I

f the sea were a school, dolphins would be the most popular kids. Good-looking, smart, fun-loving and with a perma-smile that rivals Simon Cowell.

In the wildlife-spotting stakes, one of the best things about them is that you don’t even have to leave the country to get a glimpse. Marine Discovery in Penzance, Cornwall, runs daily dolphin sighting trips onboard the catamaran, Shearwater II.

Choose from the one-hour Bay Discovery or the three-hour Ocean Discovery. In our experience, kids love the latter – especially as they get to take the helm. After a safety briefing, you settle back into your secure seat and head out into the deep; the going can be bumpy (and maybe a bit wet), but that’s all part of the fun, eh?

Besides dolphins, you’re also in pole position to spot grey seals (swimming or sunbathing), porpoises and plenty of fish and sea birds – and even the odd basking shark. They’d be the school bullies…