School Sealife Expedition Boat Trip

Memorable, enjoyable and educational, this trip is a fantastic way for your class to see local wildlife and understand why conservation is so important.

“Experiencing Cornwall’s wildlife first hand is an unbeatable way to nurture the kids’ interest in our environment!”

Ian, Padstow Sealife Safari Founder and Skipper.

30+ years experience

State of the art boats

Safe & comfortable

Stunning coastline

Trip features

Sealife spotting

Bird watching

Sites of interest

Safety Onboard

What to expect

The route

The School Expedition Boat Trip is run by our expert guides, who are full to the brim of interesting facts about the Cornish coastline and its varied and vibrant sea life. There is no such thing as too many questions for our experts! We are very flexible with the School Boat Trips, and will tailor the adventure to best suit your class. If any of our current trips catch your eye, schools can book onto an existing tour privately. If not, we’ll plan a trip that takes into account your budget and how long you’d like to be on the water.

professionally guided

Meet us at Padstow Harbour, where we’ll spend a little time informing the class about how to stay safe and have fun and what they might spot. Once the children are on the boat, the adventure and learning begins! Each boat seats up to twelve passengers, and up to three boats can run consecutively (subject to availability).

what will your class learn?

Depending on which trip you choose, we will explore a variety of landmarks and search for all types of wildlife. For example, the Seal Safari Boat Trip is an exhilarating jaunt along the Cornish coastline to the favourite spots of grey seals. Nothing beats the excitement of seeing a seal’s head bobbing out of the water to say hello, or spotting them sunbathing on the rocks. Whether you opt to search for particular wildlife, from seals and dolphins to puffins, or feel the class would enjoy a fast-paced adventure experiencing the Cornish coastline, with its fascinating history and incredible landscape, we’ll provide a fun-packed educational trip tailored to you.

Reviews of School Sealife Expedition Boat Trip

The class haven't stopped talking about our boat trip, and particularly loved the playful pod of dolphins we found. Thank you, and we'll be back soon!

Amazing trip, fun ride and so cool to see seals!

The class (and teachers) had a great day out. Knowledgable guides who were great with the children. Dolphins and seals were are highlight. Would highly recommend this trip.

A fun way to engage the class in local wildlife and conservation. The staff were friendly, informative & professional and the kids loved it. Thank you.

School Sealife Expedition Boat Trip FAQs

Is there an age limit?

We can take any school age. Please be advised that our boats travel at speed and can be very bouncy which some young children enjoy but others are not so keen on. Individual children’s suitability is at your discretion.

What if it's raining?

Our trips still run on rainy days. Rain does not deter the marine life (they are wet anyway!) so we simply wrap you up in waterproofs and go for it! Please dress extra warm on rainy days with lots of layers to avoid getting cold.

What if my trip is cancelled?

If we need to cancel your trip due to rough sea conditions, we will offer to reschedule you for a later date. If this is not possible, we can issue you with a full refund. Please note: If you cancel a booking yourself, we require 24 hours notice to be able to issue a refund, but ideally more warning for larger groups would be appreciated.

Do you allow pregnant women?

Due to the bouncy nature of the boat and the unpredictability of sea conditions, our tours are not suitable for pregnant women.

How many teachers will need to join the trip?

We leave this for the school to determine the suitable student to teacher ratio. Each trip must have a minimum of one adult per boat, but more may be necessary for younger children.

What if a child gets seasick?

We have sick bags on board each boat, however, if a child typically suffers from motion sickness, it might be wise to take precautions before the trip – sea sickness tablets/sea sickness wristbands.

Wildlife you might see on your adventure...

Seals

One of Cornwall’s most beloved and regularly sighted residents. The UK is home to around 40% of the world’s entire population of this globally rare seal!

Dolphins

Become a dolphin expert learning everything from diet to their links with aliens! Learn all about our favourite marine friend.

Harbour Porpoise

This loveable creature is rather shy. But the crew of the sealife safari vessels have clocked up considerable experience in knowing how to get the best views.

Seabirds

We are lucky to have a rich variety of habitats on our doorstep, attracting many different species of birds, both as residents and migrants passing through.

can’t make it to the boat? let us come to you!

Our expert guides are a fountain of knowledge about all things wildlife, sea life and conservation. We love coming into schools and engaging with enthusiastic classes to spark an interest in the world around us. We’ll chat about the different species we find in our waters, small sea creatures, ocean plastic, climate change and sustainable fishing. We keep it entertaining and lighthearted, and the children leave feeling more connected to the landscape we live in. Gold star!

Please drop us an email to enquire about a school workshop. We would love to hear from you!