Whales, dolphins and porpoises are all members of the cetacean family of animals - mammals that live all their lives in the water but who must surface in order to take in air before diving back down to the depths.
They are famous for their intelligence, social interactions and, in the case of whales, their often incredible size. The blue whale (which can only be seen in waters to the far north of Scotland) can reach almost 30 metres long and weigh over 170 tonnes, making it the laregst animal that has ever lived.
Here are the species you are most likely to spot in Scotland.
5. Common Dolphin
Often seen playing energetically in the waves during the summer months, the common dolphin visits between May and October to feed on the plentiful supply of fish. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Minke whale
The sleek minke whale can be found all over the world, but in the British Isles they tend to be sighted in Scottish waters. They are easier to see than most species of whale due to their habit of swimming very close to land, and exploring bays and estuaries. Sadly this means thay are often found beached. Some minke whales are thought to live in Scotland year-round, but they are most often spotted between July and September, particularly in the Moray Firth and the Hebrides. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Risso’s Dolphin
Most Risso's dolphin sightings in Sctland come from the west coast and the Outer Hebrides, where they fest on their favourite foodstuff - squid. Usually living in pods of between 6 and 12 dolphins, they can be identified by their rounded head, anchor-shaped belly patch, and the scars on their skin running down their body from their face. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Bottlenose Dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin is what most people picture when they think of dolphins generally, living is groups and reaching up to four metres in length. They are seen frequently on both the east and west coasts of Scotland, and can be seen acrobatically jumping out of the water and playing with their pod-mates. They are easily identified by their short, thick snout. | Canva/Getty Images