Ullapool Dolphins.  Often seen in large active schools they readily come to bow ride shifting restlessly in the pressure wave to find the best position often rolling over on their side to look up at humans. The smaller of the dolphins you may encounter at 2.5m (8.2ft) they have a very distinctive figure of eight pattern along their sides. If in the area they are very easy to spot because they create lots of splashing and leap from the water.

Common dolphins have beautiful markings - admired by artists since ancient times - that blend of black, white, grey and yellow. They like to bow-ride, swimming at the prow of a boat and matching its speed, until they get bored and zoom off to show how the professionals move through the ocean.

Like all ‘cetaceans’ - whales, dolphins and porpoises - common dolphins have a complex system of calls. They use a mixture of clicks, whistles and other noises to communicate with each other and to help them find and capture prey. Bottlenose dolphins have personalised call-signs that seem to be used to identify that individual within a group and it’s possible that common dolphins could also do this.

Summer in the Hebrides is a good time to be on the look-out for schools of common dolphins. Waters around the Small Isles, Tiree, Coll and Mull are hotspots. Look from the regular inter-island ferries or take tours with an accredited operator from Mull, Skye or Arisaig