Bottlenose Dolphins play around Sula Beag

The local bottlenose dolphins were in the northern waters around Mull yesterday and treated the lucky passengers and crew aboard Sula Beag to a fantastic encounter.

Thanks to a call from a local fishing boat (who were kindly rewarded with Mars bars), we all knew there were dolphins in the area - it was just a case of finding them!

We scoured the coastline for over an hour and our efforts were rewarded when we spotted a group of 5 dolphins bowriding on another vessel. We followed their course and it wasn't long before the dolphins changed direction and swam towards us to check us out.

The group was socialising and we saw white bellies just under the surface as they swam upside down and rubbed up against each other. We were treated to dolphin acrobatics with high leaping out of the water and lots of bowriding and close encounters so we could see the scarring and individual markings on each of the dolphins bodies.

The pod continued following the coastline south while we investigated a basking shark feeding at the surface.

The Scottish Bottlenose dolphins are at the northern-most limit of the species range and we all felt privileged to share the waters around Mull with them today.
Lets hope they pay us another visit soon!

Sarah - SLS guide

Monday's Whale Watch Continued...

As reported on yesterdays Captain’s Log by Tom, Monday’s Whale Watch Explorer headed out into the hottest day of the year and found a whale within an hour.

SLS super guide Abs first sighted the whale, which proved to be a little illusive, still perseverance is the name of this game and we headed across the silky blue sea to the Isle of Coll.

Once again we picked up three whales feeding amongst shoals of small fish that we observed bubbling at the surface. The abundance of food was reflected in the whale’s behaviour, with most whales we have observed lately surfacing much more leisurely and being very inquisitive of our boats – Yay!

As well as the whales, the sun and the birds, the trip was treated to some fantastic views of basking sharks including two very small sharks!

SLS Guides Abs and Rachael

Close Encounters

Yesterdays Whalewatch Explorer was greeted with warm weather and plentiful wildlife.

Within half an hour of leaving Tobermory we had already found several groups of Harbour Porpoise, our most frequently seen marine mammal, but we continued further west towards the Isle of Coll.

Our first encounter with the larger creatures came shortly before lunch when within the space of an hour we came across two Minke Whales and numerous Basking sharks, two of the Basking sharks being within metres of the boat.

Following a brief Island landing we set out to rediscover the morning’s whales. We were then lucky enough to catch a glimpse of our third Minke in its entirety as it approached our vessel Sula Beag, and surfaced several times just ahead of the boat. Our return journey met with a further Basking shark which was a perfect ending to a pretty impressive trip.

Today is probably the hottest day we have had all season, with clear blue skies and no wind. Reports from todays Whalewatch are coming in of a Minke within the first 30 mins of the trip, spotted by our very own office manager Abs (not from the office, she was infact on board at the time...!!)

Tom
SLS Head Guide

Sunfish number one today

Amongst the many Basking Sharks sighted during today’s Whale watch explorer we were also greeted to a first for this season: A Sunfish.

We see this magnificent fish on a regular basis throughout July and August when they enter our waters to feed primarily on our Jellyfish.

These largely tropical fish can reach up three metres in length, although we often sight much smaller examples.

They approach the surface for a number of reasons, including the warmer water, foraging for food and the removal of their sea lice by the local sea birds. This behaviour can often be confused as an act of distress, given the appearance of floating on the surface, it is in fact perfectly natural and its great to see them on our trips.

Tom Evans
SLS Head Guide

Shark Breaches in Tobermory Bay

Today every trip from the Whalewatch Explorer to the Seal Cruz managed to
get to see a Basking Shark!

The reason being that there was one just 500
metres from our centre in Tobermory. It was first seen over towards the
ferry pier by the Ecocruz and then was found again further in the bay by the
Wildlife Adventure. It was quite happily feeding on plankton and even swam
alongside the boat giving everyone an excellent view of the world's second
biggest fish. At one point, the shark breached out of the water showing its huge
body size and causing a massive splash.

Many more sharks (over 20
individuals) were seen throughout our area during the day. This high
concentration of sharks may be due to a summer plankton bloom attracting
them to the area.

Lewy

Skipper

Minke whales return, Sharks steal the show!

After a few days of windy and rough conditions hemming the Whalewatch Explorer into the North West Coast of Mull, making whale spotting tricky, a drop in wind and calm conditions allowed us to head across to Coll. Here we picked up two minke whales feeding off the Cairn's, however it was the estimated 18 basking sharks that took the limelight today!

At one point at least 8 sharks surrounded the boat and we could have been forgiven for the thinking we were in some kind of horror movie, but really these harmless giants are simply filtering out plankton from the water.

As we drifted eating our lunch on board, 2 more slowly manouvered close to the boat, mouths wide open, guzzling their lunch from the turqoise blue waters off the Cairns of Coll.

Rachael
SLS Guide

Video of Visitor Centre & Taigh Solais Opening Day

A great video of the opening of the Tobermory Harbour Association building and our new Sea Life Visitor Centre has been put together by local artist Angus Stewart.

The video shows HRH opening the building, the fantastic RNLI helicopter excecise in the bay, highlights from the celebrations with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers that evening, and a great collection of footage showing the building being built over a full year, from foundations to the grand opening.  

You can see a range of pictures from the event, and view the video, by clicking on the link below.  Here you will view our facebook fan page, where we give regular updates, you can join as a fan,  add pictures from your wildlife experiences, get regular updates on sightings, events and more - 

Facebook Sea Life Surveys Fan Page

Our New Visitor Centre Opened by HRH Princess Royal

Our new visitor centre which is part of the new Tobermory Harbour Assosciation building Taigh Solais was opened by HRH Princess Royal on the 3rd July.

Inside the new Sea Life Visitor Centre

Sea Eagle section, counter and displays

Our HUGE aquarium!  There is 500 gallons of sea water in here, with prawns, crabs, starfish, butterfish, lobster, and loads more beasties to come and look for!  (all caught in Tobermory bay in creels, or from the shore)

Inside the new centre, touch table and more - HRH Princess Royal meets the SLS crew on the pontoon

Childrens Corner - Pictures by Tobermory Primary, and a collage made by Tobermory High school pupils.