ONE of the more recent and most endearing obsessions of my
partner's son, Omar, has been with whales, dolphins and porpoises, of which he can recount seemingly endless facts and trivia regarding their weight, size and distribution.
So for his sixth birthday, the chance to view them in the wild was hugely exciting for all of us.
Whale watching has spawned a minor cottage industry around the west coast of Scotland, where a handful of companies offer day trips and weekend tours.
Much of this activity is based in the Hebridean isle of Mull, where the latest tourism buzz is of hordes of pre-school Balamory fans trying to visit the home of the fictional television programme.
But the island's older reputation as a haven for ecologically-minded tourists and the picturesque setting of Tobermory, the main village, is an enduring draw.
Sea Life Surveys, the company that took us, came highly recommended, not least because of their environmental and scientific
credentials. As well as offering city folk like us the chance to
witness some of the wonders of marine life, the trips also allow research into such things as the migratory habits of whales and the possibility that they are
affected by the sonar signals of naval submarines.
We set sail from Tobermory on a brilliantly sunny day with warm clothes, packed lunches and high expectations.
On-board, the crew - skipper Brennen Fairbarns and his ''two Jims'', Jim McVeigh and James McNee - proved adept at creating a relaxed atmosphere, keeping the dozen or so passengers filled up with hot tea and coffee and providing information for the curious. It helped that they seemed as excited about the prospect of seeing whales as their guests and were good at involving the children on board in the sense of adventure.
We were warned by Brennen at the start that whales are not known for performing acrobatics and we were not guaranteed a sighting (although the chances are actually surprisingly good).
But the warning proved
unnecessary. Shortly into our
journey we sailed past a school of harbour porpoises and the
fleeting glimpses we gained of their fins as they come up for air proved breathtaking.
At sea, all eyes are peeled for signs of whales, as we skirt expectantly round their feeding grounds. The boat's engine is cut and the silence of the sea descends with a peacefulness I had not expected on land.
The eventual appearance of a Minke whale is met with a round of ''oohs'' and ''ahs'' and a
delirious grin from Omar, who had previously threatened to drift off to sleep. We are treated a
pursuit lasting nearly an hour, during which time the fins of
several whales flash into view.
Describing it now, the brief and sometimes distant glimpses we caught of the Minkes doesn't sound like much.
But out there, amid the serenity of the sea, it appeared like a
magical view of a different world.
Hopefuly, it is an experience that can be added to Omar's interminable list of whale facts and a memory he will cherish when he is older.
WHAT: Whale watching with Sea Life Surveys, based in Tobermory.
WHERE: Off the west coast of Scotland. Trips leave from Oban and Tobermory.
WHEN: Between Easter and October.
HOW MUCH: An all-day whalewatch trip costs (pounds) 50 with special rates for families. A two-day weekend trip is (pounds) 250 and a seven-day cruise is (pounds) 770.
CONTACT: Sea Life Surveys on 01688 400 223 or log on to:
www.sealifesurveys.com
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