Rock Pool Safaris

Book your very own Expert Rock Pool Safari Guide

Our rock pool safaris are a fun, educational and active day out for people of all ages, based at Falmouth’s and Plymouth’s world class rock pooling spots. With a maximum group size of 8, you can book a private session for your group or share with a few other nature loving people.

View and book our rock pool safari options below:

What to expect on your Rock Pool Safari

Have you ever peered into a rock pool and wondered what lies within? Turned over a rock and experienced the joy of discovering a scuttling crab? On a bespoke Rock Pool Project safari one of our friendly guides will safely take you and your family to explore the magical world of the rocky shore.

All of our guides have been expertly trained by Dr Ben Holt, who has studied marine biology all over the world. We pride ourselves on being a passionate, diverse and very knowledgeable team dedicated to teaching others about this spectacular hidden world.

What are the benefits of rock pooling?

A growing number of studies have shown that interaction with the ocean and other ‘blue spaces’ can have a positive effect on mental health – particularly in terms of stress reduction and well-being. Rock pooling is a wonderfully engaging activity which is outdoors, in nature and beside the sea. The Guardian has an insightful article about the benefits of living near and making the most of blue spaces in such ways.

TripAdvisor Reviews

Treefleawalking

January 3, 2022.

Must do activity for visitors and locals of all ages. Amazing time, the 90 minutes went too quickly. We found so many creatures we’d never seen before, and gained much new understanding of our local shores. It was also tremendous fun, the highlight of our Christmas holiday (even though the rain was torrential by the time we finished). Alan showed our budding marine scientist the important differences to recognise species of crab and shrimp, and with his help we saw 5 species of crab. Most exciting were the hermit crab and velvet swimming crab, as well as cushion starfish and sea urchin….a beautiful purple tinge. Our teenager, with no particular marine interest, also enjoyed himself, even when a ‘body builder’ crab attached itself to his finger. Thankfully, Alan did manage to separate them, otherwise it would have been a wonderful excuse for not revising!

Jack H

January 1, 2022.

Outstanding learning for all Astonishing expertise and a highly engaging, fun experience for all the family. 5 stars all day long.

Kelly D

October 28, 2021.

Excellent Safari! We thoroughly enjoyed our rock pool safari in Falmouth, expertly led by our guide Izzy who was very knowledgeable. It’s amazing how much we found and the kids got so much out of it. I think we now have two wannabe marine biologists! Highly recommend this activity.

Jacqui E

August 28, 2021.

Fascinating activity for all ages Our rock pool safari on Castle Beach, Falmouth was thoroughly enjoyed by three generations and was a highlight of our week in Cornwall. Anna was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and found things in the rock pools that we would never have seen without her keen eyes! She was joined by a colleague part way through who also added to our list of interesting finds. We loved the very detailed report we received afterwards to remind us of all the animals we had seen. We definitely recommend a Rock Pool Safari to anyone who is in the area - a great activity.

Meander609357

August 27, 2021.

Truly fascinating and a great deal of fun We took the kids to take part in their Rock Pool Safari at their new location in Plymouth. We were fortunate in that we were the only family booked in that day and so had the luxury of a private tour. This was truly fascinating for both the kids and parents alike. We marvelled at just how much wildlife we walk past on the beach every time we are there. Our guide, Alan, was so genuinely enthusiastic and helpful, and his ability to spot creatures barely visible to the naked eye was astounding. This is a great way to spend 90 minutes and if your kids are worried that it all sounds a bit like a school trip, I can promise you that they won't be disappointed.

ninajcuk1

August 26, 2021.

Great for all ages We had the best time on our rock pool safari! Anna was so enthusiastic talking us through all our finds. We even found a starfish, and have been intrigued by dog whelks ever since. We were a party of 8, with 3, 5 and 8 year old, along with parents and grandparents. Enjoyable for all.

Anna H

August 25, 2021.

Fantastic activity enjoyed by all This was one of the highlights of our holiday to Cornwall. Our guide Anna was very friendly, great with the children and extremely knowledgeable. We all really enjoyed searching the Rockpool’s for creatures. We found lots of different species that we would never have found without Anna’s help. Would highly recommend. A great fun and educational activity for all ages and in a great location.

Hernehillian1

August 21, 2021.

Great family activity We loved this. Anna and the team were great with the kids and the adults! It was really interest g and they were great at explaining what we were looking at.

Caroline

August 19, 2021.

Night rockpooling fun! A different holiday experience - in a good way! We joined family members who live locally and who had been before. As dusk fell we met on the beach and were greeted by our hosts for the evening - enthusiastic, knowledgable and great at explaining to all ages. We explored the rockpools with torches (provided) which also shone UV light and brought the rockpool creatures to life in a way I wouldnt have believed possible - amazing colours.

slinkoff

August 13, 2021.

Well worth doing If you have kids (and even if you don't!) then do yourself a favour and plan a Rock Pool Safari into your family holiday. The guides are super knowledgeable and engaging making it fun and interesting and such a different experience to just rock pooling on your own. We found loads of great stuff, learnt loads and the report presented at the end is really well put together. An excellent way to spend an hour and a half and a definite highlight of our holiday.

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Frequently asked questions:

When are sessions available?

Sessions can be booked all year round, with timing limited by the tides. We recommend visiting tides4fishing.com to consider times of low tides. The lower the tide the more wildlife we’ll discover in your session.

Where do sessions take place?

We have guides based in the Falmouth area. We are blessed with amazing rock pooling sites throughout Cornish coastline and we regularly travel to locations throughout the region. Additional surcharges are applicable to locations that are over 30 minutes drive from our base location.

What equipment will we need?

Suitable footwear and clothing for the condition, as well as sun screen, etc. Further information can be found in our rock pooling guide. There is no need for guide books or cameras as these will be provided by us, but feel free to bring your own if you would like to.

What can we expect to find?

Rocky shores in the South West are the most diverse in the country. We will find many different species of crustaceans and molluscs, beautiful seaweeds, starfish, fish and much much more.

Can I purchase a session as a gift?

Yes you can! Please visit our vouchers page for further information.

What if we need to cancel our booking?

Bookings can be cancelled with a full refund up to seven days prior to the event. Please see our Event cancelation policy for further details. Should we need to cancel the event for any reason you will receive a full refund.