Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre

The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre was originally established in 1996 as a non-profit organisation dedicated to conserving Cardigan Bay’s marine wildlife through education and research. Based in a heritage building in the heart of New Quay, overlooking the beautiful beach and harbour, the centre has become the focus for marine research in the area.

Our visitor centre is primarily run by our fantastic team of volunteers who assist us with all aspects of our work. We rely on donations and profits from our small gift shop to keep us open and running. We deliver much of the Trust's Marine Conservation work as well as hosting our Marine Conservation Team staff and volunteers.

Plan your visit

The Visitor Centre

Our visitor centre is full of interpretative displays showcasing the huge variety of marine wildlife found in Cardigan Bay. Run by volunteers, our visitor centre is free to enter and is open 9am-5pm, Monday-Saturday, until the end of October. 

What to see and do:

• discover marine wildlife through our interactive displays
• learn about our research
• borrow litter picking equipment
• meet our marine conservation volunteers
• hire a 'Borrow Bag' with equipment to explore local rockpools
• visit our gift shop for local and sustainable souvenirs. Profits from the gift shop support our critical work protecting marine wildlife.
• borrow buckets and spades for the beach

Our marine conservation staff and volunteers are on hand to answer any of your questions and tell you all about the marine wildlife in the area, including the Cardigan Bay Big 3, Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seals, as well as our marine conservation work in Cardigan Bay and Wales.

At the visitor centre, you can also book a boat trip with our colleagues at Dolphin Survey Boat Trips.

How to find us

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is located on the slipway just off Glanmor Terrace (the main road down into New Quay) next to the RNLI lifeboat station. Find directions on Google Maps.

Parking

There are no car park facilities at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre but there are several public car parks in New Quay which are signposted from the roads leading into town. They cost approximately £4 a day.

CBMWC Dolphin watch LIVE! 

Watch bottlenose dolphins from your own home daily from 5 am to 11 pm.

Cardigan Bay is a haven for marine wildlife and is known for being a hotspot for sightings of bottlenose dolphins as well as being the mid-point of the Wales coast path. Bottlenose dolphins visit New Quay harbour regularly throughout the year, with increased activity from April through until November.