When Is the Best Time
The season starts mid-June until September. The highest chance for a sighting is also the peak season on the Hebrides in July and August. However, no guarantee at all. I booked a four-day trip to increase the chance for snorkeling with one, but I only saw a young one from the boat. One guy had booked a trip for the third time and our three meters tall shark was his first one. You need the right conditions and to be fortunate!! After this experience, I'd recommend August. In this month the shark festival takes places as well during the weekend.
Best Months to Visit
Location and Tips
Our guide Luke, a marine biologist, explained that young sharks disappear as soon as you get into the water. It only makes sense to snorkel with older and bigger ones. The sun brings plankton to the surface this attracts the basking sharks. With a high concentration of plankton, the sea appears green. If you book a several days trip for snorkelling with basking sharks don't have too high expectations, I would rather call it snorkelling with seals which were quite amazing and a great experience. Have a look at the place Cairns of Coll. I'll definitely try it again. Anyhow, the sea can be rough, and it gets quite difficult to snorkel and follow the shark. The visibility is 5 to 7 meters in summer. Expect lots of jellyfish in the sea.
- The sharks are feeding half a ton of plankton
- The liver has the size of a car
- The basking sharks were hunted almost to extinction for their liver to get the valuable oil and the fins.
- It is the second-largest fish in the world after the whale shark. Growing up to 12 meters, but there is still a lot to discover about them.
- No one has ever seen one of these sharks mating or giving birth. It looks like the Hebrides are a key area for feeding and mating. Luckily they are protected now.
