HOW MUCH ARE yOUR BLUE SHARK SNORKEL TRIPS?

Our blue shark snorkel trips for 2026 are £155.00 per person, (£150pp plus £5pp admin fee). If you are booking the whole boat for a group of 10, we charge £1400 for a full boat booking, and this is the standard rate for the full year no matter when you book.

Is there an age restriction?

We ask all participants to be aged 14 and over. If your child is under 14 and you believe that they are a confident swimmer in deep open water, please get in touch so we can go through some questions.

Do I need to be a good swimmer?

You MUST have previous snorkelling experience in open water, be a confident swimmer and be able to tread water extremely well as we are going 20 miles or more offshore. The water you will be snorkelling in will be open sea, sometimes 80 metres deep or more. You must have a strong stomach and not suffer badly from sea sickness (or be able to manage it well with medication etc) as we find that most of our customers find this trip the most challenging out of all of the trips we run interms of sea sickness. You will not be able to see the bottom of the sea. We do have safety lines trailing from the boat that we recommend customers hold onto to prevent drifting.

What should I wear?

All customers MUST either provide their own equipment to wear in the water OR hire it directly through us. All of the below equipment is mandatory to take part in the trip, and MUST consist of the following:

• A bathing suit, bikini or swim shorts WHICH SHOULD BE WORN UNDER YOUR CLOTHES before boarding the vessel. It makes changing into the following equipment easier for all.

• A FULL BODY thick wetsuit in a dark colour - you MUST only wear a wetsuit that is black / grey / a very dark blue, that DOES NOT have any bright colours or bright coloured patches (although tiny logos are ok) that may spark attention from the sharks. Sharks are very sensitive to contrast and so we have these mandatory rules in place to minimise unwanted attention or curiosity from the sharks. That means absolutely NO yellows, no oranges, no bright pinks, reds or greens or any other bright colours. We are extremely strict on this and if you turn up on the day with any item of kit that does not follow these guidelines, we reserve the right to refuse entry to the water WITHOUT refund. We recommend at the very least a 5mm + WINTER wetsuit, which MUST be full length with the arms covered and if you do tend to get extra cold then we would suggest wearing a rashguard or thermal layer underneath or over the top. IF YOU ARE HIRING A WETSUIT WE RECOMMEND GETTING A SIZE UP FROM YOUR USUAL CLOTHING SIZE.

• Dark colour diving hood no bright patches or colours

• Dark colour diving boots OR dark colour diving socks with dark fins

• Dark colour diving gloves

• Dark colour snorkel mask, complete with a snorkel - BLACK/GREY/DARK BLUE SNORKEL SET NO BRIGHT COLOURS OR PATCHES

***PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE EQUIPMENT IS MANDATORY AND MUST BE WORN TO PARTICIPATE. SHARKS ARE SENSITIVE TO CONTRASTING COLOURS AND SO WE HAVE THESE GUIDELINES IN PLACE TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF UNWANTED ATTRACTION***

If you do not own any of this equipment, we will send you a separate form where you can hire kit directly from ourselves and collect it and pay for it on the day. Gear hirewill be extra on top of the trip cost. Please see the separate form attached to your enquiry email and fill out accordingly if you need any gear from us.

CAN I BRING A CAMERA OR UNDERWATER CAMERA WITH ME?

Yes, you are more than welcome to bring any cameras, underwater cameras or go pros and capture footage that you choose. However you MUST make sure that any underwater recording equipment is not brightly coloured or in a brightly coloured case. All camera equipment must be in dark colours. If you have a yellow or orange stick for your go pro then this must be wrapped in dark black electrical tape or covered up.

What should I bring with me?

MANDATORY:

• All of the above equipment in the previous section ‘what should I wear’, or the appropriate cash on the day to hire the gear directly from us

• Any food or drink or snacks that you will want throughout the day

• WARM CLOTHES, WATERPROOF AND PLENTY OF LAYERS – we cannot stress this enough! It can feel extremely cold, especially after you have been in the water and there is a breeze, you may also get splashed on the way back in depending on the wind direction

• A towel or dryrobe / changing robe

• Socks and closed shoes with grip to keep your feet warm and dry whilst onboard

• Any personal medication or sea sickness medication that you may need throughout the day, we cannot provide any medication on board

WE ADVISE:

• Thick coat/ woolly hat/gloves- even in summer, and you think you might not need it. It’s colder out at sea than on land!

• Windbreaker / waterproof jacket

• A separate bag for your wet snorkel gear

• Eco-friendly suncream

• Sunglasses/sun hat or baseball cap

• Extra water!!

• Any camera or GoPro that you may want to use on the day

What IF I GET SEA SICK?

Even if you never normally get sea sick, we would strongly ADVISE everyone coming onboard for the sharks to consider taking some sea sickness tablets in line with the instructions on the packet or from instruction from your pharmacy or doctor. These should usually be taken the night before your trip or a minimum of 2 hours before boarding (we advise). They will not work if taken later. We had many customers last year that experienced sea sickness for the first time whilst out on a shark swim with us - if this happens there is no escaping it for hours! Normally, by the time you get on the boat it will be too late to take them if you start experiencing sea sickness symptoms so please be prepared in advance. Sea sickness can absolutely ruin your day out and we cannot cut the trip short as it isn’t fair on the other customers. We cannot provide any customers with sea sickness tablets. If you wish to bring them on board do make sure you have your own supply with you. Even our members of staff take them the night before!

how MANY PEOPLE DO YOU TAKE PER TRIP?

We will only take a maximum of 10-11 customers on our trips.

how long is the TRIP?

Our blue shark snorkel trips leave promptly at 7.30am and return at approximately any time around 3-4pm. This is an average, but sometimes may be earlier if the sharks appear earlier. We like to give as much wait time as possible to allow for them to show. It also depends on the sea state and if it will take us longer to get back to reach land if the sea is not the calmest, as well as how much time everyone spends in the water! We allow for around an 8 hour trip to give us plenty of time to get out offshore and also factor in waiting time for the sharks to show up but as for the arrival time back to shore we take each day as it comes.

Am I guaranteed to see a shark / sharks?

Although we have had a 100% success rate in locating blue sharks on every trip in 2022, and a 90% success rate in both 2023 and 2024 and 2025, you must be aware that these are wild animals and we are not in an aquarium! There is, of course, a chance that for reasons out of our control, the sharks may not and sometimes do not show up. We cannot guarantee anything due to the way nature sometimes works. However, with our team’s extensive knowledge of the sharks’ migratory patterns and behaviours, this is what has enabled us to have many great seasons of shark snorkelling so far.

When is the best time of the year to snorkel with blue sharks?

The blue sharks visit our waters throughout May - October. It’s very hard to say which month is best to come on your trip, as we’ve had amazing encounters throughout. However, mid to end of June to early September is when their numbers tend to be greatest, hence why we limit our trips to this time period. Nature is unpredictable and can change from one day to the next!

Will i encounter any jellyfish in the water AND WILL THEY STING ME?

We will most likely encounter some jellyfish in the water at times however, as you will be fully covered wearing appropriate equipment, then the chances of them stinging should be quite low.

CAN I COME ON THE TRIP TO ACCOMPANY SOMEBODY BUT NOT GET IN THE WATER?

Yes, however, we do still have to charge the full price of £155 per person as we base our trips on the number of spaces. You are more than welcome to come on board for the day and stay dry, perhaps take photographs or videos of somebody, or just to join them on a day out at sea! We do stop for wildlife watching along the way, so it’s not all boring if you aren’t wanting to snorkel!

CAN MY CHILD GET IN THE WATER TO SNORKEL WHILST I STAY ONBOARD THE BOAT?

As long as you are happy to sign the waiver on the day stating that you are happy for your child /minor to enter the water with the snorkel guide without you being present alongside them, then that is fine. They must be 14 years or older.

IS FOOD AND DRINK PROVIDED?

We only provide HOT drinks and drinking water. Hot drinks consist of tea, coffee and hot chocolate. You will need to provide your food and snacks for the day.We have a microwave that customers can access at any time when the engine is running.

Do I need a dive certification?

You do not need a dive or snorkel qualification to join our trips. There will not be any scuba diving allowed on our trips. Only snorkelling.

Will there be a guide in the water with me?

Yes you will have a snorkel guide in the water with you at all times.

Can I touch the sharks?

No, not under any circumstances! It’s extremely important that you are aware these are wild animals. They might be cool animals, but they are apex predators. We provide you with our knowledge and guidance during our pre water briefing but you are choosing to swim with them knowing there is still risk. Take only photographs, kill only time, leave only bubbles, keep only memories. If you do not follow your guide’s instructions in terms of how to behave around the sharks /any other animals you may encounter and any other instructions when in the water, we will remove you from the activity and ask you to remain on the boat.

is the sea cold?

In a short answer, YES. This is not the Caribbean! This is England. Even in the height of summer the water will still be cold as we are travelling far off shore. Therefore a thicker wetsuit and hood is definitely advised!

JUNE average sea temp : 14 degrees centigrade

JULY average sea temp : 16.3 degrees centigrade

AUGUST average sea temp: 17 degrees centigrade

SEPTEMBER average sea temp: 16.5 degrees centigrade

What happens on the day?

After picking up all of our lovely customers and getting the briefings and waiver forms out of the way, we make our way around up to 20-30 miles or more off shore in search of the blue sharks. Along the way out to the sharks, we are constantly on the lookout for marine life such as dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals, seabirds, and more where we will stop the boat if we come across anything interesting in our path on route out to allow for good viewing. When we reach our destination, the frozen chum / fish are dropped into the water along the side of the boat and then it is just a waiting game! The sharks may appear after as little as 30 minutes or in some cases a few hours. However, once the sharks appear it is common for them to stay with us for a while.

Where DO WE MEET ON THE DAY AND IS THERE PARKING?

WE MEET PROMPTLY AT 7.15AM (15 MINUTES PRIOR TO TRIP DEPARTURE). PLEASE ENSURE YOU ALLOW YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO PARK AND GET TO THE MEETING POINT for 7.15AM. THE BOAT MUST LEAVE ON TIME AND WE CANNOT WAIT FOR YOU.

If arriving by foot please use the following address on the SatNav -

The BoatHouse Restaurant, 2-4 Commercial Wharf Madeira Road, Plymouth, GB PL1 2NX

If arriving by car please use the following address on the SatNav -

Elphinstone Car Park, Madeira Rd, Plymouth PL1 2NU

NOTE: this is the nearest car park to our meeting point just a 5 minute walk but this is a pay and display car park Elphinstone car park does charge roughly around £16 for the full day. You are welcome however to try and find somewhere cheaper around the area to park but please give yourself plenty of time on the day!

Once you have parked up and paid and displayed, you will need to walk left, along the water front past The Piermasters House Restaurant and walk towards ‘The Barbican Landing Stage’. See below for a photo of the meeting point, which will be where one of our tour guides will meet you at the entrance to the Barbican Landing Stage jetty, opposite the BoatHouse Restaurant. Do not walk down the jetty PLEASE just wait at the entrance!

Is there a toilet onboard?

Yes. We have a flushing toilet onboard the boat.

Do you use chum?

Yes, we use frozen blocks of chum and frozen fish. The chum that we use is bycatch from deep water trawlers, or mackerel that is the wrong size to sell, that has been caught by our local fishermen, which would otherwise be discarded. This chum would be discarded regardless, so we use it for our shark trips to make use of it. Sometimes this can smell extremely fishy, so prepare yourselves if you have a sensitive stomach! We know that chumming is sometimes a debatable topic, and so if you have any further questions about chumming, please do not hesitate to contact us, as we are always open to discussing this!

Will I be insured?

Our insurance that we have only covers you when you are in the boat, so therefore you will require in-water cover. You will need to arrange this for yourself with an insurance / travel company.

Will I NEED TO SIGN A WAIVER?

Yes, we will ask you to electronically complete waiver and medical forms before we depart. These forms will be sent out in advance a few days before the trip.

WHAT IF I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION?

You must be in good health, relatively fit and more than able to climb on and off of the boat using a ladder. You will be asked to complete a medical form prior to the trip taking place.

If you have a serious medical condition or had recent surgery, YOU MUST LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE WITH PLENTY OF NOTICE BEFORE THE DAY OF YOUR TRIP. If need be, you may need to bring a signed doctor’s letter stating you are fit for the trip.

WHAT IF I am pregnant?

Unfortunately, in line with our risk assessment, we regretfully cannot allow pregnant women to take part or come onboard with us for our shark snorkel trips.

CAN I BRING ALCOHOL ON THE TRIP?

You may bring some alcohol with you for the way back if you wish (such as a few beers or a bottle of wine) however no customer must be intoxicated before entering the water. Once the snorkelling part is over you are more than welcome to have a glass of wine or beer etc if you are no longer going to enter the water for the rest of the day. If you are intoxicated before snorkelling we reserve the right to refuse you entry into the water.

Do I get my money back or get to go another day if we don’t see sharks?

Unfortunately not. This is not the way our business works, as nothing in nature is ever guaranteed. But we promise you we will do our absolute best to locate the sharks to enable you to snorkel with them. If we have been waiting for a good few hours and they decide not to show, we will always offer the group onboard the option of some wildlife watching on the way back in, and we will do our very best to show you some other wildlife if sadly the sharks do not show.

For all of our trips we require 4 weeks or more notice for cancellation from customers. If you provide us with 4 or more weeks cancellation notice, we will offer you a full deposit refund MINUS the £5pp admin fee or the option to move to a different date SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. If you cancel your trip with less than 4 weeks notice, unfortunately you will lose your deposit. Please understand that we have a business to operate. Safety is our number one priority and therefore if the weather conditions DO NOT ALLOW for us to operate your trip safely, we reserve the right to cancel the trip AT ANY TIME, even less than 24 hours before if the offshore forecast suddenly changes at the last minite, and you will receive a full refund or the option to move to any dates we may have left available if this happens.

We would also HIGHLY recommend that if you are coming to Plymouth specifically to come out on a trip with us, to try and book accommodation that allows you free cancellation for as last minute as possible, or book so that you can pay on the day of check in. That way, if unforeseen weather or safety circumstances force us to cancel your trip, you will not lose out on money spent on accommodation.

WE WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY LOST ACCOMMODATION BOOKINGS. WE WILL ALSO NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY LOST DEPOSIT MONEY FOR EQUIPMENT HIRE THAT YOU MAY ARRANGE THROUGH OTHER COMPANIES IF UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES FORCE US TO CANCEL OUR TRIP.