Today Penny, Anne B, Marc and newcomer Caroline and I met up for some snorkelling on Deerness.
First stop was Sandside Bay over on the East side of Deerness.
Full story and photos coming soon :-)
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Friday, 8 June 2012
BDMLR Marine Mammal Medics course - 2 Jun 12
Nothing to do with snorkelling this post, but as I originally purchased my drysuit to do this course I thought I'd do a post on how the course went.
There were 9 of us one the course and Alistair Jack the BDMLR Director & Scottish National Organiser was our instructor. The morning session was held in the OIC Marine Services building next to Scapa Beach.
The morning session was split into two covering cetaceans first and then Seals. During the cetacean section we covered: Species most likely to be encountered, cetacean anatomy, adapatations of cetaceans to the marine environment, threats to cetaceans, management of stranded cetaceans (initial response, how to assess the situation, cetacean first aid, equipment needed, moving a stranded cetacean, refloating techniques and mass strandings) and vetinary involvement.
The seal section covered similar topics and finally there was a general section on health and safety relating to the medics themselves.
After lunch it was down to the beach for the practical session. The first task was to get all the kit down onto the beach and get the model seal, dolphin and Pilot Whale inflated.
To rescue the whale we used a floating pontoon system. The team had several goes at this each time learning a bit from the previous attempt.
Once the whale had been refloated it was time to move onto the dolphin.This time we used a tarpaulin to get the casualty back into the water.
Unfortunately, the last casualty was suffering from severe malnutrition and had to be removed from the sea.
Finally we all had a go at rescuing a seal stranded on the beach.
We all came away at the end of the course with our heads full of information and feeling confident about taking part in a rescue, although maybe slightly less when it comes to a seal given the number of times the instructor said 'you would have just be bitten' as we tried to assess the seal and get it into the rescue bag.
Now the hard work begins as we have to read through the medic's manual and keep on with the training. Although we are all looking forward to taking part in a rescue we hope that our new found skills won't be needed.
If we are required then hopefully our new group will be able to provide a quick response giving the casualty the best possible chance of surviving.
And if there is a mass stranding over in Caithness we could well be called upon to go over and assist.
A big thanks to Alistair for coming over and making the day very interesting.
If you find a live stranded cetacean or seal you should call the BDMLR Emergency Hotline on 01825 765546 and provide as much information about the stranded animal as you can. Such as what you have found, where you have found it (map grid reference would be handy, or Lat/Long if you have a satnav with you), when you found it, any obvious signs of injury and details of access to the casualty.
There were 9 of us one the course and Alistair Jack the BDMLR Director & Scottish National Organiser was our instructor. The morning session was held in the OIC Marine Services building next to Scapa Beach.
The morning session was split into two covering cetaceans first and then Seals. During the cetacean section we covered: Species most likely to be encountered, cetacean anatomy, adapatations of cetaceans to the marine environment, threats to cetaceans, management of stranded cetaceans (initial response, how to assess the situation, cetacean first aid, equipment needed, moving a stranded cetacean, refloating techniques and mass strandings) and vetinary involvement.
The seal section covered similar topics and finally there was a general section on health and safety relating to the medics themselves.
After lunch it was down to the beach for the practical session. The first task was to get all the kit down onto the beach and get the model seal, dolphin and Pilot Whale inflated.
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| Inflating the Pilot Whale |
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| Rule No 1 of cetacean rescue 'Don't name the casualty', so here's Willy waiting to be saved!! |
Once the whale had been refloated it was time to move onto the dolphin.This time we used a tarpaulin to get the casualty back into the water.
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| Part of the team refloating the dolphin. |
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| This dolphin didn't survive |
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| Penny demonstrating how to approach a seal with a towel |
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| Anne demonstrating how to get a seal into a rescue bag |
Now the hard work begins as we have to read through the medic's manual and keep on with the training. Although we are all looking forward to taking part in a rescue we hope that our new found skills won't be needed.
If we are required then hopefully our new group will be able to provide a quick response giving the casualty the best possible chance of surviving.
And if there is a mass stranding over in Caithness we could well be called upon to go over and assist.
A big thanks to Alistair for coming over and making the day very interesting.
If you find a live stranded cetacean or seal you should call the BDMLR Emergency Hotline on 01825 765546 and provide as much information about the stranded animal as you can. Such as what you have found, where you have found it (map grid reference would be handy, or Lat/Long if you have a satnav with you), when you found it, any obvious signs of injury and details of access to the casualty.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Waulkmill Bay, Orphir - 26 May 12
On Saturday 26 May, we tried a new site, Waulkmill Bay in Orphir.
It was a nice warm sunny afternoon when I met up with Penny and Marc.
After kitting up we worked our way down the steps to the shore. I don't think any of us was particularly looking forward to the climb back up the hill after we had finished our swim.
I think we looked a bit out of place when we arrived on the shore all kitted up in our drysuits etc when everyone else was in shorts, t-shirts, swimming costumes etc. But the water temperature probably explained why everyone was sat on the shore and we were the only ones in the water!!
Close to the shore is a rocky seabed with a variety of plant and animal life. As you moved away from the shore the seabed turned to sand with not a great deal to see.
As in the last post I'll leave to pictures to show what I saw.
In all the sites that I have snorkelled in so far this is the only site where I have found these yellow shells.
It was a nice warm sunny afternoon when I met up with Penny and Marc.
After kitting up we worked our way down the steps to the shore. I don't think any of us was particularly looking forward to the climb back up the hill after we had finished our swim.
I think we looked a bit out of place when we arrived on the shore all kitted up in our drysuits etc when everyone else was in shorts, t-shirts, swimming costumes etc. But the water temperature probably explained why everyone was sat on the shore and we were the only ones in the water!!
Close to the shore is a rocky seabed with a variety of plant and animal life. As you moved away from the shore the seabed turned to sand with not a great deal to see.
As in the last post I'll leave to pictures to show what I saw.
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| Looking North up the bay |
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| Some of the larger seaweeds |
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| Some of the larger seaweeds |
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| Whelks, shells and rocks |
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| Sea Anenomes |
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| Sea Anenomes |
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| Sea Anenome |
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| Barnacle covered Limpet |
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| Gobies amongst the seaweed |
Moving amongst the seaweeds I came across a sandy patch on the seabed which had this bright green seaweed forming a strip across it.
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| Marc working his way through the seaweed |
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| A serrated edge type seaweed |
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| Another type of seaweed |
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| A Whelk |
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| The sandy sea bed. Pretty bare apart from the worm casts and the odd bit of weed. |
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| This unknown creature appeared out of nowhere and landed on my glove!! |
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| Various smaller seaweed species amongst the kelp. |
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| Sea Anenome |
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| This intriguing rock amongst the seaweed with its yellow banding |
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| Spot the Shore Crab |
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| Ghost in the sand |
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| Shore Crab peering out of the sand |
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| Shore Crab out of the sand and onto Penny's glove |
Finstown Slipway - 24 May 12
Trying to catch up on the blog, been a bit busy recently.
Went over to Finstown Slipway on the evening of the 24 May, my first time snorkelling at this location.
On arrival at the car park Marc and Anne were chatting with Penny, although they couldn't stay and join us in the water. It was a nice sunny evening and the water didn't feel too cold for a change!!
On entering the water I was greeted with a new habitat, Eel Grass. Time to explore the Eel Grass bed and beyond.
Went over to Finstown Slipway on the evening of the 24 May, my first time snorkelling at this location.
On arrival at the car park Marc and Anne were chatting with Penny, although they couldn't stay and join us in the water. It was a nice sunny evening and the water didn't feel too cold for a change!!
On entering the water I was greeted with a new habitat, Eel Grass. Time to explore the Eel Grass bed and beyond.
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| General view of Eel Grass bed |
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| Seaweed within Eel Grass bed |
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| Seaweed with ineffective anchor weight!! |
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| Seaweed suspended in the water |
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| Whelk trying to hide on Kelp |
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| Various Sea Squirts amongst the seaweeds |
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| Starfish |
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| Unknown creature on the Eel Grass |
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| Shore Crab |
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| Gobies amongst the seaweed |
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| Gobies amongst the seaweed |
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| Sand Goby |
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| Sand Goby |
Saturday, 19 May 2012
First Barrier, First photos
The weather today was sunny but a bit breezy. I had arranged to meet up with Penny at Churchill Barrier 1 so that I could try out my new underwater camera setup, a Canon Ixus 115HS with waterproof housing.
As the wind was making the East side of the barrier a bit choppy we decided to go in on the West side where the water was fairly calm.
I think the couple that were sat in their car in the lay-by where we were getting kitted up must have thought what a couple of nutters we were!!
Soon we were ready to enter the water and get snapping.
We spent about an hour working our way along the blocks of the barriers. I couple of times I lost sight of Penny as she kept disappearing into the various nooks and crannies.
The visibility away from the barrier was quite murky, there seemed to be lots of things drifting in the water.
It wasn't long before Penny spotted something drifting in the water.
There were also some Starfish, a few small jellyfish and various anenomes.
A lot of the blocks were covered in limpets and barnacles.
If you look closelydown the right hand edge of the rock you can see the tiny feelers of the Barnacles as they feed.
There were also a large variety of plants.
You can see the metal loop of the concrete block in amongst the plants. This loop was used to lift the block into position.
Here's a close up of it. Not sure what it is (yet).
As the wind was making the East side of the barrier a bit choppy we decided to go in on the West side where the water was fairly calm.
I think the couple that were sat in their car in the lay-by where we were getting kitted up must have thought what a couple of nutters we were!!
Soon we were ready to enter the water and get snapping.
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| Looking South along the West side of Churchill Barrier 1 |
We spent about an hour working our way along the blocks of the barriers. I couple of times I lost sight of Penny as she kept disappearing into the various nooks and crannies.
The visibility away from the barrier was quite murky, there seemed to be lots of things drifting in the water.
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| Penny scanning the murk to see if she could find anything |
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| A small macropodia |
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| Starfish |
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| This jelly fish was about the size of a 2p coin |
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| Anenomes |
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| Limpets and the circular marks showing where they have been |
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| Barnacles |
There were also a large variety of plants.
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You can see the metal loop of the concrete block in amongst the plants. This loop was used to lift the block into position.
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| Bootlace Weed |
If you look closely near the middle left of the picture you can see a white patch on the frond of the weed.
Here's a close up of it. Not sure what it is (yet).
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