Into the blue
The Celtic Deep is home for some of the UK's largest and most iconic marine megafauna. Sharks, whales, super pods of dolphins, even giant bluefin tuna. It's all out there. To enter the clear water of the open ocean and observe blue sharks 30 miles from the Welsh coast is an exhilirating experience.
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Full Day in the Celtic Deep
Season: July - October
Wildlife: July to October - Sharks. Blue sharks, Porbeagles, Threshers, Basking sharks. (outside chances of seeing Mako) common Dolphins, Risso dolphin, Porpoise, Sunfish, jellyfish, Gannets, Storm petrel, Arctic tern, Fulmars, Gulls.
August - October - Whales: Minke, Fin Whales, Long finned pilot whales (outside chances of seeing Humpbacks and Orca) Tuna, we regularly see Bluefin tuna from September onwards.
Brief: A trip to the Celtic Deep is a full day trip. Most are 9-10 hrs. Departure times and location (usually Dale but possibly Neyland) will vary a little depending on the tides but count on leaving early in the morning 7.30- 8am and returning in the evening 6.30 - 7.30pm.
The travel time out and back to the Deep is approximately 2-2.5 hours each way. There is plenty to see on our way with whale watching, dolphin action and birds galore.
Once at our location we switch off the engines and become a floating platform. We drift with the current and tide and wait for megafauna like sharks, whales and tuna to turn up. During this time we rotate groups in and out of the water to enjoy the open water swimming experience.
@davidmillerartuk
Celtic Deep & Islands Weekend
Season: July - October
Our weekend trip is a proven combination that offers the best value and variety for anyone wanting to pack in an amazing wildlife filled weekend in West Wales. It also offers just enough weather flexibility to make it happen even when the weather gods are not smiling! Note the order of the days will be conditions dependent to make sure we have the best weather for going to the Deep.
Focus: Sharks, Tuna, Whales in the Deep plus Gannet colony and Swimming with Seals
Day 1: See Full Day in Celtic Deep above
Day 2: Depending on conditions we will head to Skomer or Skokholm (see description above) and to Grassholm and possibly The Smalls further off the coast. We would depart from Neyland or Dale (tbc) around 8 am to have a good day exploring both islands, most likely snokelling with the seals at The Smalls
Grassholm: Grassholm lies 8 miles out, west from Skomer. The island is a nature reserve owned by the RSPB. Home to 39,000 breeding pairs of Gannets. It’s the third most important site for gannets in the world supporting 10% of the world population.
Specialist trips & charters
The following locations as well as any of the trips above are available upon request as group charters or one off trips. We also love to work with experts to create more focussed experiences.
Shark & Megafauna Research Specialty Weekend
August 2022 (Date TBC)
Join Founder of Mareco and shark specialist, Dr Gonzalo Araujo on a unique adventure where we explore the rich waters of the Celtic Deep and the Pembrokeshire islands
Gonzo will be onboard to provide specialist insight into marine megafauna with a special emphasis on shark biology, ecology and conservation as well as introducing clients to the latest field techniques in shark research. If carrying out field work with sharks and marine megafauna is something you're interested in, then this is the trip for you!
Not only is this an oppotunity to learn, but you'll also be making a donation towards shark research. A proportion of your fee will be donated directly to Mareco, a UK-registered charity that works with research groups, nonprofits, communities, NGOs and governments to facilitate conservation.
Our focus will be on encountering blue sharks but our wish list of possible species includes porbeagle sharks, sunfish, minke & fin whales, common & bottlenose dolphins and bluefin tuna. All have been sighted on this trip. Orca and humpback whales are also infrequently encountered in this area. The extra day provides flexibility if conditions dictate. We can explore the Pembrokeshire islands swimming with seals and on the lookout for basking sharks around The Smalls, Grassholm, Skomer, Skokholm as well as freediving wrecks and reefs.
Gonzo is a marine scientist and conservationist. He has been working with marine megafauna research and conservation for 10 years. In 2020 he founded Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, Mareco, a marine conservation charity working to conserve marine biodiversity through charismatic species and collaborative work. He has just finished his Ph.D. in shark ecology at the University of Portsmouth. He works with a variety of different species, like turtles and rays, and with an extensive array of methods including telemetry, genetics and photo-ID.