BANTRY BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Sea Safari: A RIB-powered sweep of Bantry Bay and Whiddy Island
A roughly 2-hour RIB tour that covers about 21 nautical miles of Bantry Bay and Whiddy Island, offering frequent dolphin, porpoise and seal sightings.
Sea Safari: A RIB-powered sweep of Bantry Bay and Whiddy Island.
Embark on an exhilarating RIB boat tour through Bantry Bay, a roughly two-hour outing that traverses about 21 nautical miles (almost 25 km) of coastline around the historic Whiddy Island. With a skilled skipper on board, the Sea Safari focuses on coastal scenery and wildlife—dolphins, porpoises and seals are commonly encountered, while seasonal humpback and minke whale sightings have also been recorded.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Regular encounters with dolphins, porpoises and seals
Each trip expects to encounter dolphins, porpoises and seals; occasional seasonal sightings of humpback and minke whales have been recorded though they are less abundant than dolphins.
A 21-nautical-mile sweep around Whiddy Island
The tour explores approximately 21 nautical miles of the Bantry Bay area and runs around the historic Whiddy Island, covering almost 25 km of coastline during the roughly two-hour outing.
High-performance RIBs with an experienced skipper
This new boat tour runs aboard RIBs and is led by a skilled skipper who points out sights of interest and teaches guests about the habitat of the wildlife encountered.
What the day feels like
What the trip feels like
The Sea Safari is an activity-driven RIB tour that moves quickly through Bantry Bay, circling Whiddy Island and scanning open water for marine life. The skipper guides the route and interpretation, and the outing is framed around wildlife watching and coastal observation over an approximately two-hour window.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this Sea Safari fits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Trips meet at Railway Pier, Bantry.
The outing lasts about 2 hours and covers roughly 21 nautical miles — almost 25 km of coastline.
No specific gear requirements were provided by the operator; check with Bantry Bay Boat Hire Limited for guidance before departure.
A minimum of five passengers is required for the trip to depart. The operator confirms departures one hour before the scheduled time; if the trip cannot run customers may opt for rescheduling or a refund.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Sea Safari?
The trip lasts about 2 hours and covers almost 25 km of coastline.
Where is the meeting point?
Meet at Railway Pier, Bantry.
How far do you travel out on the tour?
The tour explores approximately 21 nautical miles of the Bantry Bay area around Whiddy Island.
What wildlife will we see?
Dolphins, porpoises and seals are expected on each trip; humpback and minke whale sightings have been recorded seasonally but are less abundant than dolphins.
Is there a minimum number of passengers?
Yes. A minimum of five passengers is needed for the trip to depart; the operator confirms whether the trip will run one hour before the scheduled departure and customers can choose to be rescheduled or refunded if it does not run.
What is the minimum age to take part?
The trip is suitable for children aged 10 years and older.
Who operates the Sea Safari?
The trip is operated by Bantry Bay Boat Hire Limited.