Dive into an unforgettable 7-day adventure, exploring the vibrant marine life of the Inner Hebrides during the peak basking shark season. Based on the stunning Isle of Coll, this tour is perfect for those who want to experience the thrill of snorkelling with basking sharks, visiting the legendary Fingal’s Cave, and exploring the remote beauty of the Hebrides. Our friendly and knowledgeable guides ensure a safe, educational, and exhilarating experience.
Spend seven days at sea, navigating the wild Atlantic waters and searching for basking sharks and other marine wildlife. Each day offers a new adventure, from snorkelling in temperate kelp forests to visiting resident seal colonies. Highlights include visiting the legendary Fingal’s Cave, landing on the Treshnish Isles to meet charismatic puffins (in July trips), and enjoying white shell sand lagoons. The itinerary is flexible to adapt to sea conditions, ensuring the best possible experience.
Our 7-day shark weeks run from mid-July for five weeks only, with only 10 spaces per boat. These tours sell out annually.
If you are participating in our snorkelling activities, you will need to hire our equipment or you are more than welcome to bring your own.
Upon arrival on the Isle of Coll, our friendly crew will meet you and take you to the boat for your first day at sea. Each day focuses on searching for wildlife and snorkelling. The deep waters around the island create excellent feeding opportunities for sharks, whales, and dolphins. Photographers and naturalists will enjoy the abundant bird life and stunning scenery.
The Sea of the Hebrides is the world’s only Marine Protected Area (MPA) for basking sharks. Swimming alongside these gentle giants is an unforgettable experience. Our dedicated team follows a strict Code of Conduct to ensure the welfare and protection of these endangered animals, providing both shark and customer safety.
Scotland boasts one-third of the world’s grey seal population. Swimming with these curious animals is a memorable experience. We have multiple sites around the island with resident seal colonies, including common seals that can often be spotted from the harbour.
A favourite of many visitors, the white shell sand lagoon offers fantastic visibility and sheltered conditions. The currents create lush kelp forests and algae gardens, making it a haven for marine life and seals.
The Hebrides are a global hotspot for marine wildlife, with fast access to productive feeding grounds. We have both resident and seasonal marine mammals, and large seabird colonies offer the chance of great encounters.
Our favourite characters visit the islands from spring to the end of July. Rest your sea legs on the beautiful Isle of Lunga, an idyllic lunch spot to enjoy a picnic with the puffins. This island is a bird watcher’s paradise with breeding colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, and shags.
We offer a snorkel excursion every day, whether at the lagoon, seal colonies, tidal channel drifts, or Fingal’s Cave. Atlantic kelp forests are more productive than coral reefs, with a vast amount of marine life to discover.
Visit the legendary Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa. The basalt columns formed from volcanic activity create an adventure playground for snorkellers, swimmers, and wildlife watchers. Snorkelling in this natural wonder should be on everyone’s bucket list!
In case of rough sea conditions, we arrange land activities, such as shore snorkelling and exploring the island’s wildlife, landscapes, and history. Discover habitats like sand dunes and machair, historic castles, standing stones, and local wildlife such as eagles, hen harriers, otters, hares, and corncrakes.
In the evenings, enjoy the tranquil life on Coll with remote beaches, otter spotting, and stunning sunsets. The island is home to an award-winning restaurant and accommodation providers. For those who prefer wild camping, there are plenty of peaceful spots to choose from.
Nature is unpredictable, and sightings are never guaranteed. However, you will be visiting a wildlife hotspot with a highly experienced and passionate team. Our comfortable cabin RIBs are built for wild Atlantic conditions and are closely monitored by experienced skippers to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
Your journey begins in the coastal town of Oban, where you’ll take a Calmac ferry to the Isle of Coll. This remote island in the Inner Hebrides provides a perfect base for our marine adventures. We recommend arriving in Oban the day before your tour due to early ferry times.
This 7-day itinerary is based on the Isle of Coll, accessible by Calmac ferry from Oban. We recommend arriving in Oban the day before your tour due to early ferry times. The journey includes passing iconic landmarks such as Lismore Lighthouse and Duart Castle.
Accommodation on the Isle of Coll books up quickly. We recommend booking your room at the time of booking to ensure availability. Options include Tigh Na Mara B&B, Coll Hotel, and Coll Bunkhouse. There are also pitches for campervans or camping.
After booking, you will receive a confirmation email with a linked information document. Our team will also help you book accommodation on Coll and send a brochure with all the options.
We are dedicated to providing exceptional marine experiences. Our expert team of marine biologists and local guides ensures a safe, educational, and enjoyable adventure. We offer unique locations, including the world’s only Marine Protected Area (MPA) for basking sharks. Committed to responsible tourism, we follow a strict code of conduct to minimise our environmental impact. Our customisable activities, such as snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and wildlife watching, allow you to tailor your experience. Additionally, our comfortable cabin RIBs, designed for the wild Atlantic conditions, are monitored by experienced skippers to ensure your comfort and safety.
Book your 7-Day Basking Shark Snorkelling Trip today for an extraordinary marine adventure!
The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the largest fish in the British Isles and the second largest shark species globally, surpassed only by the tropical whale shark. Like the whale shark, basking sharks feed exclusively on plankton and are one of only three filter-feeding shark species.
The Sea of the Hebrides is a major global hotspot for basking sharks. Over the past decade, we have had numerous incredible opportunities to participate in basking shark research and maintain an ongoing data collection project. These elusive sharks undertake vast migrations, often spending considerable time in deep offshore waters, which means they have not been as extensively studied as other shark species.
Yes – our minimum age is 8 years old. All under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian. Our tours are adventurous with long days at sea and are not suitable for young children.
Private charters are available for families with younger children.
For those wanting to snorkel on the tour, we advise that you should be able to swim 100m comfortably in open water, along with general fitness to enable boarding a boat via a ladder.
In Coll, due to fluctuating tide levels, we may have to use a vertical pier ladder to board the vessel.
On certain tours, we use a small dinghy to transfer from the boat to shore – the terrain can be very rocky and rough with no structured pier/ pontoon. You will need to be able to get on and off the dinghy. Our guides will be there with you.
Anyone with a serious pre-existing medical condition should consult their GP before booking ANY of our trips.
All participants are required to complete a Declaration of Medical Fitness for Snorkelling form (under 18s need this countersigned by a parent/ guardian).
We welcome everyone on board – if you have accessibility concerns please get in touch with us.
No qualifications are necessary to come on our trips. All interactions are snorkel based so no SCUBA qualifications are required.
Snorkel experience is not required but would be advantageous in order to get the best from the trip. The more confident you are the better.
You MUST be able to swim at least 100m in open water unaided. Our shark interactions are in open exposed water. Your wetsuit will aid your buoyancy but you should be comfortable in these conditions.
Our main boat is ‘Cearban Mhor’, she is a 12m Redbay Cabin RIB built for the Atlantic conditions! She has been custom-built for our wildlife tours and has a large viewing platform to watch wildlife, as well as an enclosed indoor space to give you the best of both worlds.
Cearban Mhor can take up to 12 guests, our smaller boat Cearban Beg can take a maximum of 10. You will be accompanied by 1 guide and skipper.
We can provide charter services for larger groups with two other boats offering 12 spaces each.
Our boats have an emergency chemical toilet on board. They have a limited capacity and use should be kept to a minimum. There are toilets at the pier for all of our locations for use before and after tours. Please note Cearban Beg, which is mostly used for scuba diving trips, does not have a toilet.
At both Oban and Tobermory marinas the boat is accessible by pontoon so you can step on board. Boarding the boat in Coll is more challenging, you will need to board the boat by a pier ladder as we can get some very large tidal height changes in the harbour.
There may be occasions when we need to use a dinghy to take you to the boat or shore, we will do this during visits to the seabird colony. You will need to have a level of fitness that allows you to climb in and out of the dinghy. The landings at the seabird colony can be challenging as there is no pier or fixed structure to land on. There is a short walk up from the shoreline which is very rocky, please get in touch if you have any concerns about accessibility.
Yes, we can offer a wide range of charter services and bespoke tours. Please get in touch if you have any ideas or would like to know more about our services.
We have a range of water sports equipment so you can add swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or paddle-boarding options into your itinerary.
We have worked regularly with media groups and can offer a range of filming services.
Safety on board our boats is our absolute priority. Our boats are all well maintained and have all the appropriate safety equipment as well as emergency oxygen and first aid. Our experienced team are all rescue and first aid trained and will always be on hand to help. Our skippers each have decades of experience in the local area and are well used to the local sea conditions and weather.
You will be given a safety briefing and orientation on your first day on board, and a briefing before any in-water activities. Our friendly team will always be there to answer your questions and help where needed.
All of our boats have a sheltered area to keep you protected from the elements. Once we are swimming or snorkelling you won’t be able to enter the cabin in your wet gear so make sure you bring layers and sun protection to keep yourself comfortable.
During our multi-day tours we spend around 7 hours at sea. This is weather-dependant and we will use our expert knowledge of the area to our advantage. Some days may be longer or shorter to maximise your experience.
The weather can be changeable in Scotland, so we advise you to be adequately prepared. At sea, we are much more exposed and you’ll feel much colder than on land. We advise you to bring plenty of clothes to keep you warm.
Water temperature over the season ranges from 10-16 degrees and we have a range of equipment that will keep you warm. Our rental gear is of high quality and with adequate preparation you will be comfortable in the water.
Essential:
Optional:
There will be hot drinks on board for when you get out of the water – but no other food or drink is provided.
YES!
Please bring lots of food and snacks – it is a high energy experience and you will eat more than usual. Food is not provided and there are no options to get more food once you have started your tour.
This depends if you are susceptible to getting seasick! As we are at sea most of the day, we advise you to bring seasickness remedies if you suffer from mal de mer. You need to take seasickness tablets prior to the trip departure.
We aim to stay in calm waters but this is not always possible. The sea can be choppy and rough at times. It is best to err on the side of caution.
Our charter boats are cabin RIBs which are highly seaworthy and built for the Atlantic. During strong winds, we can shelter in some areas to look for wildlife taking short passages of rough crossings. Unfortunately, some conditions are not safe to go out in and tours may need to be rescheduled or cancelled.
On multi-day tours we will adapt the itinerary to suit the conditions. If we are unable to get out on the boat we have some really great alternatives which your guide will explain at the time.
The conditions are closely monitored by our experienced skippers. In bad conditions we will use the most up to date forecast which is made available at 9pm each night. This means that we occasionally have to make a late call to adapt the plan for the following day.
We understand that this can be frustrating – we will give as much notice as possible to minimise disruption to your tour.
No! We are highly experienced with 10 years operating in the area. However, the natural world is very unpredictable, not a zoo or an aquarium and therefore sightings are never guaranteed.
We can however promise that you are visiting a wildlife hotspot with a highly experienced team – we will do our very best to give a great experience no matter what the conditions.
There are chances of spotting the following:
You will have the unique opportunity during our tours to swim with exciting wildlife. To make this as low-impact as possible all of our activities are guided.
All of our guides have marine science and professional diving qualifications along with a passion for ocean conservation.
Protection of the wildlife is our highest priority. Sightings do not guarantee swims – our experienced staff will make the final decision on whether it safe to swim or not.
Due to the long trips and our hope to get to close to wildlife without disturbance we don’t allow dogs on the boat. There are some good dog sitters in Oban such Sian At Happy Paws or ask at the facebook group ‘information oban’.
You are very welcome on our tours. You will have a great experience watching all of the action from the boat without getting wet. You will be able to help us collate wildlife sightings which will help with our on-going research. You are able to participate in all other activities offered during our excursion such as island landings to see puffins and Fingal’s cave. You will still need to book a space on the boat – please comment that you are not going to swim.
Sea temperatures can range from around 8-16°C in spring, summer & autumn. Visibility in the water can vary – our sharks like to swim in plankton soup, so sharks swims might not offer clear water. Average underwater visibility would be 4-10m inshore and 10-30m offshore. Shark swims are usually 4-10m
Sea conditions are closely monitored by skippers and guides – we we will only swim when safe to do so. However this will depend on a lot of different factors.
Oban has been referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ as from here you can explore the Hebrides by ferry. Oban itself offers an abundance of adventure with epic hiking, great food and water sports. It can be very busy over the summer as it is a popular tourist destination so make sure to book your stay ahead of time.
There is an abundance of accommodation in Oban, if you are staying here just for a connecting ferry to Coll we recommend staying close to the ferry terminal as the service departs early.
There are many independently owned guesthouses and B&Bs, one we would recommend is Glenroy Guesthouse.
For a more luxury option you can check out The Perle.
Kintaline house a very nice self catering option, 10 minute drive from marina and close to Tralee beach.
The Isle of Coll has limited options for accommodation, and books up far in advance. You can find out more about staying in Coll here, but below are our top recommendations.
Oban:
Oban has everything you could need for your Scottish holiday, supermarkets, fuel stations, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. As well as public transport links, ferry services to the islands and a selection of adventure sports and wildlife experiences. You can see the Oban tourism website for more information on activities, eating, drinking and staying!
For buying supplies there is a Tesco, Aldi, Lidi and M&S all centrally located.
Coll:
The Isle of Coll lies in the Inner Hebrides, having a population of approximately 250 people there are far less facilities here. We do recommend coming prepared for your trip and we will send you a comprehensive information document with your booking to help you plan. There is a small shop on the island which has a good selection of food. We recommend booking evening meals in advance and all relevant links and information will be sent in your info pack! We do recommend fuelling your vehicle before boarding the ferry as fuel is expensive in Coll and the opening hours are limited.
We only run targeted one day basking shark tours as private bookings from very specific times of year and places. It's our most expensive trip given the time and distance involved and the largest boat we use. For a group of up to 12 people, the cost of a private charter for a 1-day session would be £2,250. If this sounds like a good option for you and your group, please contact the adventuro team via the live chat, or submit a query using the button below the booking form.
About the centre
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Operated by Basking Shark Scotland, a partner of adventuro.
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