Literally. Actual locations that I know are safe and satisfying for the complete novice. And the best example I had, when this all started, was a single snorkel trail.
Back in 2011 when I started my Britain By Snorkel project, I visited Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset. The local Wildlife Trust had a novel idea of setting up a snorkel trail to encourage visitors to experience the underwater natural spectacle. The site was chosen because the bay is extremely sheltered and shallow, with easy access making it perfect for beginners.
The little hut on the beach hired out a mask and snorkel, you could buy a waterproof guide complete with trail maps and species guide for the different habitats that you’ d snorkel over. Numbered buoys marked each area, so snorkellers could swim between them referring to their laminated guides to explain what they were looking at.
Scotland was the next region to run with the snorkel trail idea. And run with it they did. The Scottish Wildlife Trust used some of the wildest and most captivating of Scotland’ s coastline to draw people into the sea. By my reckoning Scotland now has 78 snorkel trail sites spread across locations such as Berwick, Arran, Orkney, Lochaber, the Moray Firth, the Hebrides and West Highlands.
PHOTO: DAN BOLT
Trying to identify a marine species using the waterproof guide
Each area has a downloadable guide with map, description and wildlife-spotting guide. Guides to all areas are available from The Scottish Wildlife Trust website, along with information on Safe Snorkelling and links to BSAC’ s own snorkelling information.
Wales, although full of incredible shore sites that are perfect for snorkelling does not, as yet, have any formally designated
snorkel trails. Likewise Northern Ireland has not created any specific routes for snorkellers to follow. However, they have drawn up guidelines for the creation of snorkel trails with information on suitable length, depth, entrance / egress and grading sites for beginners, intermediates and advanced snorkellers. So, I hope to see some progress over the Irish Sea soon. �
Common dragonet on the substrate
Snorkelling over the seagrass section. One of five different habitats to be found at Kimmeridge
Two-spot goby, midwater
PHOTO: DAN BOLT
For more information on snorkelling with BSAC go to bsac. com / snorkelling Looking to introduce snokelling into your club? Find out more at bsac. com / snorkellinginstructor
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