Meet Antonia: born and raised on the Cornish coast
Hi! My name is Antonia, and I’m a local Cornish gal, born and raised in Cornwall. Growing up surrounded by the coast has shaped who I am giving me a real love for the simple things in life.
The day begins with the beautiful sound of blackbirds singing at sunrise, which is around 5:30 am now in May. Nature’s own alarm clock and one of the many perks of living by the coast. As the first golden light spills across the garden, my coffee is brewing and the excitement for another day on the water begins to build. I pack my dry bag with all the essentials: sunglasses, lunch, waterproofs and plenty of layers.
Out on the North Cornwall coast, the weather can change in an instant, and being prepared is all part of the adventure. A peaceful morning stroll through Padstow is the perfect way to start the day. The town is just waking up, locals are out and about, and there’s always time for a friendly chat and a smile on the way down to the harbour. You can already feel it in the air, today is going to be a good day on the boat.
Getting ready for a day on the water
Arriving at the office around 8:30am, the buzz is contagious. My colleagues are just as excited as I am because the conditions are looking perfect: flat calm seas, blue skies and high hopes for a day filled with dolphins.
Before the adventures begin, there’s plenty to do. Lifejackets are set out ready for the morning safari trips, the day’s bookings are checked through, and a plan is put together for the busy day ahead. Then it’s straight into welcoming our first passengers, giving a quick safety briefing and lifejacket demonstration, while offering waterproofs, because no matter how calm it looks, there’s always a chance of sea spray on the RIB! Once everyone is geared up and eager to go, it’s down to the pontoon to board the boat.
I grab my bag, apply one more layer of suncream, clip on my lifejacket and take a moment to look out across the water. Engines ready, passengers smiling, and calm conditions ahead, I feel it’s going to be a good day. Walking down to the pontoon, I wave over to our skipper for the day and help everyone get seated onboard.
Puffin Safari: heading out to Moul’s Island
The first trip of the day is one of my favourites, a Puffin Safari out to our offshore island, Moul’s, where a small colony of Atlantic puffins’ nest during the breeding season. Excited faces, cameras ready and plenty of smiles as I run through the safety briefing and make sure everyone is comfortable before we head out. We leave slowly away from Padstow Harbour and out through the estuary, but once we cross the Doom Bar and leave the speed limit behind, the real fun begins. The RIB bounces across the waves like a rollercoaster, kids squealing with excitement.
On the journey out, there’s always time for a gossip with the skipper, catching up on stories and life on the water. No two days are ever the same, and that’s what makes the job so special. As we arrive at Moul’s, the atmosphere changes. Engines slow, cameras come out and all eyes scan the water and cliffs for wildlife. I begin sharing facts about the island, the puffins and the grey seals that often haul out here to bask on the rocks.
Then suddenly, there they are! Three puffins bobbing together on the surface, their colourful beaks glowing in the sunshine before they take off towards the cliffs carrying sand eels for their chicks. Moments later, two more dart right over the boat, tiny orange feet flashing beneath them. Everyone is amazed seeing these incredible birds so close, some for the very first time.
Dolphins off the North Cornwall coast
As we begin heading back towards the estuary, we make one final sweep of the bay in hope of spotting dolphins… and then they appear! A small pod of common dolphins appears beside the boat, weaving effortlessly through the water and bow-riding alongside us. For a few minutes, everyone is completely captivated by these intelligent and beautiful animals before they disappear back into the sea.
Back at the harbour, it’s a quick turnaround before the next full boat heads out for our 2-hour Sea Life Safari. After a quick snack and a breather, it’s straight back onto the water in search of more wildlife, hopefully those dolphins again. No matter how many trips we do, the job never feels repetitive. Every group is different, and sharing my passion for Cornwall’s marine wildlife and conservation with visitors is one of the best parts of the job. With extra time offshore, we head straight towards an area where dolphins were spotted earlier. Along the way we pass many Manx shearwaters returning from South America, along with guillemots and razorbills resting on the water.
Then ahead of us, dorsal fins! A pod of common dolphin’s bursts through the surface, feeding and bow-riding alongside the boat while everyone watches in amazement. We continue to Gulland Island where hundreds of seabird’s nests along the cliffs and grey seals rest on the rocks below, stretching and yawning in the sunshine while a large male seal pops up nearby to investigate us. Before long, we’re cruising back along the stunning coastline towards Padstow Harbour. Another incredible morning at sea, with passengers leaving the boat smiling and already talking about pasties and ice-cream by the harbour.
An afternoon of wildlife: seals, seabirds and sealife safaris
I head back up to the office to swap over with Hope, who’s just finishing briefing the next passengers for their trip. Around the office there’s a buzz of activity, people trying on lifejackets, collecting waterproofs and excitedly getting ready to head out on the water. After a quick handover, I settle in for the rest of the afternoon. Between answering phone calls, filling out puffin surveys from the morning trip and logging wildlife sightings, there’s always something to do behind the scenes.
Once the boats are back out, I reset lifejackets, hang waterproofs to dry and grab a quick lunch before the next customers arrive. Soon it’s time for our 1-hour Seal Safari. The kids are full of questions about seals and beyond excited to head out on our bright orange boats, especially once they’re suited up in matching orange lifejackets. Before long, the final trip returns and it’s time to close for the day, tidying waterproofs, hanging up lifejackets and preparing the booking system for tomorrow’s adventures.
Why no two days are ever the same
With an early finish and sunshine still filling the harbour, there’s only one way to end the day: a celebratory Roskilly’s ice cream while we sit looking through all the incredible wildlife photos captured during another unforgettable day at sea.
