St Austell Bay Seasearch Snorkel Observer Course

Calling snorkelers, and freedivers this is a great opportunity to train as a seasearcher!

Seasearch is a national project which trains divers, freedivers and snorkelers to record the wildlife they see on their dives. It gives additional purpose to your diving and is great fun as well as providing vital information for our conservation work.

This is an entry level course and is suitable for scuba divers snorkelers and for freedivers but for our practical day we will all be snorkeling on this course.. essentially it is the same course which ever type of diving you do tailored to shallow UK waters.

This course is aimed at giving those new to the project an introduction to the Seasearch programme. It is suitable for all including those who are already good at marine species identification and for those who are total beginners. At the end of the course you will be able to complete the Seasearch Observation Form to a level suitable to make the information you record really count, and take part in Seasearch snorkels, either on your own, with your club or on dives and snorkels organised by Seasearch partners.

Cost - This course is £70per person, which includes a copy of the Seasearch Guide to marine life (rrp £19.95) and a course pack.

Thanks to funding for Your Shore this training is FREE for volunteers living in the following postcodes: PL23 / PL24 / PL25 / PL26 and PL30 (south of the A30 only)...

as well as marine group members from Friends of Fowey Estuary, Friends of Par Beach and Three Bays Wildlife Group*

(*We do request a £10 deposit which will be refunded once course has been attended and will be asking for confirmation of local group membership and/or proof of address*)

The course will be taught by Marine Biologists and Seasearch tutors Matt Slater and Mary Ledlie

There is an element of marine species ID training but due to time constraints its more of an introduction- you learn this sort of thing gradually which is why we recommend the purchase of the Seasearch Divers guide to marine life of Britain and Ireland - This is included in the cost of participation.

Seasearch is always great fun, a great way to meet like minded people, a great way to improve your knowledge and many of our divers become addicted to seasearching! Once qualified you are able to join dives and snorkels all around the UK and the experience really helps if you are looking at developing a career in marine conservation or underwater photography.

The course consists of a day in the classroom - Porthpean Sailing Club, followed by a day of snorkeling (location depends on weather conditions).

To take part in the snorkels you will need to bring your own equipment.

To train with us you will need to meet the following requirements:

You must;

• Be aged 18 or over
• Be a confident sea swimmer easily able to swim 100m in open sea conditions.
• be experienced and comfortable snorkelling or freediving in UK conditions.
• You must have your own snorkelling kit - warm full length wetsuit (should be at least 5mm thick), fins, mask, hood, weights (optional) etc.
• Be prepared to complete a self certification health declaration - or able to supply a diving medical certificate.
• Be fit on the day and fully able to participate

We reserve the right to refuse participation if you don't meet these requirements. We can easily arrange a refund for you.

Any questions? - please contact Katie Bellman: katie.bellman @cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Find out more about Seasearch at http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/seasearch

and www.seasearch.org