Recommended Boat Operators: England

WEBSITE: www.farne-islands.com

TELEPHONE: 01665 720308

EMAIL: info@farne-islands.com

ADDRESS: Seahouses (Northumberland)

MCA coded 10m rib, twin outboards, 12 passengers licensed to operator up to 20miles from shore, wildlife watching as well as diving. Likely species to see include common and white beaked-dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whale, humpback whales are rare but have been seen in last few years, 4,000 Atlantic grey seals, tens of thousands of seabirds in breeding season. Individuals as well as parties, bespoke trips to such locations as Farnes Deep, favoured location 20 miles offshore for cetaceans.

WEBSITE: www.marinediscovery.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 07749 277110

EMAIL: info@marinediscovery.co.uk

ADDRESS: Penzance (Cornwall)

1 1/2, 3 and 4 hour wildlife trips from Penzance harbour onboard a 34ft sailing catamaran, which takes 12 passengers. Likely to see a wide variety of sea birds such as gannets, different species of auk and shearwaters. Marine megafauna include common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, grey seals, basking sharks and ocean sunfish. Whales are also sometimes seen, mainly minkes but other rare but possible sightings include humpback and fin whales.

WEBSITE: www.newquayseasafarisandfishing.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 07852 466122

EMAIL: newquayseasafariandfishing@gmail.com

ADDRESS: Newquay (Cornwall)

2-4 hour trips on Atlantic Diver. Species seen are grey seals including our semi-resident grey seals to Newquay harbour; inshore bottlenose dolphins but also (as we hope to do a longer 4-hour trips and possibly all day trip) offshore bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, harbour porpoise, Risso’s dolphin rare chance but possible. Also, will have a high chance of seeing sunfish and basking sharks. Breeding sea birds; razorbills, guillemots, puffins, kittiwakes (as we have 2 kittiwake colonies very local to Newquay Harbour), gannets, a variety of terns and of course gulls, fulmar and oyster-catchers. We see lots of varieties of jellyfish too; moon, blue, barrel, comb jellies, sea gooseberries, compass, by the wind sailors. We also now take Secchi disk sampling, with a microscope on board to look at the variety of plankton in the water.

WEBSITE: www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 01670 827465; 07908 119535

EMAIL: martin@newtltd.co.uk

ADDRESS: Choppington (Northumberland)

MCA coded 10m catamaran, 12 passengers, licensed to operate up to 60 miles from shore. 4hr evening trips in June/July/August close to the southeast Northumberland coast and 10hr day trips in August/September out to the Farne Deeps where we’ve identified key feeding areas for White-beaked Dolphin through survey work and wildlife tours since 2009. Likely species to be seen are bottlenose dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, minke whale, harbour porpoise, grey seal, gannet, fulmar, kittiwake, shearwaters, skuas.

WEBSITE: www.seakayaktorbay.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 01803 912963; 07903 992930

EMAIL: kieranlaureston@gmail.com

ADDRESS: Torbay (Devon)

Tandem or solo sea kayak wildlife and bird-watching tours. Up to 12 participants, licensed to operate within the inshore waters of Torbay and South Devon. Our tours are guided by local expert Kieran Laureston who is passionate about delivering a truly memorable experience, he incorporates information about the local history and rich cultural heritage, marine wildlife and the geological sites of specific scientific interest. Kieran has been taming the sea for beginners for many years. Likely species to be seen include basking shark, bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, grey seal, common seal, cormorant, dunlin, egret, fulmar, guillemot, heron, kittiwake, oyster-catcher, peregrine falcon, shag. 

We are very lucky to have a pod of harbour porpoises and inshore common dolphins that are residents in South Devon and that we get an array of visiting cetaceans and nesting sea birds including one of the largest colonies of guillemots in the UK.

WEBSITE: www.sealifeconservationtours.co.uk

TELEPHONE: +44 (0)7713 705692

EMAIL: info@sealifeconservationtours.co.uk

ADDRESS: Brixham (Devon)

We are a small conservation orientated tour operator using trained guides, run by an award-winning cameraman and photographer, Simon Palmer-Billing. Wise accredited, we pride ourselves on creating a powerful experience to turn you into Sea-Life Ambassadors, and give you the opportunity to hear the cetaceans with our underwater microphone.

WEBSITE: www.farneislandstours.co.uk/

TELEPHONE: 01665 720760; 07984668093

EMAIL: andrew@sovereigndiving.co.uk

ADDRESS: Seahouses (Northumberland)

Serenity II is the first purpose built catamaran for tours of the Farne Islands. Cutting edge design for enhanced stability giving the perfect platform to view the wildlife and beauty of the Farne Islands. Toilet facilities, 360 degree viewing and disabled access when the tide is high. MCA coded for 62 passengers. We are also coded for 12 passengers up to 20 miles offshore. Licenced to land on the islands during the season. Operating 12 months of the year. Species seen include harbour porpoise, common and white-beaked dolphins, minke whale, basking shark and 4,000 Atlantic grey seals. The Farne Islands is also home to 80,000 pairs of seabirds during the breeding season.

WEBSITE: www.whitbywhalewatching.net

TELEPHONE: 07941450381

EMAIL: info@whitbywhalewatching.co.uk

ADDRESS: Whitby (North Yorkshire)

Summer Queen is a large vessel with three different outdoor decks, one of which is undercover, as well as a heated saloon with hot and cold drinks and confectionery available. The vessel can carry over 100 passengers but typically only carries 12 for offshore Whale Watching and 50 for inshore Whale Watching and Wildlife and Coastal Scenery trips. Earlier in the season, particularly July and August, Summer Queen will operate late afternoon/evening Wildlife and Coastal Cruises which sometimes also encounter cetaceans. These are advertised and only available to book at the quay, no online or telephone bookings are taken. Whale watching trips now only operate in September when minke whale numbers are at their peak along the Yorkshire Coast. Other species occasionally seen include fin, sei and humpback Whales as well as White-beaked and bottlenose dolphins. Harbour Porpoise are also sighted quite frequently in this area. Grey Seals are numerous in the area with a colony at nearby Ravenscar and many seabirds are also seen with RSPB Bempton a short flight away. Trips must be booked online and usually sail at 0900, 1230 & 1545 on Summer Queen.