Event description

Join the Restoration Forth team for a guided snorkel session to discover what lies beneath the waves and explore the magical creatures found around North Berwick.

Please note, you must have snorkelled before to take part in this session. You are encouraged to bring your own kit for comfort and safety. We will be able to provide a limited amount of kit (wetsuit, fins, boots, gloves, hood, mask), please fill out the questions on the sign up form with anything you need.

Event itinerary

This session will start and finish at The Scottish Seabird Centre, taking participants in the water and following the snorkel trail, before returning to the centre.

Participants will meet Restoration Forth staff at the Scottish Seabird Centre welcome desk at 12:00pm to complete relevant safety documentation. Staff and participants will get changed into snorkelling equipment followed by a safety briefing for all participants. Participants will be able to use the learning hub for changing and storing personal items, as well as get refreshments in the centre's cafe after the session.

The group will head into the water and group leaders will deliver a short snorkelling skills refresher before snorkelling starts. The group will then embark on a snorkel around the snorkel trail for 45 minutes, highlighting any marine life on our way.

The group will then return to shore and get changed into warm clothing. Please note, if the decision is made to cut the session short, all participants are expected to return to the shore. Participants will not be allowed to snorkel alone.

We anticipate the session to finish at 14:30pm, including time to get changed after the snorkel.

What to bring

Please ensure that you also bring warm, waterproof clothing appropriate for the weather on the surface. You should also bring water and any snacks you need. You must bring any medication you may need for the duration of the event.

Important safety information

This event will lead you on a 45 minute guided snorkel around the Scottish Seabird Centre’s snorkel trail. Snorkelling in open water is an activity which requires general physical fitness and good health. All participants must be confident swimmers and be able to swim 200m unassisted.

Participants must be comfortable swimming in water that is out of their depth.

This session is open to anyone over 12 years old, but children under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Please contact us before booking if you have a history of diabetes, epilepsy (blackouts), perforated eardrums, high blood pressure, or any lung/respiratory disorder, including previously testing positive for COVID-19. You will need to complete and sign a medical disclaimer to this effect before the event.

Ticket Information

Attendees will be expected to register for this event and provide ticket evidence on the day.

Please note, this session may be cancelled at short notice if there are adverse weather conditions. Please keep an eye on your emails before the event.

If you can no longer attend, please let us know as spaces are limited.

Who we are

Restoration Forth is a major marine restoration programme working with communities to restore seagrass habitats and European flat oyster populations in the Firth of Forth. Our goal is to inspire and give agency to community members from around the Forth to participate in and lead on restoration activities in the marine environment.

Restoration Forth is a WWF-UK led project that brings together expertise from a range of partner organisations including the Scottish Seabird Centre, the Ecology Centre, Project Seagrass, Heriot-Watt University, the Marine Conservation Society, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, Edinburgh Shoreline and Heart of Newhaven Community.

The first phase of Restoration Forth (2022-24) was made possible by funding from Aviva, the Moondance Foundation, the ScottishPower Foundation and the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, facilitated by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, and managed by NatureScot.

The current phase of Restoration Forth is made possible by funding from Sky and the Cinven Foundation; the project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.

Photography and filming

Please note that we may be taking photos at this session to document our marine engagement work. Participants can opt out of being filmed by informing a team member on the morning of the event.

Need more information?

If you have any further questions, please email Eleri at eleriw@seabird.org

Snorkel Trail Safari