Whale Watching Worldwide

Dolphin watch tours last two hours on average; whale watch trips extend from two and four hours. Several
charters are offered for half‐ and full‐day trips. Most boats have an average capacity of 12 passengers
though at least three operators own large vessels with a capacity of up to 80 seats. Trips cost approximately
$57 per adult and $32 per child.
Harbour porpoises, short‐beaked common dolphins, minke whales and fin whales are regularly spotted at
different times of the year, depending on the location. Short‐beaked common and bottlenose dolphins and
porpoises are resident off the coast of County Cork all year round. The whales (such as humpbacks) are
more seasonal, with occasional sightings from June to January. The Shannon estuary is home to Ireland’s
best known resident population of bottlenose dolphins.
Main species: Large cetaceans:
fin whale, minke whale
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, short‐beaked common
dolphin, harbour porpoise
Tourists:
International 57%
Domestic 43%
Types of tours: Boat‐based, land‐based, short trips (two or
three hours), half‐day trips, chartered full‐day
trips, dedicated, opportunistic.
Average adult ticket price: $57
Estimated employment
42
numbers:
Main whale watch season: June to December (southwest coast), April to
October (Shannon Estuary), May to
September (all other coasts)
Acknowledgements:
Pádraig Whooley and Simon Berrow of Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, Dingle Boatmen's Association, Susanne Magee of
Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt and Francis Maye of Spirit Adventure.
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