Dingle Bay Wildlife 2026: Dolphins, Whales & Basking Sharks | Marine Tours Ireland
Dingle Bay Wildlife Update 2026: Dolphins, Whales & Seals Return to the Blasket Islands
The new season has started strongly for wildlife sightings in Dingle Bay and the Blasket Islands, even if the Atlantic weather has been more unpredictable than usual. While we’ve only managed a limited number of trips so far, each outing has delivered something special — including the return of many of the wildlife “old friends” we hadn’t seen since last October.
For us, there’s nothing better than reconnecting with these animals at the start of a new season.
Grey Seals on Great Blasket Island – One of Europe’s Largest Haul-Outs
On a preseason trip to Great Blasket Island, we were greeted by an unforgettable sight — the entire beach dotted with hundreds of grey seals.
This haul-out site has become one of the most important in Europe. With fewer undisturbed sandy beaches remaining, Great Blasket offers a rare sanctuary where seals can rest safely away from human activity.
Thanks to tagging and photo identification research, we now know that seals travel here from as far as:
- Scotland
- Cornwall
- France
A recent count recorded over 950 male grey seals hauled out — a truly spectacular wildlife experience and one of Ireland’s greatest natural events.
From late March onwards, mainly males are present as females remain at sea feeding during pregnancy. The males’ noisy and competitive behaviour makes for an unforgettable spectacle — both visually and acoustically.
Dolphins & Minke Whales in Dingle Bay
Wildlife encounters began immediately on our first trips of the season, with sightings of:
- Common dolphins (seen on every trip so far)
- Minke whales
- Occasional feeding activity close to the Blasket Islands
The dolphins have been especially active, often approaching the boat to bow-ride — something that never fails to delight passengers.
Minke whales, on the other hand, can be more elusive. Sometimes they surface only briefly, requiring sharp eyes to spot them. But when feeding, they become much more visible, and we’ve already witnessed spectacular lunge-feeding behaviour this season.
We’re also looking forward to seeing the first “dinky minke” calves of the year — often curious and known to approach boats when handled carefully by experienced skippers.
Bottlenose Dolphins – Familiar Faces from the Shannon Estuary
It’s been fantastic to see the return of bottlenose dolphins, many of which belong to the well-known Shannon Estuary resident population.
These dolphins can be identified by:
- Notches and markings on dorsal fins
- Scars and unique patterns
We work closely with researcher Dr. Mags Daly, contributing photos to help track individual dolphins. Over time, we’ve even begun recognising some ourselves — including well-known individuals like Tom Crean (though he hasn’t been spotted yet this season!).
Pods typically range from 20 to 30 dolphins, sometimes staying in Dingle Bay for weeks before moving on.
Risso’s Dolphins – A Rarer Sight in Recent Years
Risso’s dolphins are less frequently seen now than in previous years, but remain a special encounter when they do appear.
A new research project is underway to photo-identify individuals and better understand their movements around Ireland. We always try to capture identification images when possible to support this work.
One highlight from last season was a mother and calf pair spotted west of Great Blasket Island.
Basking Sharks in Dingle – Spring’s Gentle Giants
April and May are typically the best months to see basking sharks in southwest Ireland, the second-largest fish in the world.
These incredible animals follow plankton blooms, which depend on:
- Sunlight levels
- Nutrient-rich waters
- Sea surface temperatures
In recent years, Dingle has seen exceptional basking shark activity — even attracting international researchers and crowds along the Slea Head Drive.
This season, we’ve already had a few sightings of these graceful giants, gliding through the water with their enormous, open mouths filtering plankton.
However, sea conditions have limited trips so far, so it’s still early to know how strong the season will be. With calmer weather ahead, we’re hopeful for more sightings soon.
Plan Your Dingle Wildlife Tour
From common dolphins and minke whales to grey seals and basking sharks, Dingle Bay is one of Ireland’s top destinations for marine wildlife experiences.
👉 Join us aboard the Blasket Princess for a guided wildlife tour:
www.marinetours.ie
Track Recent Wildlife Sightings
You can also view our latest sightings, including sharks and cetaceans, via the Seawatch Foundation (West Coast of Ireland sightings page).
