Many people confuse porpoises with common dolphins, but here at Goat Boat Tours we can easily tell the difference between the two mammals. Dolphins tend to have elongated beaks, while porpoises tend to have a head and mouth similar to beluga whales, in fact they are more closely related to whales than dolphins. Porpoises are a lot smaller than dolphins, a porpoise is generally between 1.5 to 1.9 metres in length while a dolphin can grow up to 2.5m in length. Also, porpoises have triangular dorsal fins, while dolphins have a curved shaped dorsal fin.
The harbour porpoise is found near the coastline in bays, estuaries or harbours in maximum depths of water between 150-200 metres. They are shy creatures and sometimes weary of boats and humans, surfacing 3-4 times in a row before diving below the surface for between 2 to 6 minutes to hunt fish, squid and crustaceans. Porpoises have been known to live up to 24 years and their average life expectancy is 15 years.
The Harbour Porpoise can be spotted in Dublin Bay between Howth Head and Dalkey Island. They can be found singularly, in pairs or small groups, but due to their size can be difficult to spot.
The good news is that at Goat Boat Tours we know where they like to hang out. While maintaining a safe distance and respecting their habitat we regularly spot them on our boat trips.
Why not book a boat tour from Dun Laoghaire Harbour with Goat Boat Tours, Dublin’s Number One Tour and experience the amazing biodiversity of Dublin Bay.