You can also contact us by clicking here.The British coastline has a rich marine biodiversity, driven by strong currents and high tides. If conditions are ideal, British waters offer a chance to connect with many species, as well as a stunning landscape: sheltered bays and sea lochs; shipwrecks and kelp forests; sandy seabeds and rock reefs. You may see sharks as well as seals, scorpionfishes, octopuses, and cuttlefish. Here are 10 of our favourite places.
Treyarnon tidal pool, Cornwall
Treyarnon is near Padstow and a good place to combine family fun at the beach, with some rockpooling or diving. The tidal pools are large enough for snorkeling but shallow enough so that even those who may be apprehensive can get in, wear a mask or goggles and explore the underwater world. The pool is a great way to introduce kids to the underwater realm. It’s mostly natural with a concrete barrage that complements its otherwise watertight rock walls. The beach can get very busy in the summer, but that popularity has its benefits – an ice-cream van is often parked at the top of the beach for post-snorkelling refreshments.
Chesil Cove in Dorset
Chesil Beach has a shingle tombolo of 18 miles (29km), formed over 7,000-years by the accumulation and refraction of pebbles. It is heavily exposed to storms from the southwest and the south. Chesil Cove is located at its southernmost tip. Like the rest of this coastline, the exposed aspect of the cove results in variable visibility that can fluctuate between zero and fantastic depending on weather. If you pick the right day to go snorkeling, it’s an excellent place. You can find the best snorkeling area at the southernmost part of the cove. Here, uniform pebbles are replaced by larger boulders and rocks covered with kelp or other seaweeds. Sand eels are often found here, along with wrasses and bass. Sometimes, you can even see a prehistoric looking john dory. Cephalopods like cuttlefish, and their less common cousins squid, and octopus are also frequent visitors. Keep your eyes open for these masters in disguise.
Eastbourne pier, East Sussex
Built in the late 19th Century, this house was restored to its original glory after it was originally built. fire in 2014Eastbourne pier is an ideal place for snorkeling in calm weather. Shingle beaches on this stretch are not very inviting. The churning waves make it hard for marine life, including corals and molluscs, to get established. The pier pilings, however, provide a stable base and are covered in barnacle-encrusted mussels as well as patches of sea lettuce. The mussels in turn attract predators like starfish, crabs, and dog whelks. The regular presence of fishers on the pier suggests this site also attracts its fair share of fish – so watch out for those lines! You might catch a glimpse of sandeels, which in turn attract larger fish, such as bass. A sunset swim around the pier can be a beautiful way to finish the day.
Boggle Hole in North Yorkshire
Boggle Hole, a calm spot, is a great place to snorkel in calm conditions after settling weather. Even in the shallows, there is a lot of life. There are many ledges that expose rock along the shoreline. These ledges provide an ideal habitat for marine life, such as gobies, blennies and crabs. In contrast, the larger boulders have a patchwork covering of molluscs clinging to them against the tides. They also contain patches of vibrant purple algae. Shoals of small fish dart around the seaweed. We saw many hermit crabs at this site when we visited in August. Some were sleeping, others tussling for shells and still others just strolling along the seafloor.
Charlie’s Garden, Northumberland
Charlie’s Garden is an iconic sandstone sea pile that sits on the tidal shore of Collywell Bay. According to local lore, the rock’s name is a tribute to Charles Dockwray. He cultivated a small garden on it in the mid-19th-century, when it was part of the mainland. The rock is a great place to rockpool at low tides. It’s also a permanent feature in the bay. Seals are also known to visit the bay – a wonderful sight if they choose to swim nearby. Water visibility may take some time after storms as it does along much of the coast, but when conditions are sunny and calm, this is a great place to see marine life on the east coast.
Scottish Seabird Centre in East Lothian
You can also find out more about this by clicking here. centreNorth Berwick’s is the perfect place to enjoy nature both above and beneath the waves. This centre offers nature tours, as well as conservation and education. It is located on Bass Rock and home to 100,000 northern gannets, which make up the largest colony in world. The area is also great for snorkelers. For beginners and younger marine explorers, the neighbouring tidal pool – home to hermit crabs, limpets, barnacles, snails, seaweeds and the odd anemone – is a great place to start. Snorkellers with more experience can explore the rocky gullies on the headland. Barnacled rocks decorated in kelp descend gently to a sandy ocean floor, providing habitats for crabs, small fish and other species.
High Shore Beach in Aberdeenshire
Macduff, home to a newly refurbished aquarium as well as High Shore Beach, is a great place for marine life lovers. High Shore Beach is also featured in the list of places (the Scottish Seabird Centre, Gruinard Bay and others). Scottish Wildlife Trust’s snorkel trails. Visit the Macduff Marine Aquarium Learn about the Moray Firth’s underwater habitats and what to watch out for. Then, get in the water to discover for yourself. In front of the aquarium, a series of rocky fingertips extend into the sea. The kelp-filled gullies and parallel reefs are a maze. As you peer into cracks in the rocks, watch for the red eyes of a velvet swimming crab, or a starfish slowly walking over the reef or seabed – orangey-pink common starfish, knobbly white spiny starfish and common sunstar have all been spotted here.
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Gruinard Bay in Wester Ross
It is breathtaking to see the approach from the south as the road crosses Cadha Beag. The beaches of Gruinard can be joined at low tide, but soon the waterline will make it impossible to walk between them. Around a small island just off shore, at the northernmost part of the beach you can find the best snorkeling. Rock reefs and seagrass beds coexist here, providing excellent shelter for a wide variety of shellfish and fish. Watch out for hermit crabs and sea slugs as they slowly move along the seagrass blades. Flatfish may burrow their way into patches sand in order to protect themselves against predators. Also, look out for spiky purple maerl. It is a hard, seaweed with brittle cell walls that deposit lime as it grows. Maerl grows slowly and is fragile, so be careful not to damage it.
Porth Castell, Ynys Môn (Anglesey)
Porth Castell, a small bay in the south of Cornwall, is protected from the open ocean by a large island. The rocky reefs surrounding the island and running up the bay’s edges provide a wealth snorkeling opportunities. You can swim between the island and the shore on the left side of the bay at high tide. As you swim, look into the cracks of the rocks to see spiny lobsters that are orange and blue. Also, there may be crabs or blennies. You might be lucky enough to see a small-spotted catfish. These are common in British waters, but snorkelers rarely encounter them because they don’t spend much time in the shallows.
Rockham Bay, Devon
Rockham Bay, a quiet spot to enjoy nature and get away from the touristy spots in Devon, is a great example of the rock formations found along this stretch of north Devon coast. It is evident that the sea can be unforgiving. Here, the wreckage from the steamer SS Collier, which was lost in 1914, has been scattered across the rock. At low tide, the wreckage is exposed and the rock formations form tidal pool full of marine life. Snorkeling along the rocky extremities will reveal kelpy seabeds. Keep an eye out for small, spotted catsharks that are snoozing in the sand as you make your way from one rocky spur into the next. Mortehoe has the closest car park.
How to snorkel safely …
As with open-water swimming, there are risks to snorkelling that you should take into consideration when planning your trip. Although experienced swimmers are already aware of some of the safety considerations, we have 10 tips to help you stay safe.
1 Before you enter the water, assess your snorkeling fitness.
2 Consider undertaking formal snorkelling qualifications
3 Never snorkel alone. Always bring a buddy.
4 Make sure you know how to use and maintain your kit
5 Before entering, it is important to assess the site and its conditions.
6 Keep a regular eye on your position at sea
7 Use a swimming buoy so that you can be easily seen by boats
8 While snorkelling, never swim into underwater structures such as caves
9 You should get out of the pool before you start to feel cold and before shivering.
10 If you are feeling excessively tired or short of breathe, leave the water immediately.
… and responsibly
It’s just as important to protect the ecosystems that you explore as it is your own safety. How to snorkel without causing any damage?
1 Follow the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs marine and coastal wildlife code
2 Avoid damaging habitats. Do not step on, touch, or hold onto coastal habitats or wildlife.
3 Throw away litter responsibly
4 Choose eco-friendly sun creams that are compatible with marine environments and invest in sustainable swimwear.
5 Snorkeling among seals or seahorses should be done with respect.
Snorkelling Britain : 100 Marine Adventures You can also read about how to get in touch with us. Emma & Gordon Taylor This publication is published by Wild Things Publishing (£18.99). Readers get a 20% discount Free Postage and packaging discount code ‘TheGuardian’ If you want to know more about the, please click here. wildthingspublishing.com
