filled with suprises as Sula Beag headed out into the sunshine. A pod of 50 Common Dolphins, 2 Minke Whales and a large Basking Shark presented themselves beautifully for all to see. On board passenger and researcher Emily kindly wrote about the sightings.
SLS Guide Abs
Saturday 24th May 2008
Wow! What an absolutely fantastic day! You wouldn’t help but think it was going to be a good one as we stepped aboard Sula Beag in the glorious morning sunshine with the water sparkling in anticipation all around us. It didn’t take long before we spotted our first porpoise in the Sound of Mull. Then we saw another, and another, and another – the water felt like it was teaming with porpoise!
As we all applied more sun-cream, we headed out towards Coll, with mountain tops coming out of the haze all around us. In the afternoon, large splashes in the distance were spotted. We approached full of excitement we were suddenly surrounded by approx 50 common dolphins, including 2 calves! It was incredible – the leapt and dived all around us with such energy and incredible grace. They seemed to be with us for hours playing around the bow of the boat by the Cairns of Coll.
We then set off to head back in the direction of Mull, still all exhilarated by the dolphins, when someone spotted a Minke Whale!! In the far distance we could see the animal slice through the water – it was perfect – the mountains in the background, the sun, the whale – it was like time stood still. And then just to add to the electric atmosphere, we saw another Minke, this time a juvenile.
Could things get any better?
We then saw a basking shark as well! It was probably also a juvenile and it came right up to the boat with its huge white mouth gapping open as if it has mistaken us for a large piece of plankton. It looked so impressive up close (and I was pleased I hadn’t watched Jaws lately)!!
The results of the plankton trawl proved plankton was in abundance! No wonder we found a basking shark there!
So, that’s our day and wow! What a day it was! We’re all going to smiling for a long time after that experience!
SLS Guide Abs
Saturday 24th May 2008
Wow! What an absolutely fantastic day! You wouldn’t help but think it was going to be a good one as we stepped aboard Sula Beag in the glorious morning sunshine with the water sparkling in anticipation all around us. It didn’t take long before we spotted our first porpoise in the Sound of Mull. Then we saw another, and another, and another – the water felt like it was teaming with porpoise!
As we all applied more sun-cream, we headed out towards Coll, with mountain tops coming out of the haze all around us. In the afternoon, large splashes in the distance were spotted. We approached full of excitement we were suddenly surrounded by approx 50 common dolphins, including 2 calves! It was incredible – the leapt and dived all around us with such energy and incredible grace. They seemed to be with us for hours playing around the bow of the boat by the Cairns of Coll.
We then set off to head back in the direction of Mull, still all exhilarated by the dolphins, when someone spotted a Minke Whale!! In the far distance we could see the animal slice through the water – it was perfect – the mountains in the background, the sun, the whale – it was like time stood still. And then just to add to the electric atmosphere, we saw another Minke, this time a juvenile.
Could things get any better?
We then saw a basking shark as well! It was probably also a juvenile and it came right up to the boat with its huge white mouth gapping open as if it has mistaken us for a large piece of plankton. It looked so impressive up close (and I was pleased I hadn’t watched Jaws lately)!!
The results of the plankton trawl proved plankton was in abundance! No wonder we found a basking shark there!
So, that’s our day and wow! What a day it was! We’re all going to smiling for a long time after that experience!
posted by Sea Life Surveys at
10:59 am
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