Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides, Scotland

You will be witness to the truly spectacular scenery of the west coast of Scotland, from the stark cliffs of Scarba to the sandy beaches of Tiree, as you sail the waters of the Hebrides watching out for cetaceans and other sea life. Studying from onboard the Silurian, a 16-meter ketch, with researchers Juliet Shrimpton and Clare Embling, you will record cetacean abundance along transects and note the acoustic behaviors of encountered cetaceans using the latest technology. You'll take photos of dolphins and whales for individual identification, and collect environmental information. You can also take part as a member of the crew, gaining valuable sailing experience. The Silurian will pass sea lochs, high mountains, and medieval cliff-top castles, visiting a diverse variety of island ports, each with its own unique traditional character and each steeped in Highland culture.

Volunteers will share accommodations on board the Silurian, which has four cosy cabins with eight berths and shower and toilet facilities. The showers are hot but with limited water, so you may want to take advantage of longer showers at onshore facilities that charge a fee when available. All of the cooking will be done on board, and shared between crew and volunteers on a rotating basis, using a variety of ingredients stocked on board and your communal ingenuity.

Below is a tentative itinerary for the expedition. Please be aware that schedules can and do fluctuate due to weather, research needs, boat repairs, etc. Due to the nature of research aboard a sailing vessel, volunteers should be aware that schedules will fluctuate.

There are no scheduled recreational days, however there are usually opportunities to go ashore on a nearby island in the evenings, or if the weather is not good enough for surveying. This might include pub visits; however, more often we will be anchored in remote places, many only reachable by boat.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1
Meet at 6:00 p.m. in Tobermory at Tigh Solias. Volunteers will be walked to the boat by a HWDT staff member. This will be followed by an orientation to the vessel and a safety briefing in the evening.

Day 2
Early morning training session. Boat will depart in the early afternoon.

Day 3-10
Monitoring on boat. There is also the potential for a longer shore leave, especially in bad survey weather. During shore leave, activities or visits to places of interest may be possible. These would be at the volunteers’ own expense. A list of possible activities on the islands will be kept on board for reference.

Day 11
The boat will arrive back in Tobermory/Kyle of Lochalsh in the afternoon. The remainder of the day will involve cleaning the boat, time for showers and a quick look around town. Also the potential to go out for a meal, this would be at the volunteers own expense.

Day 12
Departure in the early morning around 9:00-9:30 a.m. to coincide with ferries leaving the island.

Is this trip for you?
No specific skills are required for this project; however you must be proficient in the English language and have basic computing skills. Because the project involves visual and acoustic tasks, good vision and hearing are essential. Sea legs are also a distinct advantage!

Volunteers will be required to act as observers and to collect data during visual surveys for cetaceans. You will also conduct acoustic monitoring, enter data, and assist with the deploying and retrieving the hydrophone. 

Volunteers will also be required to assist with the day-to-day running of the research vessel, including cooking and cleaning. Being involved in running the vessel is an important aspect of the project. Volunteers will be encouraged to assist with sailing under the supervision of a certified member of staff. The project provides an ideal opportunity to learn these skills, however, be aware that boating certificates will not be awarded to volunteers.