Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean – 20 years in the making premieres on RTÉ

Filmed over two decades along Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast, Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean makes its debut this Sunday on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 6.30pm.

The landmark natural history series from underwater cameraman Ken O’Sullivan charts a 20-year journey with dolphins – beginning with a lone bottlenose dolphin in County Clare and culminating in breathtaking encounters with enormous pods in the open North Atlantic.

Through cinematic footage, the series reveals rare and never-before-captured behaviours, including large pods hunting together in Irish waters.

O’Sullivan’s fascination with the ocean began two decades ago when he returned to the west coast of Ireland to pursue his dream of becoming an underwater cameraman. There, he met “Dusty”, a solitary bottlenose dolphin who became central to his journey.

“Where Dingle had Fungi, now Clare had Dusty,” O’Sullivan recalls.

“She would ultimately be a part of my journey to explore and film Ireland’s under-sea world and to learn about the amazing dolphin species in Irish waters. I discovered our beautiful undersea world in Ireland and when I found this place, it became a life-changing moment.

“I felt compelled to document this place, and after a couple of years, I found the perfect subject. There’s so much life here in these seas and if you are patient, and work hard, you can find magic.”

Underwater cameraman Ken O’Sullivan

While the series showcases the beauty and charisma of dolphins, it also highlights the challenges they face in Irish waters. From sound pollution to overfishing, the threats are mounting – with increasing numbers of dolphins washing up dead on Ireland’s shores each year.

O’Sullivan hopes the series not only entertains but sparks awareness of the delicate balance between humans and the marine environment.

Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean airs Sunday 31 August at 6.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.