Why Shetland archipelago is so special?

It has the UNESCO Global Geopark status thanks to its rich and varied earth heritage spanning almost three billion years and it is a landscape of extremes. The sense of wilderness and isolation is overpowering. It feels, smells and looks magical, offering intimate experiences to whom has the curiosity and the patience to explore its dramatic rugged rocky coastlines, the diverse set of seascapes with big rough cliffs, sea stacks, sandy beaches, hidden bays, the barren pastures swept by the winds.

In addition to these wonders, there are two National Nature Reserves, Noss and Hermaness, where admire seabirds during their breeding season, when they rear their chicks. Both these places have large colonies of gannets nesting on cliffs, along with puffins, fulmars, great skuas and many other species. Both reserves offer different and unique experiences and great photographic opportunities and provide several kilometres of beautiful coast to photograph.
We can observe otters and seals playing hide and seek with kelp fronds; admire thousands of sheep largely kept in wild or semi-wild state, fed on herbal pastures; linger on the high cliffs to observe the foam of the waves break on the jagged coasts, while hundreds of nesting birds take off to fish.
The underwater pictures of gannets are possible because birds will be lured with fish baits thrown directly underwater. This procedure allows the birds to follow their instinct and fall under the surface like torpedoes, at incredible velocity, releasing streams of microbubbles from their wings, thus reducing friction of the water as they look for fish with their eyes wide open.

People will enter the water with snorkeler gear only, no scuba tanks will be provided. The average water temperature is +10 / 12°C, so it is possible to use a thick semi-dry or a dry wetsuit, depending on your tolerance to the cold water.

All outdoor activities in the Shetland are heavily conditioned by the weather and we must accept to change the plan of the day accordingly to what it will be better to do, day by day. We have chosen to organize this trip in the second half of July, which is expected to be the best period of the year for our aims.

Do you need more information ? Please do not hesitate to contact us to deepen your doubts.