kilmacabea_rowing_club.jpg "Marine Gallery")
The West Cork Harbours are excellent waters to go Whale, Dolphin & Seal watching. Locally in West Cork especially the nearby Union Hall & Castlehaven, there are different companies to choose from that provide this service.
Some cmpanies specialise in these tours while others will be Sea-Angling operators. Whale watching tours are popping up all over West Cork. The Irish government declared the coastal waters of Ireland a whale and dolphin sanctuary during the early 1990's. This paved the way for whale watching in Ireland to become a prime activity for the many visitors to this country. Coastal waters off the south and west of Ireland are a summer feeding area for a number of whale species and a year round home for several resident dolphin species including the Harbour Porpoise.
Many reports have been made by sailors and swimmers alike of dolphins and seals in Glandore Harbour. Beyond Adam & Eve Island there are frequent sightings of Whales and Sharks.
Certain companies give proceeds to fund ongoing cetacean research and conservation projects on both a national and international level which we believe are the ones to look out for.
Examples of sightings in the nearby waters are:
- Minke Whales
- Fin Whales
- Humpback Whales
They arrive off our coast starting in May and continuing through August into the autumn and winter months, providing some spectacular opportunities to view these large marine mammals only a few kilometers from the coast. Other species commonly seen include the following:
- Common Dolphins
- Harbour Porpoises
- Bottlenose Dolphins
- Risso's Dolphins
- Killer Whales (Orca)
- Long-finned Pilot Whales
- Atlantic Grey Seal
- Common Seal
