Dolphin watching in Cardigan Bay
Introduction
Cardigan Bay is one of the best places to spot dolphins in Britain. It’s a part of the Bristol Channel off the west coast of Wales, and it’s home to bottlenose dolphins who live and play here all year round. Cardigan Bay is also surrounded by mountains that help keep it warm all year round. You can take boat trips out of New Quay or Aberaeron to get even closer to them!
One of Britain’s most beautiful nature reserves
Cardigan Bay, in the Bristol Channel off the west coast of Britain, has some of the highest numbers of bottlenose dolphins in Europe. It’s a popular destination for dolphin-watching tours during the summer months.
The nature reserve covers an area of about 30 km2 and includes three small bays: Cardigan Bay itself (to the east), Carmarthen Bay (to the north) and St Bride’s Bay (to the south).
Top dolphin spotting destination
The bottlenose dolphin, the world’s most familiar and well-loved dolphin species, is found in waters worldwide. It’s one of the top places to spot bottlenose dolphins.
The Cardigan Bay dolphins live in groups called pods and each pod has its own unique call or signature whistle. The calls are used for communicating with other pods within the area, as well as between males competing over females during mating season (August).
Lots of marine life to observe
You may also see the minke whale, which is the second-smallest baleen whale. Minke whales are shyer than their bottlenose dolphin cousins and they tend to be more solitary, so if you do see one make sure you give it plenty of space.
In addition to bottlenose dolphins and minke whales, there’s also a chance of seeing common seals or grey seals on your trip as well. The common seal is found in the northern hemisphere while grey seals are native to Britain and Ireland.
Take a boat trip to see the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay
If you want to see dolphins up close and learn about them too, then a boat trip is for you. Boat trips are a great way to get up close with dolphins and have an entertaining day out. You can take a boat from New Quay or Aberaeron to see the dolphins more easily. And don’t worry if it’s not summer as it’s still very possible to spot them in other seasons as well!
Conclusion
Cardigan Bay is a great place to visit whether you’re interested in marine life or not! It’s easy to get to, there are lots of places to stay nearby and the wildlife is fascinating. It really is an amazing place. If you’re looking for things to do, Cardigan Bay has a lot to offer but one of the best things to do is hire a boat charter for some marine adventures! If you’re interested in a sunset boat trip or some dolphin spotting, contact our crew at SeaMôr today.
