Close Encounters

The crew on board Saturday’s whalewatch explorer trip set off with much anticipation, despite the low cloud, as the strong winds that had thwarted the previous few trips had dropped, leaving us with perfect conditions. After hearing a rumour that Dolphins had been seen up North that morning we set off to try and catch up with them. By the time we reached the area, they had moved on. However we were treated to a fantastic view of 3 Minke whales, as well as large numbers of porpoise and a wide range of bird species all feeding in the same area. Just as we had turned and were slowly heading for home we were treated to a fantastic view of a Minke whale as it surfaced less then 15m away heading straight for the boat, it then turned and allowed everyone on board the opportunity to take in it’s full size and even see the white on the fins. All of this was topped off by another whale sighting within half an hour of Tobermory bay and porpoise guiding us home. Maybe it was just a good day sightings wise or maybe they knew that it was our guide Dunk’s (A.K.A Harry Potter) last day but either way it made for a special send off.

SLS guide Clare

Northern Bottlenose Whales at Loch Scridain

Reports have been flooding into the Sea Life Surveys Centre today of two cetaceans seen at Loch Scridain yesterday afternoon. Thanks to Chris Banks who has provided the accompanying photograph, the unidentified marine mammals have been confirmed as Northern Bottlenose Whales. It is very exciting to hear these deep water cetaceans are in the waters around Mull as they are very rarely spotted here. Sea Life Surveys has only spotted the 7-9m long toothed whales once – two years ago. They were also seen last week by another operator, Sheerwater who run from Arisaig. We will be keeping a keen eye out for them on our trips!

Sarah, SLS Guide

Risso's Dolphins Make an Appearance

The Whale Watch Explorer on Wednesday 3rd September had this summer’s first sighting of Risso’s Dolphins. The weather conditions were perfect and after a passenger spotted a fin over a mile away we were all excited to get closer and find out it was two Rissos’s Dolphins.

We followed them from the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse down to the northwest coast of Mull and were treated to fantastic views of their scarred bodies and watched as they raised their tail stocks and flukes out of the water before diving. By the time we left the dolphins we had counted six individuals, including a mother and calf pair, and suspected there was most likely more than that in the area. Fantastic!

Sarah, SLS Guide

ORCAAAAAA!!

An Orca-some Wildlife Adventure

Yet again, Orca have graced us with their presence this year. The passengers onboard the MV Sula Beag were greeted with quite a surprise during their 4 hour Wildlife Adventure cruise when a pod of three Orca appeared on the scene.

The trip began with much promise, with the boats depth sounder picking up large quantities of fish, both in and around the Sound of Mull. After an hour of scouring the waters surrounding Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, a passenger called out “whale”!!! However, what came to the surface was in fact something quite different. The unmistakable tall dorsal fins of three Orca broke the surface almost simultaneously, putting on a great show for the passengers. A sight that will never become tiring.

Duncan (A.K.A. Harry Potter)
SLS Guide