The Common Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis) is a very intelligent and playful species that love to bow ride and interact with humans. They inhabit deep waters off our coasts and luckily for us, off Falmouth. Commons live in pods of 50 - 100 and are the most seen dolphin in the area. Join Us on a sea safari to get a chance of seeing some of these incredible animals.
How to identify Common Dolphins:
Feeding:
Common dolphins work together in the pod when feeding. They round up fish in a ball and bring them to the surface for feeding. They sometimes take advantage of human fisheries by taking fish that have escaped from the nets. A good way to spot feeding dolphins is to look for feeding Gannets as they often take advantage of the dolphins and steal as many fish as they can.
Threats and Conservation:
Common dolphins are often accidentally caught in fishing nets. Pair trawling, where two boats drag a fishing net between them, is the most dangerous form of fishing for them. British boats have been banned from pair trawling within 12 miles of the coastline. However there is no such legislation regarding boats from other countries. Their future is also closely linked to the sustainability of fish stocks.
Cornwall's warm climate and diverse marine life is all due to the Gulf Stream.
It brings warm water flowing from the South up through the Atlantic Ocean past Cornwall, which then mixes with cooler Northern waters.
Species spotted are increasing constantly as more people join our Sea Safari expeditions and as sea temperatures rise we are seeing an increasingly diverse range of marine wildlife on our boat trips.
Prioritising the safety & wellbeing of our resident wildlife is very important to us. Our skippers adhere to strict guidelines provided by the WiSe Foundation and other conservation groups. Read about our Code of Conduct and Eco Tourism here.