Snorkelling Skomer & Skokholm
Pembrokeshire’s islands host globally significant colonies for many species of seabirds and Atlantic grey seals. Our island trips offer small groups of snorkellers the chance to encounter two of our most charismatic species in their element; puffins and grey seals. Half day trips to Skomer and Skokholm are available or you can combine a visit to the islands with a trip to the Celtic Deep over a weekend. Puffins (and the rest of the auks) visit the islands between April and July. Seals are here all year round but breed from August through to November.
Photo: @liamswebb
@davidmillerartuk
Snorkelling Skomer
Season: April - July (though we visit the islands at other times of the year we focus on these trips in the Spring and early Summer to tie in with the seabird breeding season)
Age & Ability
5 hr trip min age 16+ with an adult.
This trip is designed to be gentle and of a relaxed pace. Snorkeling in the havens requires us to be slow and stealthy. It’s suitable for water-confident beginners and intermediate snorkelers.
3 hr family-friendly trips now available for 12+ years (max 2 children to 1 adult).
We now offer ‘Family Skomer Snorkelling’ which is a slightly shorter trip and is designed to accommodate younger people of 12 years and above.
Wildlife: April to July - Atlantic grey seals, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets, Manx shearwater, Fulmars, Lesser Black-backed Gull; Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, common dolphins, Porpoise, Sunfish, Risso dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, jellyfish.
Brief: The trip to Skomer is 30 min from Dale harbour (or 10min from Martins Haven which we sometimes use if the tides dictate). This trip is 5hrs in total (Family friendly version 3 hrs), we will generally spend a couple of hours stealthily snorkelling through the kelp-lined havens of Skomer which are full of curious puffins and seals this time of year. Either side of the swims will spend the day cruising around the islands birdwatching and enjoying the surprises any trip on the water can bring. In addition to the spectacular seabirds we've had sunfish and playful pods of porpoise and dolphins.
Learn more about the Pembrokeshire Marine Code here
To see more information on Skomer and Skokholm islands click the links to the fantastic Wildlife trusts website below.