Sussex Dolphin Project offers avid wildlife explorers and tourists a chance to get as close as is respectfully possible to catch a glimpse of one of our marine neighbours. They offer a rare chance, in our nature-depleted country, to get back in touch with our natural world. These boat tours take place at several points on the Sussex coast including a sunset tour near Brighton Pier, Seven Sisters, Rampion Wind Farm, and Beachy Head.
As a coastal town, it’s unsurprising that Brighton has its fair share of local sealife to see that isn’t just the gull that stole your Flake 99 on a day out. From the odd seal that climbs onto the pebble beach for a sunbathe to even a humpback whale that once paid a visit to Brighton Marina, the south coast’s seas are home to a multitude of different species that, for the most part, we remain largely oblivious about.
Launched in 2012, the organisation uses these tours as a method of protecting the bottle-nose dolphin species through the three pillars of research, awareness, and education. Sussex Dolphin Project is part of the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) and the project operates independently to create a local sightings network that continuously reports on and learns about the local pods in our area.
The tours are not just about sighting dolphins, they also take guests on a historical tour of the area. With all proceeds from the tours funding research and community work conducted by the Sussex Dolphin Project, you can be confident that your money is going towards the care and protection of this species. Furthermore, it’s best to remember that Dolphins can’t always be sighted on these tours, but there will be opportunities to listen to underwater sounds and view the array of seabirds that inhabit our coast.
For those already hunting through their calendars for a date to book a tour, remember to bring appropriate clothing and shoes that you’re comfortable with and most importantly, warm. The latter being the most important as we enter the autumn and winter months. Though it’s not specified what conditions are put in place, for those with mobility issues it’s best to reach out to the organisers ahead of the date booked so the team can accommodate you in a way that doesn’t hamper your experience.
Reviews of the tours highlight the warm and helpful nature of the staff leading the tours, always willing to ask any questions visitors have had in the past. Ultimately educational in nature these tours cater to all types of groups – the key is that you’re ready to learn. If dolphins aren’t sighted however the experience to get out on the water and separate yourself from the urban jungle and all its stresses is a welcome one.
Moreover the tours, especially the sunset one by Brighton Pier are an amazing way to appreciate Brighton’s distinctive and timeless landscape. So why not put on your best waterproofs and take a chance to get close to one of the most magical elements of Brighton and Hove.
To find out more: https://sussexdolphinproject.org/
