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Marine wildlife experiences you never knew existed in the UK
You don’t need to travel abroad for spectacular wildlife encounters that can also help to protect our seas
When dreaming up your next marine-based wildlife adventure, it’s common that our minds instantly drift to those exotic tropical locations famed for their mystical megafauna and turquoise waters. Marine conservation projects are plentiful and for many, this is a trip of a lifetime.
This year, those unable to travel and desperate for their next ocean adventure have been looking back towards our own shorelines, with many shocked with what they’ve discovered. It’s well known the UK boasts some of the most dramatic and varied coastlines in the world, but what lies beneath the waves is often as spectacular as it is overlooked.
Marine conservation organisation Blue Ventures and marine scientist and presenter Charlie Young are on a mission to change this by launching Saltwater Britain, a series of ocean adventures with impact, showcasing the very best of the UK’s marine wildlife and the chance to help protect the incredible biodiversity found across the British Isles.
Image: Nicki Meharg
Blending science with adventure the Saltwater Britain 2021 expedition series is now running:
- Scuba diving in the Farne Islands – Northumberland, England (September 21’) Home to thousands of grey seals, each autumn hundreds of pups are born here. Scuba diving in the temperate waters around these stunning islands you’re able to get up close and personal with the UK’s largest native carnivore. Read more about diving in the Farne Islands here.
- Cetacean surveying and conservation retreat – Cardigan, Wales (March 22’) A four-day conservation retreat that packs in everything from dolphin surveying to conservation workshops and mindfulness. All based at the breathtaking forest eco-retreat in West Wales this wildlife retreat will live long in the memory. Read more about the cetacean conservation retreat.
Not only can UK marine experiences match those found in the tropics, removing the need for long distance travel cuts down costs, minimises your carbon footprint and supports the local organisations that are integral to restoring healthy marine ecosystems. To ensure its positive impact on the planet Saltwater Britain invests 100% of its profits straight back into fueling conservation that is both urgent and critical.
Blue Ventures is an award-winning marine conservation charity with over 18 years of experience running marine conservation expeditions and rebuilding marine ecosystems.
Visit the website for more information or to talk to the team at hello@saltwaterbritain.org.
Cover image: Charlie Young
Duttons Divers, who have recently announced a new hard boat to join their growing fleet over on the Llyn Peninsula based at Hafan Marina Dive Centre and a second dive centre that opened in January this year, have another big announcement to end the year on!
It seems that there’s just no stopping the Duttons Divers team as they announce their third dive centre opening – this time on Anglesey!
The dive centre will be open from January 2023, and is based just off the A55 at Llangefni Services, offering ease of access from all over the island and to those visiting for the day who will be passing by on their way to dive.
The centre will offer a fully stocked shop with all major brands, as well as a classroom and meeting place for teaching and briefings for the day’s guided dives around the island, equipment servicing and air fills – perfectly located to get your fills on your way too or from sites all over the island.
Owner Clare Dutton says: “We are extremely excited to announce the new centre. We have looked at Anglesey for a while, but the perfect place just did not come up until now. We wanted somewhere central that has easy access for divers to visit.”
If you would like to find out more about the new site, go to their website www.duttonsdivers.com
Duttons Divers, the North Wales based Scuba diving company, have been going from strength to strength with the expansion of a new dive centre last year, and now the addition of a second dive boat.
Duttons already offer guided shore and boat dives around the North Wales area, with their current dive boat, Little Viv, taking divers around the Llyn Peninsula. The area offers an array of marine life and variety of dive sites, including wrecks, caverns, scenic wall dives and of course their colony of curious seals at the Tudwals Islands.
The new hard boat has a diver capacity of 10, which can be booked as a single diver or as a group charter booking. The boat has toilet facilities, a kitchen for refreshments between dives and dedicated storage areas for kit.
Clare Dutton says: “We are extremely excited for the addition of the new boat. Little Viv is a great asset to our activities, but now being able to offer dive space only trips too for divers to explore the stunning area around here will make it even better.
The dive sites within this location offer something for all level of diver interest, from shallow interactions with the seals to deeper wrecks with tonnes of history. We are all very excited for the 2023 season!”
Duttons are now taking bookings for the 2023 season. Follow the link for more information: www.duttonsdivers.com/dive-boat
New year, new dive centre: Duttons to open on Anglesey in January 2023
New North Wales dive boat for 2023 season
Palaemon Divers to open new dive centre in Warrington
