What kind of trips do you offer and how much do they cost?

We offer a range of marine safari trips exploring Plymouth’s National Marine Park and beyond.

4-HOUR DAYTIME MARINE SAFARI

Our half-day, 4-hour marine safari trips are ideal for families, couples and individuals who want to explore everything Plymouth’s National Marine Park has to offer and beyond.

Weather permitting, we can travel up to around 12–13 miles offshore, where the Eddystone Lighthouse is situated. We pass several reefs along the way, which are always great spots to keep a lookout for fins!

£69 per person
£650 for exclusive private hire for a group of up to 11 people.

Daytime trips depart in the morning or just after lunchtime.

3–4-HOUR SUNSET SAFARI

Our evening 3–4 hour sunset safari is our most popular trip, as we are able to run these trips more frequently throughout the season.

The trip follows the same route and format as our daytime marine safari, but with the added bonus of hopefully catching a beautiful sunset and seeing Plymouth Hoe illuminated at night on the way back into the harbour.

£69 per person
£650 for exclusive private hire for a group of up to 11 people.

Sunset trips depart in the evening.

ALL-DAY 8-HOUR OCEAN EXPLORER

Special event trips. We only run these a few times throughout the year, subject to demand.

Our all-day Ocean Explorer trips are ideal for marine enthusiasts, keen photographers, researchers, or anyone who simply loves the ocean and wants the best possible chance of spotting amazing wildlife.

Because we have a full day on the water, we can travel further offshore and explore different areas along the coast that we simply cannot fit into our 4-hour trips.

£125 per person

These trips depart in the morning.

How do I pay for my trip?

Unlike our separate blue shark snorkel trips, all individual spaces on our marine safari trips must be paid in full at the time of booking, unless you are booking the entire boat privately for your group.

Can I private charter the boat for just my group?

Yes! You can hire the entire boat exclusively for your group, with bookings available for anywhere from 1 person up to a maximum of 11 people.

Please see the trip options and private hire prices above.

If I hire the boat privately, do I have to pay the full amount upfront?

No. For private group bookings, we ask for a 50% deposit upfront, with the remaining 50% payable on the day of your trip.

The same cancellation policy applies to private bookings as applies to individual bookings.

If you are struggling to find a date on the website to charter the boat privately, please get in touch with us via email.

Are you a wildlife-safe operator?

Yes. We are an accredited wildlife-safe operator and WiSe trained.

This means that we have been trained to minimise disturbance to marine wildlife and ensure that we observe wildlife responsibly and safely.

For more information, please look up the WiSe scheme.

Am I guaranteed to see wildlife?

Although many of our customers book because they want to see wildlife, particularly dolphins (everyone’s favourite!), it is important to remember that these are wild animals. We are not in an aquarium!

The same applies to seabirds, seals and other cetaceans. We cannot guarantee that you will see any particular species because nature is unpredictable.

However, with our extensive knowledge of the local area and the behaviour of different species, we will absolutely do our best to find you some wildlife.

When is the best time of year to spot dolphins?

Dolphins are present in our waters all year round.

It is very difficult to say which month is best to come on a trip. We have had amazing encounters throughout the season, along with the occasional unlucky day too.

Nature is unpredictable and conditions can change from one day to the next.

Will I see sharks on my trip?

The likelihood of spotting sharks on our marine wildlife trips is extremely low.

If you specifically want to see sharks, we recommend booking our blue shark snorkel trip instead. These trips travel much further offshore and head to specific shark hotspots that we cannot reach on our regular wildlife and coastal trips.

Do I get a refund or another trip if we don’t see any wildlife?

Unfortunately not.

Nothing in nature is guaranteed, so we cannot offer refunds or free trips if wildlife is not spotted.

We promise that we will do our absolute best to show you some stunning coastline and, more importantly, try to find you some wildlife.

Is there an age restriction?

Yes. All participants must be aged 3 or over.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes! Dogs can join us on our 4-hour trips only.

Your dog must:

• Have their own doggy life jacket, as we do not currently provide these

• Be well behaved

• Be kept on a short lead at all times during the trip

Please contact us via email before booking to check that it is OK to bring your dog. This is particularly important in case there are already other dogs booked onto your trip.

Do you provide life jackets?

We are an MCA-coded vessel and have life jackets onboard for our passengers.

We do not ask customers to wear life jackets throughout the duration of our trips, as they are designed to automatically inflate/release in an emergency.

We do not currently provide life jackets for dogs. If you are bringing your dog, you must provide an appropriate doggy life jacket yourself.

What should I wear and bring with me?

MANDATORY

Closed shoes with good grip

For safety reasons, we cannot permit open-toed footwear such as sandals, flip-flops or sliders.

Closed shoes will also help keep your feet warm and dry while onboard.

WE STRONGLY ADVISE BRINGING

Warm layers and a coat!

We cannot stress this enough.

Even in summer, when you think you might not need them, trust us, wrapping up is key to enjoying your trip. It can get cold out on the water, particularly with the wind, and temperatures can really drop on our sunset trips once the sun goes down.

We have limited indoor space, and you will get cold.

Even if you want to take layers off while onboard, we have a storage area, so it is always better to be prepared!

We also recommend bringing:

• Windbreaker jacket

• Woolly hat, scarf and gloves

• Suncream, preferably eco-friendly

• Sunglasses

• Sun hat or baseball cap

• Camera or GoPro

• Any food, drinks or snacks you would like during the trip

• Any personal medication or seasickness medication you may need

We cannot provide medication onboard.

How many people do you take per trip?

We take a maximum of 12 customers per trip.

What if I get seasick?

Even if you do not normally suffer from seasickness, we strongly advise considering taking seasickness tablets in accordance with the instructions on the packet, or as advised by your pharmacy or doctor.

By the time you get onto the boat, it can be too late to take medication once symptoms have started, so please be prepared in advance.

Seasickness can absolutely ruin your day, and unfortunately we cannot cut a trip short because one passenger is feeling unwell, as this would not be fair to the other customers.

We cannot provide seasickness medication onboard. If you wish to take it during your trip, please make sure you bring your own supply.

Can I bring a camera?

Yes, of course!

We actively encourage customers to take photos and footage during our trips.

Can I smoke or vape onboard?

We would prefer no smoking or vaping, out of consideration for other passengers. However, we do allow it if necessary.

If you need to smoke or vape, please go to the back of the boat and face away from other passengers.

Please do not throw cigarette butts into the sea. Use the bucket provided onboard. If you need a bucket, please ask a member of the crew.

Is food and drink provided?

We provide hot drinks only.

You will need to bring any other food, snacks or drinks that you would like during your trip.

There is no food available to purchase onboard, but we do have a microwave that customers can use while the engine is running.

Will there be a guide onboard?

Yes. You will have a guide onboard during your trip.

Our guide will provide information about the wildlife and coastal areas you may see along the way.

We may also fly our drone during the trip to contribute to wildlife sightings data and collect footage.

Is there a toilet onboard?

Yes. We have a flushing toilet onboard the boat.

Can I bring alcohol?

Yes, you may bring alcohol onboard.

However, we reserve the right to refuse passengers boarding or remaining onboard if they are intoxicated or demonstrating anti-social behaviour.

Where do we meet on the day?

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

If arriving by foot

Please use the following address for your SatNav:

The BoatHouse Restaurant
2–4 Commercial Wharf
Madeira Road
Plymouth
PL1 2NX

If arriving by car

Please use:

Elphinstone Car Park
Madeira Road
Plymouth
PL1 2NU

This is the nearest car park to our meeting point, approximately a 5-minute walk away.

Please note that Elphinstone Car Park is a pay-and-display car park and costs approximately £16 for a full day.

You are welcome to look for cheaper parking in the surrounding area, but please make sure you allow plenty of time to park and walk to the meeting point.

How do I find the meeting point from the car park?

Once you have parked and paid/displayed your ticket, make your way to The BoatHouse Restaurant, PL1 2NX.

From the car park, it is just a short walk. Walk left along the waterfront, past The Piermasters House Restaurant, and continue towards The Barbican Landing Stage.

One of our tour guides will meet you at the entrance to the Barbican Landing Stage jetty, opposite The BoatHouse Restaurant.

Please do not walk down the jetty. Simply wait at the entrance, just outside The BoatHouse Restaurant.

Are you wheelchair accessible?

Yes, we are!

Provided the wheelchairs are a standard size, we can accommodate up to 8 wheelchairs onboard at one time.

However, please be aware that our onboard toilet is extremely small and may not be suitable for all wheelchair users.

If you require special assistance or accessibility arrangements, please contact us directly via email before booking so that we can make sure we are able to accommodate your needs.

Do you still run trips if it is raining?

Yes. We will operate in the rain as long as there are no safety concerns.

The wildlife does not disappear just because it is raining!

Please make sure you are properly wrapped up and bring waterproof clothing if rain is forecast for the day of your trip.

What happens if there aren’t enough customers booked for my trip?

In order for us to operate our trips, we need to reach a minimum number of customers to make it feasible for the boat to go out.

If we do not have enough customers booked to run a particular trip, we reserve the right to contact you and either:

• Attempt to reschedule your trip to another date, subject to availability; or

• Offer you a full refund.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please note that our marine safari cancellation policy is different from our blue shark snorkel cancellation policy.

INDIVIDUAL MARINE SAFARI BOOKINGS

For individual bookings only, and not whole private boat bookings, we require 2 weeks or more notice for cancellations.

If you provide 2 weeks or more notice, you can choose between:

• A full refund, minus booking fees; or

• Moving your booking to a different date, subject to availability.

If you cancel with less than 2 weeks’ notice, we will do our absolute best to advertise your spaces and try to find replacement customers.

However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so, and therefore you accept at the time of booking that no refund may be given.

Please understand that we have a business to operate and late cancellations can leave us unable to refill your spaces.

PRIVATE BOAT BOOKINGS

For private boat bookings:

More than 4 weeks’ notice or exactly 4 weeks’ notice
Full refund, minus booking fees, OR the option to move to another date, subject to availability.

Less than 4 weeks but more than 14 days’ notice
Loss of your deposit and booking fees.

Less than 14 days’ notice
Loss of your deposit and booking fees AND the full amount for the trip will still be charged, unless you or we are able to fill the trip with replacement customers.

What happens if Plymouth Marine Safari cancels my trip?

If we have to cancel your trip for any reason, including weather, boat issues, crew issues or unforeseen circumstances, you will receive:

• A full refund, minus booking fees; or

• The option to move your booking to another date, subject to availability.

Please understand that we are in England and UK weather can be extremely temperamental.

If this is a bucket-list experience for you and you are travelling from far away, we highly recommend booking more than one day with us. This gives you the best possible chance of having a trip go ahead due to weather, as well as increasing your chances of seeing the wildlife you are hoping for.

On average, we are forced to cancel around 35% of our work because weather conditions make it unsafe to go out.

Although we have a business to operate, safety is always our number one priority.

If weather conditions do not allow us to operate your trip safely, we reserve the right to cancel at any time, including less than 24 hours before departure if the offshore forecast suddenly changes.

Unfortunately, this can happen.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Because of the possibility of weather-related cancellations, we highly recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance to cover your trip to Plymouth.

We strongly advise researching insurance that will cover you for:

• Money lost on accommodation if your trip is cancelled at short notice because offshore weather conditions become unsafe.

• Cancellation of your trip within 14 days of departure, where the full amount may still be payable.

• Illness, injury or other unforeseen circumstances that prevent you from attending your trip at short notice.

If you are travelling to Plymouth specifically to join one of our trips, we also strongly recommend booking accommodation with free cancellation as close to the date of your stay as possible, or accommodation that allows you to change your dates free of charge.

Alternatively, consider booking accommodation where you can pay on the day of check-in.

This can help minimise your financial loss if unforeseen weather or safety circumstances force us to cancel your trip.

Plymouth Marine Safari will not be held liable for any lost accommodation bookings, travel fares or other costs incurred as a result of a cancellation by either Plymouth Marine Safari or the customer.