Andy Torbet catches up with the UK’ s progress on snorkelling trails, the very topic that inspired him to promote the humble tube
TORBET ON THE TUBE
Trails of life
Andy Torbet catches up with the UK’ s progress on snorkelling trails, the very topic that inspired him to promote the humble tube
Although it’ s my more extreme forms of diving that helped me make a career in the media, the humble snorkel has inspired the most people to start exploring below the surface.
When communicating with the non-diving public, tales of 100 metre cave dives may be great entertainment, but it’ s just not practical when it comes to people wanting to take their first step into underwater exploration. When I set out to communicate with the public, I needed to show people something they could aspire to doing tomorrow. I didn’ t particularly feel the need to create new divers, although snorkelling can be a gateway experience to scuba diving.
My main goal was to just get as many people as possible to stick their heads under water and see what’ s there. I was confident they’ d be sufficiently impressed, even if they didn’ t take up the sport full time, to at the very least acknowledge that their world does not end at the waterline. They might even begin to care more about the sub-surface world.
As well as offering a snapshot of what can be seen around the British coast, I try to offer practical advice about where to start.
Leopard-spotted goby
A protected beach at Kimmeridge, ideal for kitting-up
Tompot blenny
PHOTO: DAN BOLT
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