Where’s the best place to appreciate Ireland’s sea life?

Our aquatic visitors are so varied that in 1991, Ireland was declared a whale and dolphin sanctuary. Not only that, over a third of the world’s whales and dolphins have visited the waters around our shores!



The Wild Atlantic Way is like a superhighway for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) who travel north to south and back again on the lookout for food. So, naturally, it’s the ideal place to go whale-watching with Cork Whale Watch or Whale Watch West Cork.

You can’t talk about sea life in Ireland, of course, without giving mention to Fungie the Dolphin, who resides just outside the harbour in Dingle, County Kerry. Everyone loves to see if they can catch a glimpse of Fungie the Dolphin on the Dingle Dolphin Tour in County Kerry. He, in turn, obliges by popping up to say hello most days!



Being on the very edge of the western European continental shelf does have its advantages. If you fancy diving right into the action, there’s plenty to see. Get in touch with operators on the island who teach the world-standard PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses, with most offering a one-day Discover Scuba Diving course, PADI certified Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver courses. The Irish Underwater Council and the Northern Ireland Federation of Sub Aqua Clubs are always good places to start when looking for approved training courses – and then to see what lives beneath the waves, or what sank beneath them, too!

With over 2000 marine species found in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, it’s also a sea life haven! Take to the waters by kayak with Glide with the Tide, and as you slip along the surface of the lough, you can get close to Strangford’s wildlife – wild geese, seals, maybe even an otter. 

Have any of our Community members got other suggestions for places to visit for sea life?