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 & Skokholm
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)
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 and Skokholm islands is a short 30-45 min from Dale harbour. This trip is 6hrs in total so we can set off a little later in the day. We will generally spend a few hours stealthily snorkelling through the kelp-lined havens of Skomer and Skokholm 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 leaping sunfish and playful pods of porpoise and dolphins.
To see more information on Skomer and Skokholm islands click the links to the fantastic Wildlife trusts website below.
Learn more about the Pembrokeshire Marine Code here
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.
@liamswebb
The Smalls
Season: April - October
The Smalls is a small cluster of rocks 20 miles off from the mainland, still heading west. All of the islands off the Marloes peninsula west to the Smalls are thought to be part of the same Rocky reef. The Smalls is the last of the reef to breach the surface.
The Smalls are home to a resident Grey seal colony who run through the gullies between the islands. This is a fantastic snorkelling spot which goes from the very shallow to the deeper drop offs as you pass between and around the cluster of islands.
Owned by the landmark trust since 1836. There is a lighthouse on the largest of the rocks. Originally erected between 1775-76 as a wooden lighthouse (The mind boggles how this withstood the waves) It was rebuilt in stone and completed in 1861 as the same house that stands today.
It's also a great spot to see passing whales. Orca and basking shark have been spotted here as well as breaching threshers and other exciting things!
The Smalls is a 1.5 hour trip each way. Setting out from Dale we take in all the wildlife along the way including We'll spend a few hours swimming with the seals, before heading back via the gannet colony at Grassholm. Timings will be based on tide. It is only possible to snorkle at The Smalls at slack tide.