FULL DAY CELTIC DEEP EXPEDITION
Join us for a voyage to the Celtic Deep in search of whales, dolphins, seabirds and other creatures of the Deep.
Join us for a voyage to the Celtic Deep in search of whales, dolphins, seabirds and other creatures of the Deep.
This is an exciting new trip we have been researching and it started running last year. It is a collaboration between Falcon Boats and Ffion’s brother Padrig at Blue Shark Charters .
Join us for a unique 10 hour foray into the waters of the Celtic Deep, covering up to 70 miles of ocean in search of creatures of the Deep such as pelagic cetaceans and sea birds (the word “pelagic” is derived from Ancient Greek πέλαγος (pélagos) meaning ‘open sea’).
The Celtic Deep is an area of the Celtic Sea off the coast of Pembrokeshire. These nutrient rich waters are up to 100m deep and make an excellent foraging ground for a wide variety of marine life and sea birds. We will go in search of a rich plethora of wildlife such as sharks, Minke whale, super pods of Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin and Risso’s dolphin. We may also see Sunfish, jellyfish and giant Bluefin tuna. Part of the excitement of this trip is that we just don’t know what might turn up.
Depending on sightings, we may chum the water to attract sharks and birds and we will also use our new, custom-built hydrophone to listen in to the underwater world where we may hear dolphins echolocating and chatting.
As well as cetaceans, there is a multitude of bird life to be seen such as auks, Gannets, shearwaters, Fulmars, gulls, Cormorants, Great skuas, Common scoter and the illusive Storm petrel. While wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, the brother and sister team of Padrig and Ffion have a combined wealth of experience unrivalled in this area. They combine an intimate knowledge of the underwater topography and wrecks from years of fishing, with over two decades of wildlife guiding, both locally and as far afield as Antarctica.
We will also be taking Secchi disc recordings, contributing data to a global plankton survey.
We are very excited to be able to contribute to some citizen science projects and you can get involved in collecting sightings data for Sea Watch Foundation expanding the currently scarce knowledge of what is to be found in this area.
On this trip you will be out at sea for 8 hours on a traditional style vessel (not a RHIB) starting at 7.30am with a maximum of 10 passengers.
You will need plenty of warm clothing, all your own refreshments for the day and a strong stomach for the sea. Numbers on the boat are limited to 10 to allow plenty of room for photographic equipment and movement around the boat, for maximum comfort and good views. There is a toilet on board but facilities are basic.
Who is the trip suitable for?
This is generally recommended for adults or older teenagers only, due to the length of the trip. It is an ideal trip for the more intrepid wildlife enthusiasts, budding scientists or keen photographers.
We had the most amazing time on the last Pelagic trip – thank you both so much!
Jackie Stevens
