Whale watching cruises, Isle of Mull, Scotland

Whale watching cruises, Isle of Mull, Scotland

Tweet

How Whale watching cruises, Isle of Mull, Scotland makes a difference

We focus heavily on education through marine based research with a strict environmental ethos. Every customer leaves having felt they have “put back” something into the environment by becoming involved, as well as having had an unforgettable adventure.

We have been conducting cetacean surveys in the coastal waters of the Isle of Mull since 1990. The waters to the north and west of Mull contain an ecologically diverse marine life. Regularly sighted cetaceans include minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), and killer whale (Orcinus orca). The regular sightings of minke whale in this area provides an excellent opportunity for the behavioural and ecological study of this species, the behaviour of which is virtually unknown in the Eastern North Atlantic.

The results of such a study could have important implications for the management of minke whales if commercial hunting were to resume in the eastern North Atlantic. In collaboration with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, we have been conducting a photo-identification study of minke whales since 1990. Over 60 whales have been identified and catalogued, many having been seen year after year.

The success of the company was highlighted in October 1994 when they won the Scottish Tourist Board's Thistle Award for excellence in the field of Tourism and the Environment and in February 1995 the British Airways' Tourism for Tomorrow Award. During 2003 James was the Argyll 'Shell Livewire' for Ecocruz, in 2005 we became a member of the WISE scheme and where awarded the Green Tourism Business Award in 2010.

Whale watching cruises, Isle of Mull, Scotland

Whale watching cruises, Isle of Mull, Scotland

Reviewed 23 Jun 2006 by John Eversfield

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The most memorable part of the holiday was the surveys trip ... seeing Minke whales and basking sharks on such a beautiful day - I will remember this for many years to come. We even moored on a tiny island close to Coll and Tiree - it was like being on a Pacific atoll ... seals swimming, white sand, clear blue sea - just perfect. However, everything was great - the Drover's Lodge B&B, the warm welcome from the locals, the weather, the food, the Discover Mull "wildlife safari", the wildlife .....

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Tips ... book for good weather, but go prepared for bad - and enjoy yourself no matter what. Mull is a stunning island.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

I would like to think that the holiday benefited local people and had the minimum impact on the environment (however, we have to face reality and, by the very nature of the fact that we are wasteful human beings, we make an impact just by travelling to Mull in the first place) - we ate in the local pubs and restaurants, shopped locally, etc.

4. Any other comments?

This was definitely a 5-star holiday ... in fact, I don't think I have any friends left because that's all I've talked about since we got home!!!