Basking sharks have been spotted off the island of Coll over the Easter weekend, much earlier in the year than expected. We’ll be looking out for them on our Magical Mull cruise on April 25th (two spaces still available at a special offer of only £1150.00 pp due to cancellation)
It is thought the high pressure in the weather over the Easter weekend prompted early zooplankton bloom, which attracted the basking sharks to the waters around Coll, according to Basking Shark Scotland. One possible reason for the early arrival and plankton bloom could be in conjunction with the frequent high wind and storms this winter which could have unlocked natural upwelling and nutrients availability in the Atlantic, which in turn has provided the perfect conditions for generating shark food.
Around ten individuals were counted during a Basking Shark Scotland research trip on Easter Monday, among the earliest sightings that have been recorded in these waters and the wider UK.
Basking sharks normally appear in the Hebrides from May onwards. Areas such as Cornwall usually have amongst the first sightings although the number of sightings has been very poor over the last few years. The early arrival and large numbers of individuals present over the Easter weekend are amongst the first in the UK in 2015 and confirms that the Hebrides are still the best in the world for basking shark sightings.
I was lucky enough to find myself on the Emma Jane in the summer of 2024, courtesy of my wonderful family. Near the end of our cruise, I was asked by one of the crew members what my favourite parts of the trip were. I couldn’t come up with a good answer, though not for lack of amazing moments - quite the opposite, in fact. I came to the realization that the cruise in its entirety was one big highlight. I enjoyed every second I spent on the ship. The food was superb (Thank you, Louie, for putting up with my family of picky eaters!), our guide was very knowledgeable (Lynsey, thank you for teaching me about all of those Scottish seabird species!), the skipper was always friendly (Thanks to you, James, I now aspire to learn how to repair and maintain a ship’s engine) and of course the natural beauty of the Hebrides was simply stunning. I miss being on the ship all the time and hope to be back again one day.
Emily Ward: 15 August 2024Private Charter 8 Nights