Intelsius Employees Complete First Ever ORCA Sea Safari

As a long-standing corporate charity partner of marine conservation charity ORCA, Intelsius has been donating money to protect whales and dolphins for several years. This year, however, we wanted to deepen our partnership with ORCA by directly involving Intelsius staff in their work on the ground (or the seas!).

ORCA Sea Safaris gives members of the public the chance to spot whales and dolphins in the Bay of Biscay. They record their sightings and directly contribute to the long-term preservation of whale and dolphin habitats in the UK, France, and North Spain.

In the first of two Intelsius Sea Safaris happening in the summer of 2024, Intelsius Product Design Engineer Tess Bell, and Business Development Manager Debbie Hewitt set off from Plymouth Harbour on the 10th of July, spending the next two days aboard a Brittany Ferries ship looking for whales and dolphins, with a short stop in Santander in the middle of their trip.

Keep reading to find out how their trip went!

How was the trip?

TB: It was great! I hit the jackpot by getting to travel with Debbie, too. The whales were further away and more shy than I initially had hoped, but a good pair of binoculars can give you a great view. There were lots of dolphins that swam right up beside the boat, which was pretty special, too.

DH: I enjoyed the experience and made it all the better by being with Tess. The Ferry itself is lovely, and the outside cabins are very comfortable. Food in both the “restaurant” and self-service outlet is very tasty and well-presented.

Did the experience bring you closer to the work of our corporate charity, Orca?

DH: Yes, shortly after onboarding, there’s an interesting presentation on Deck 8 that provides information on the Charity, etc., and speaking with the ORCA volunteers on deck was great. They were knowledgeable and helpful and used their best endeavours to help you make the most of the trip.  

TB: Yes, having the chance to speak to the ORCA guides over the three days was a great opportunity, and we got to see first hand the difference the charity can make.

How was it travelling with a fellow member of staff you perhaps hadn’t previously spent a great deal of time with?

TB: It was really great to get to know Debbie better, as I am based in the office and she is based from home – this trip gave us the opportunity to spend time with each other that we wouldn’t have had at work. It was fantastic to share stories together and we had a great laugh! Felt very lucky to have spent this time with her.

DH: Thoroughly enjoyable (better ask Tess how it was travelling with her “mum”!). We gained a deeper insight of our respective roles in the business and the challenges faced within the different departments and how each of our roles complement the other. More importantly we got to know each other as individuals and shared life experiences, which was invaluable.

What would you say to other Intelsius employees considering applying for next year’s Sea Safaris?

DH: Pack warm clothes and a waterproof and be ready for long hours staring at the ocean, possibly without sightings. Enjoy getting to know your travel companion. Don’t feel bad if you are inside when something is spotted, there will always be another time. Make friends with an ORCA volunteer with a zoom lens! Be on top deck when leaving and entering the ports, best chance to see dolphins. Visit the ice cream shop in Santander (the ORCA crew will tell you where it is) most amazing I’ve ever tasted. 

TB: Bring LOTS of layers – it is roasting in Santander, and often down on the lower deck, but cold and very windy on the top deck where you will spend a lot of time (especially first thing in the morning). Also chat to the ORCA guides, they’re very knowledgeable and will have some cool close-up photos of the animals, that will show you them in at a level of detail you won’t be able to see even with your binoculars.

Next up for Intelsius Sea Safaris is Jordan Tyson and JD Beer, who are set to depart on August 14th.

If you’d like to find out more about ORCA’s work, visit their website here.

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