FAVOURITEKIT
My automatic CO2 delayed SMB.
“ I have dyspraxia so I struggle with motor senses. Thanks Kent Tooling!
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callout and act in an animal’ s best welfare interests.“ As a medic, I attend whale and dolphin strandings,” Dai explains.“ We assist with refloat or trauma situations, carry out seal rescues and transportation.“ The North Wales BDMLR team is just inspiring to work with any day or night of the week.”
“ I qualified as a medic around the same time as I started my diving journey. During lockdown we had a 13-metre fin whale strand in the river Dee. Although he was unable to survive, it was a monumental attempt by both the North Wales and North West teams. We all learnt a lot and since then we have been successful in a number of dolphin rescues.”
Dai also dives in the North Sea as a ghost net recovery diver with Fish Net Zero- a Green Britain Foundation project tackling ghost gear and marine debris in UK waters and on UK beaches. The mission is habitat protection and ocean conservation, through activities such as ghost net recovery and beach cleans.“ Fish Net Zero is in its first year, although the hands on deck have many years of experience, and we have high hopes for bigger things in 2026. We have so many wrecks and sites pencilled in to clean up.
Diving in Gozo
“ I see all the projects I work on as symbiotic; their end goals are the same. Often you will see the same crew who have a passion for this work, so that’ s a real plus.”
With all of his experience in ocean conservation, Dai was honoured to be asked to be the Marine Champion at his BSAC branch, Golden Lion Sub-Aqua Club in north Wales. BSAC launched the Marine Champion network in August 2025 as part of its strategic mission to be the go-to community for anyone wanting to learn about, enjoy and protect the underwater world.
It’ s a network within the BSAC club system where divers can keep conservation at the top of the agenda.“ I’ m very pleased to be a Marine Champion because my club bestowed it on me,” he says.“ I really see it as an opportunity to inspire others into volunteering. Not just in the organisations I’ m in.
“ BSAC has some great projects. The invasive plant species removal in Lyn Padarn is coming along nicely, as are the underwater litter picks. So I’ m looking forward to seeing how it will evolve over the next few years.”
When asked for his tip for club members who want to volunteer, Dai says he has a few.“ Keep your head up. If you are going to get involved in animal rescue or conservation you have to do it for the love of it. It shouldn’ t about likes, or shares,” he explains.“ It’ s eco. Not ego.”
Given his experiences at the sharp end of marine conservation, I wonder what Dai would say to a newly qualified diver or snorkeller looking for a project to join?“ Join Fish Net Zero,” he says.“ They are a fine crew with an excellent captain.” And what about his view on finding a club to join:“ The more clubs you dive with, the more buddies you’ ll have to dive with,” he says. �
Become a Marine Champion
To apply to become a BSAC Marine Champion, you need to be aged 18 + and a member of a BSAC club. For more information on the Marine Champions initiative and to apply, go to bsac. com / marinechampions
Post-shore dive in Yns Mõn( Anglesey)
Common dolphin rescue with North Wales BDMLR
Become an Instructor!
Sports Divers and up( for scuba) and 16 + year olds( for snorkelling) can start instructor training.
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Or visit bsac. com / instruct 53