Fal & Helford Seasearch Snorkel Observer Course

Get involved in the UKs biggest and best marine conservation project! Entry level course for experienced snorkelers and freedivers
About this Event

Calling all SCUBA, snorkellers & freedivers – be part of your local marine discovery project and help uncover what’s living beneath the surface in the Fal & Helford and beyond!

From rich estuaries to rocky reefs, kelp forests, seagrass meadows and maerl beds, this area is bursting with life — and we need your help to monitor it. In partnership with Falmouth Marine Conservation Group and the Fal & Helford Marine Protected Area, we’re training local people to become community scientists — contributing to long-term marine monitoring through seasearch, seagrass and kelp surveys, as well as recreational wildlife recording.

This Seasearch Observer Course is your first step.

What is Seasearch?

Seasearch is a national programme that trains divers, snorkellers and freedivers to record the marine life they see. It adds real purpose to your time in the water — and the data you collect directly supports marine conservation.

Why join?

Whether you're brand new to marine identification or an ID expert, this course will help you:

• Learn how to identify marine species and habitats
• Record your sightings in a way that makes your data count
• Take part in local and national Seasearch surveys
• Join a community of passionate ocean enthusiasts

Many people find Seasearch becomes a long-term passion — and it’s a brilliant stepping stone into marine conservation or underwater photography.

Course details

Day 1: Classroom session – Mylor Yacht Club, tea and coffee facilities are available but please bring a packed lunch.

Day 2: Practical snorkel session (weather dependent location in the Fal & Helford Catchment)

All participants will snorkel for the practical, regardless of your usual discipline.

The course will be led by Marine Biologist & Seasearch tutor Caz Waddell, alongside trainee tutor Gemma Newman.

Who is it for?

• Snorkellers, freedivers & SCUBA divers
• Complete beginners to marine ID
• Those keen to volunteer and contribute to long-term monitoring in the Fal and Helford
• We welcome the enthusiasm of Falmouth's student community and invite students to join the course, however we would like to emphasise that this training session is focused on volunteers available for ongoing monitoring. We work with the universities to hold a Seasearch Observer course specifically for students in the autumn term.

After the course, you’ll be invited to:

• Join Falmouth Marine Conservation Group and Helford Marine Conservation Group – the hubs for community marine conservation in the Fal & Helford.
• Be a registered Seasearch volunteer with Cornwall Wildlife Trust
• Get involved in ongoing local surveys and recording projects

Cost

£70 per person

Includes:

• Seasearch Guide to Marine Life (RRP £19.95)
• Course pack

Thanks to funding from the Cornwall Council Fal & Helford Marine Protected Area, this training is available for just £20 per person for volunteers living within the Fal & Helford Catchment area. To claim the discounted rate, email [email protected] for the promo code (proof of address required).

Eligible postcode areas include:

• TR11 (Falmouth): Falmouth, Flushing, Mylor Bridge, Constantine, Mawnan Smith
• TR10 (Penryn): Penryn, Budock Water, Ponsanooth, Mabe Burnthouse
• TR12 (Helston/Helford): Helford, Gweek, St Martin, Manaccan, Mawgan, Mullion
• TR2 (Tregony/Roseland): St Mawes, St Just in Roseland, Portscatho, Gerrans, Tregony, Veryan, Philleigh
• TR1 (Truro/Fal): Feock, Playing Place, Carnon Downs, Malpas
• TR3 (Truro/Feock): Bissoe, Perranwell Station
• TR4 (Truro/St Agnes): Parts of the surrounding rural catchment

Requirements

To take part, you must:

• Be 18+
• Be able to swim 100m confidently in open water
• Be comfortable snorkelling or freediving in UK conditions in a full wetsuit and with fins
• Complete a health declaration (or provide a dive medical if needed)

To take part in the scuba dives, you need to meet our safety minimum requirements;

• Be 18+
• Divers should be qualified to the level of BSAC Sports diver, PADI Rescue diver or equivalent.
• Have recent experience in cold water diving, including a minimum of 20 logged dives, 10 of which should be in the UK and 2 of which should be within the last six months.
• Have a current diving medical or self-certification declaration
• Have third-party liability diving insurance.

All attendees will be snorkelling on the practical day of this course.

Bring your own kit:

• Packed lunch
• Full length wetsuit
• Mask, fins, snorkel
• Hood (recommended)
• Weights (optional)

Why it matters

Your records will help build a clearer picture of how our marine habitats are changing over time — from kelp recovery to seagrass health — supporting real conservation decisions in the Fal & Helford.

Questions?

Contact Marine Citizen Science Officer Gemma Newman: [email protected]

Learn more about the seasearch project:

http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/seasearch

www.seasearch.org