Embark on a marine adventure at the edge of Europe
You can have a whale of a time around Ireland’s spectacular coastline where the biodiverse waters are home to some sea-life superstars.
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Scuba Diving, Aran Islands, Co Galway
Ireland is the westernmost point of Europe – a rock sitting in the Atlantic Ocean whose dramatic coastal landscape has been forged by the might of the sea and the vagaries of its weather. Surrounded by water, with seemingly endless views to the horizon off its west coast, it is little wonder that sea life, both real and imagined, plays such a key role in the island’s culture.
The cold coastal waters teem with life, from vibrant kelp forests and darting shoals of fish to seals, porpoises, dolphins and even basking sharks which can often be spotted off the west and south-west coast. Blackmouth catsharks breed in a recently discovered nursery some 90km off the island’s west coast and their distinct egg cases, known as Mermaid’s Purses, are found washed up on beaches.
Sharks are no strangers to Ireland’s shores as demonstrated by the fossilised remains of a unique prehistoric shark that were discovered this year along the coastline of the famous Burren UNESCO Global Geopark.
Little wonder then that Irish mythology is full of wondrous sea creatures including the merrow, a mermaid who can transform into human form and enchants humans with her singing, and the selkie, a shapeshifting seal that can remove its skin to become human on land. The importance of the sea as a magical realm is a common theme and it often features in Irish folklore as the gateway to the Otherworld.
Whale Watching, Northern Ireland
While it’s unlikely that you will catch sight of a merrow or a selkie, the real marine life that you can see around Ireland’s coastline is no less magical, especially as you have the chance to see the ocean’s superstar – the whale. Several species of whale live in Ireland’s Atlantic waters, which are a designated whale and dolphin sanctuary, including Minke, humpback and fin. Even an occasional orca has been glimpsed.
Some of the best whale-spotting locations in Ireland are unsurprisingly on the west and south coast. In west County Cork you can take a boat tour with Atlantic Whale & Wildlife Tours to the summer feeding ground of these magnificent creatures. And on the Dingle Peninsula from April to October you can book dolphin and whale watching tours around the Blasket Islands, where you will also see lots of varieties of bird life.
In the north, Kintra Boat Tours depart from the colourful seaside resort of Ballycastle and offer a choice of sea-life spotting itineraries around this scenic coastline including a daybreak adventure. The company has just launched a new state-of-the-art passenger vessel named SELKIE, increasing the number of people who can enjoy these wonderful sea life cruises.
For those who want to get even closer to the island’s marine life, there are also scuba diving opportunities. At Ocean Life in Kilkee, County Clare, one of the island’s top dive spots, you can explore the rich underwater world around the coastline and discover fascinating shipwrecks.
Dolphins near the Blasket Islands, Co.Kerry
Excitement over the arrival of whales in Irish waters is reflected in social media where recently whale-spotting has been trending. People have been loving the images posted by whale-watchers and those lucky enough to see breaching whales during their boat trip.
For nature lovers, whale-watching in Ireland is the perfect pursuit. While you are patiently waiting for a whale to appear you can take time to appreciate the spectacular coastal scenery, breathe the clean air and spend a few hours simply being in a magical place.