The marine life surrounding Ireland’s Atlantic coastline is nothing short of remarkable, as some lucky tourists in Kerry discovered earlier this week.
A breathtaking video has surfaced online showing incredible humpback whales swimming in Dingle Bay earlier this week.
The video, posted by local tour provider Dingle Sea Safari, shows the colossal creature jumping in and out of the water close to the boat.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, social media users were blown away by the video, which shows the humpback whale up close and personal.
A rare treat – remarkable animals
Posting the breathtaking video of the humpback whales swimming in Dingle Bay, Dingle Sea Safari wrote,
“The humpback whales are back in Dingle Bay!
“Some incredible footage was captured by our customers onboard this week — we’re so lucky to witness these majestic animals in Dingle Bay!
“It’s a rare treat, and this week’s guests have truly had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
In another video posted by the tour operator, the whale can be seen from above, swimming alongside two local dolphins, which highlights its colossal size in comparison.
One Instagram user @ireland_up_close also posted a video with the caption, “Amazing to sit and watch this powerful giant of the ocean.
“The sheer size and power of these whales is unreal.”
A rare occurrence – how often are humpback whale sightings in Ireland?
After the breathtaking video of the humpback whales swimming in Dingle Bay went viral, many people were wondering how common it is to spot these creatures in Irish waters.
In recent years, humpback whales have been increasingly spotted off the coast of Ireland. More frequent and prolonged sightings have been recorded along the southwest coast of Kerry, Cork, Clare, and Waterford.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has documented humpback whale sightings in Ireland since the late 1990s, with at least 92 recorded sightings since then.
They’re considered occasional but regular visitors, especially from May to December, with a peak in late summer and autumn.
Watch the full video posted by Dingle Sea Safari here.
