Dolphinwatch
Dolphinwatch
5
Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching
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08:00 - 18:00
Monday
08:00 - 18:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 18:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 18:00
Thursday
08:00 - 18:00
Friday
08:00 - 18:00
Saturday
08:00 - 18:00
Sunday
08:00 - 18:00
Full view
About
Dolphin Watching & Wildlife Eco-Adventure Watch and learn about Ireland’s resident group of bottlenose dolphins on this guided boat trip into the Mouth of the Shannon. With approximately 200 individuals in this group, the dolphin encounter rate with Dolphinwatch is one of the best in the world. Every trip is different in this dynamic environment! You might meet a grey seal emerging from a cave, spot a herd of wild goats on a hillside, learn about the many species of nesting seabirds, and delight in the stunning cliffs and caves of the Loop Head Peninsula and the coast of North Kerry.
Carrigaholt, County Clare, Ireland
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5.0
240 reviews
Excellent
221
Very good
16
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Anna
Dublin, Ireland6 contributions
Sep 2019
went in sept and the weather was fab , so we picked an ideal day to see the dolphins , The views from the boat were amazing along the cliffs , Lots more to see , Seals , Mountain goats and lots more wildlife ,
Written 5 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review! Glad you had such an enjoyable time. We hope to see you again on another adventure at the Mouth of the Shannon!
Written 6 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vicki N
2 contributions
Sep 2019
If you only take one trip for Dolphin watching in the Loophead area. This is the one to take. Geoff and Sue (along with Minnie and Mary Kate) are very knowledgeable and the trip is nothing short of spectacular from both a dolphin and geology standpoint. The views are indescribable. The knowledge of the lore, geology, and animal wildlife (including birds and fish) of the Loophead area is second to none. I HIGHLY recommend.
Written 25 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Vicki. Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Much appreciated! Greetings from Geoff and the crew.
Written 26 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Acborg
1 contribution
Aug 2019
My wife and daughter came by for a holiday to Ireland in August. Out of all the wildlife and dolphin tours we have taken, this was by far the best one we've been to and was money well spent.
The captain was very knowledgeable about the rocky slopes, formations and all to do with the surroundings, while his staff was very experienced about dolphins and cetaceans in general and we learnt a lot from her.
We saw quite a few dolphins from a distance, passing in couples or with their calves and I had to be quite fast to take shots with my camera as they pop out of the surface and under again in an instant ! We saw a couple of seals too but we did not move too close to them so I had to take a few good zoomed shots. I would actually recommend bringing with you a binoculars or a good zoom lens as most of the time they will not be close to the boat.
So happy to see these mammals in the wild and not going to buy a ticket to see captive dolphins, etc... These intelligent beings belong to the ocean and not in a pool to perform tricks !
Thanks again Carrigaholt Dolphinwatch tours....it was a great experience.
The captain was very knowledgeable about the rocky slopes, formations and all to do with the surroundings, while his staff was very experienced about dolphins and cetaceans in general and we learnt a lot from her.
We saw quite a few dolphins from a distance, passing in couples or with their calves and I had to be quite fast to take shots with my camera as they pop out of the surface and under again in an instant ! We saw a couple of seals too but we did not move too close to them so I had to take a few good zoomed shots. I would actually recommend bringing with you a binoculars or a good zoom lens as most of the time they will not be close to the boat.
So happy to see these mammals in the wild and not going to buy a ticket to see captive dolphins, etc... These intelligent beings belong to the ocean and not in a pool to perform tricks !
Thanks again Carrigaholt Dolphinwatch tours....it was a great experience.
Written 9 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your glowing review! We are always delighted when we hear from passengers who appreciate our approach. Every trip is different, and although you have to be quick when you try to capture dolphins and seals on film, dolphins are often right beside us or bow riding. Binoculars are always a good idea for wildlife spotting, and a zoom lens useful, although, sometimes photographers abandoned the zoom for a wide angle too! Many thanks again and we hope to see you another time.
Written 10 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SabsK
1 contribution
Oct 2019 • Family
Sadly there where no dolphins on the dolphin tour. Of course its nature and normal but the kids had a pretty ruff time because the boat was shaking a lot and then we didn't even get to see any dolphins. Other companies do only charge money (and its a lot for a family of 4) when you really get to see dolphins.
Written 6 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We certainly can understand your disappointment not to see dolphins. It rarely happens - our success rate is 98%. We also feel downhearted when we don't find them, but there is always that possibility when looking for wild animals. We always try to make our trips as fulfilling as possible, and we did see diving gannets, seal pups and some beautiful and dramatic coastal features - as it is a Dolphins & Nature Boat Trip. The children were allowed up to the flying bridge at the end for a special treat. The sea conditions, on the day of your trip, gave a slight swell with a little bit of choppy sea. I know that your children, especially one of them, was very unhappy with the movement of the boat. If you had told us when booking that your children were frightened of boat trips (after their experience during rough sea conditions on the Cliffs of Moher boat trip), we would not have recommended you do our trip that day. You said that the Scattery Island Tour office person told you that the sea conditions would be calm with us -- but, as you yourself said, you should have asked us, as we are the only ones who could have known. I don't know of any company that only charges if you see dolphins. It would not be financially viable for us to do refunds, as we are a small company with only a certain number of trips possible in the season, due to sea conditions on the west coast of Ireland. If you come back to this area, we would hope that you would try us again on a calm day, which would suit you better.
Written 9 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JaneB
11 contributions
Sep 2019 • Friends
We went out with Dolphin watch last week. It was a brilliant trip, the crew were really friendly and knowledgeable. The trip was really interesting and we saw alot of different sea birds. In particular we had a great experience of seeing the dolphins up close without any feeling that they were stressed by our presence. Brilliant trip which I would highly recommend
Written 22 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your great recommendation! Much appreciated. We hope to see you again.
Written 26 September 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dermot H
Devizes, UK10 contributions
Sep 2019
A freindly crew greet you including the ships dog. After an nearly an hour you are worried there are no Dolphins to bee seen then the first one is seen and everyone gets excited. They leap out of the water young and old usually in pairs, come close to the boat you can nearly touch them an unforgettable experience. After following the dolphins there is even more to see close to the cliffs, grey seals even a baby. Fantastic rock formations, so close to the cliffs you are in awe.
Written 17 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anon
4 contributions
Sep 2019
Fantastic trip on a lovely day, with a small child. We followed a group of dolphins with calves in the Shannon estuary, as they swam around the boat, and had a nature tour on the way back. Amazing to see everything from this perspective - looking at cliffs etc. from the boat. The crew were knowledgeable and friendly, and Mary-Kate answered all of our questions - both adult and child questions. Minnie the dog was a highlight! Highly recommend this trip.
Written 9 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katya b
15 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
We highly recommend this boat trip. The scenery is breathtaking and the guide was very knowledgable and she gave us loads of information about the rock formation of the cliffs etc. As well as lots of information about the resident dolphins in Shannon estuary. My 4 year old daughter was thrilled to see mother and calf pairs. We also saw two adult dolphins a female and a male hanging out with each other. We have been to dolphin shows and swimming programs both do not compare with the thrill and excitement of seeing them in the wild. In the wild it’s more like an adventure whereas at dolphin parks everything is robotic and you have to pay extra money for everything, it’s purely business.
They also have toys for the children to play with on the boat, an added bonus for my daughter who enjoyed playing with the other children. Well done to the team it’s was an amazing experience
They also have toys for the children to play with on the boat, an added bonus for my daughter who enjoyed playing with the other children. Well done to the team it’s was an amazing experience
Written 22 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your excellent recommendation. Hopefully, all "dolphin shows" and captive swimming experiences will be a thing of the past one day soon. Seeing in the wild is a rewarding experience, as you found out! Cheers!!
Written 28 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lindo1711
4 contributions
Aug 2019
Our host in Doonbeg recommended taking the tour with Dolphinwatch in Carrigaholt instead of the one departing from Killrush, because Dolphinwatch would more or less circle until they find Dolphins. We had bought the tickets in advance but since our car broke down and we had to be towed by the AA at Loophead Lighthouse, we never made it to the tour. Not only would Dolphinwatch phone us to check if something was wrong, they also offered a full refund after they heard what had happened to us. I would’ve never expected something that nice.
Written 15 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anita Mahony
Galway, Ireland3 contributions
Aug 2019
I heard about Dolphin Watch 3 years ago from some German visitors I had and since then it was my intention to do it. Nobody I asked in Ireland had ever heard about it.
I finally got the chance to go yesterday and it was fabulous. The girls on board were very knowledgable and full of interesting facts and when we did come across the dolphins the girls ensured that nobody monopolised the front of the boat where the dolphins like to swim. There were dolphins swimming there for appox half an hour of the 3 hour trip. We got very close to the cliffs also to see their geology. We also saw some feral goats up on the cliff edges and lots of birds. It was €35 for adults which I thought was an excellent price. My friend also loved it. I would definitely do it again.
I finally got the chance to go yesterday and it was fabulous. The girls on board were very knowledgable and full of interesting facts and when we did come across the dolphins the girls ensured that nobody monopolised the front of the boat where the dolphins like to swim. There were dolphins swimming there for appox half an hour of the 3 hour trip. We got very close to the cliffs also to see their geology. We also saw some feral goats up on the cliff edges and lots of birds. It was €35 for adults which I thought was an excellent price. My friend also loved it. I would definitely do it again.
Written 9 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for the great review! And you are so right that for some reason very few people know that the largest group of bottlenose dolphins in Europe are right here at the Mouth of the Shannon...spread the word! And we appreciate you saying that our prices are reasonable. We think so too, but it is also what we need to keep our business going. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon again.
Written 10 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
How much does it cost ?
Fergdb123
Perth, Australia16 contributions
35 euros per person, worth every cent
snookies608
New Haven, Connecticut148 contributions
What time does the boat usually go out?
Susanne M
Carrigaholt, Ireland6 contributions
Our times differ depending on sea conditions and tides. Generally though we aim to make our schedule between 11:00 am & 4:00 pm. If you book in advance, I will send you a text with our updated schedule the day before. Or just check our website, where we post the daily trip times. It's best to book. Thanks for aksing.
Mark6S59
Galway, Ireland
Now stable is the boat? What’s the ride quality like? What’s it like if the boat stops so passengers can avail of the opportunity to take pictures? Also what’s the best month for sea conditions?
Susanne M
Carrigaholt, Ireland6 contributions
Hi Mark, The boat is 52 ft. and carries up to 50 passengers -it is stable and comfortable, most of the time. We are travelling on the water which means that there are times when the boat will be a bit on the bumpy side. This can't be helped but, the Skipper does his best to keep the boat as level as possible. If the boat stops, it can get a bit more rolly - depending on sea conditions - but we don't stay like that for long. We are very conscious of passengers comfort, which is why we tell you before the trip if the sea conditions are on the bumpy side. Then you can decide for yourself if you want to come on the trip. It is hard to judge sea conditions on a monthly basis - good and bad can come anytime, however, the time of year when we are more likely to see dolphins in a calmer sea area, is in June. Please have a good look around our website for more information. Thank you for your question.
Susanne
DFarrell90
London, UK19 contributions
Thank you for responding to my original review, which I have since removed and replaced with an amended review. I appreciate that the actions of individual passengers are somewhat beyond your control, but I hope that you can find a way to communicate with passengers that any littering of the ocean is completely unacceptable. It is a shame that such a message has to be communicated, but seemingly there is a minority who need to be reminded. Many thanks.
Ronan M
19 contributions
I personally did not witness any of this type of behaviour and I remember that bins were provided on the boat but I suppose it would do no harm for the crew to remind people not to litter in the sea, possibly at the start of the journey when giving their safety information. I found the crew to be knowledgeable and engaged in the subject when talking about the sea, dolphins, birds and the area so I would be very surprised if they knowingly allowed people to litter
cullen12
Chester21 contributions
Would this trip be suitable to take s two year old on?
Susanne M
Carrigaholt, Ireland6 contributions
You are the best judge of your child as to how much they will get out of the trip. 2 hours (or more and sometimes much more) can be a long time for the parent of a toddler exploring their sea legs and for other passengers enduring unhappy little ones. Our on-board toy box helps keep everyone happy though! We have a few basic rules for children while on board for their safety and the comfort of other passengers, which are outlined at the beginning of the trip. We decide whether small children are allowed on board given the sea conditions and length of trip.
Linda C
Beaver Falls, PA
Are the whales in this area this time of year?
Susanne M
Carrigaholt, Ireland3 contributions
The late Summer and Autumn is the best time for seeing whales in this area - Minke & Fin Whales. We do have a resident group of bottlenose dolphins, though, all year round - the largest group is Europe. There are approximately 200 bottlenose dolphins in this group at the Mouth of the Shannon. Our boat trips are the best way to see them (April - October) but it is sometimes possible to see them from Loop Head (the walk around the point beyond the lighthouse - a Signature Point on the Wild Atlantic Way) with a pair of binoculars and a good deal of patience. Look for bird activity, as the dolphins feed in the same areas as the seabirds. Even if you don't meet a whale, you will certainly enjoy the wild and beautiful remoteness of the Loop Head Peninsula.