Once again CBMWC and Dolphin Survey Boat Trips are teaming up to carry out a number of all day (minimum 8 hour) cetacean surveys throughout Cardigan Bay. This is your opportunity to join a cetacean survey with researchers collecting important information on marine species in Cardigan Bay and the surrounding waters. It’s a great opportunity to see some fantastic marine life, to contribute to dolphin conservation in Cardigan Bay as well as an opportunity to join a team of experts.

As well as Cardigan Bay’s Big Three – bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises and Atlantic grey seals (and seal pups on surveys during the pupping season September/October) – sightings in previous years have included a fantastic encounter with common dolphins – an unusual sight in Cardigan Bay, sunfish, numerous jellyfish species, possible Minke whale and an amazing sighting of a thresher shark. And for those keen twitchers there were many wonderful sightings of sea birds including gannets, Manx shearwaters, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, puffins (and pufflings), skuas, scoters, great views of nesting auk colonies in particular on New Quay headland – a fantastic sight from April until end of June when the adults and their chicks head out to sea.
Need we say more? Other than beautiful sunsets over Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea, of course.

Surveys will be conducted aboard Anna Lloyd, a state of the art catamaran, which are famous for their increased stability and thus perfect for long days at sea. Anna Lloyd is licensed for 12 passengers and equipped with a part-sheltered deck, toilet, facilities for making hot drinks and a heated wheel-house with a seating and table area for those wishing to risk dining at the Captain’s table! The catamaran is of course fully insured and equipped with all necessary safety equipment for these trips.

All day survey dates 2015
Friday 3rd April
Saturday 18th April
Saturday 2nd May
Friday 22nd May
Friday 5th June
Friday 19th June
Wednesday 1st July
Saturday 4th July
Wednesday 15th July
Friday 17th July
Tuesday 28th July
Thursday 30th July
Saturday 1st August
Wednesday 5th August
Saturday 8th August
Friday 21st August
Sunday 30th August
Friday 11th September
Sunday 27th September
Friday 9th October
Saturday 24th October

In addition to these scheduled dates, we will also be running all day surveys at short notice to take advantage of any ideal weather conditions. If you would like to be included on our mailing list to receive an update when these are scheduled, please email info@cbmwc.org

For more details and to book your place on one of these unique boat trips please call CBMWC on 01545 560032. The cost is £60 per person for the day, payable in advance. Full refunds will be given if trips are cancelled by Dolphin Survey Boat Trips. Places must be booked in advance due to limited spaces. All trips will depart from New Quay harbour and will last approximately 8 hours (occasionally longer depending on survey route for the day). Trip details will be confirmed upon booking.
Hot drinks will be provided but please bring your own food, warm clothing, binoculars and sensible shoes. And don’t forget your camera.

Please remember that these are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed and that you are joining a scientific survey.

For more information about boat trips, please visit our boat trip page.