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Atlantic Diver was treated to a rare sighting of a pod of about 30 beautiful Risso’s Dolphins today. They swam in pairs which is typical of this species of Cetacean and although not interested in playing with the boat…lucky anglers out on a Newquay Sea Safari and Fishing trip off Newquay were able to view them from a short distance away from the boat. It is the first time skipper Chris lowe has seen this species of Dolphin so close to Newquay. He identified them with a little help from wildlife guide  Annabelle when he at first thought they were Bottlenose Dolphins but was puzzled by their distance from the coastline and rounded shaped heads and short beaks….similar to Pilot Whales. Some were very dark in colour like Pilot Whales whist others were very pale , almost white like Belugas. Several were also scarred….this scarring is thought to be from fighting or teeth contact ( rake marks) from other Risso’s Dolphins and maybe even from Squid injuries which makes up part of their diet. Their very Falcate fin was another identifying point. All of these identifying marks can be seen in the following pictures taken by Chris. ….Wow the passengers and skipper were blown away….”Fintastic!!!” It will be interesting to see what marine Wildlife we spot this winter as Atlantic Diver will remain in the water to continue trips throughout the winter period..please call the skipper to arrange any trips.

Wow…Jellyfish galore just off Newquay Headland…our Cornish summer phenomenum of thick

" Smacks" of moon jellies and blues all tightly clustered in a thick floating carpet of Plankton , drifting at the mercey of the tide , glistening and twinkling like glass baubles bobbing about in the crystal blue sea. 

Awesome Happy New Year at sea today as we spotted 8 Bottlenose Dolphins off St Ives in glorious Cornish Winter "Sunshine". Atlantic Diver was loaded with delighted Wildlife Surveyers who were treated to a  wildlife extravaganza of Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seals, Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets Diving, Kittiwake, Raven, Mediterranean Gulls, Rock Pippet and Little Egret…and unbelievably a Barrel Jellyfish.

The Dolphins were hunting and Playing today and followed our boat along the survey for some 30 minutes and were bow riding the front of "Atlantic Diver" from time to time using their tail flukes to bat the hulls from side to side.

We took images of their fins to carry out Photo Identification. Each Dolphin has a unique fin shape, markings or nicks missing as seen in images here and this helps us to identify each individual .

Our winter 2 hour  Sea Safaris are continuing throughout the season weather permitting and as is proven today are as exciting as the summer months. A basking shark was spotted off Penzance just before christmas…a rare sighting but with wildlife anything can happen…off again tomorrow…still hoping for Orca Sighting which we have seen in the past at this time of year between Newquay and Padstow. Anyone interested in joining these special approx 6 hour surveys should contact us for details and dates.

Sad news that a female seal pup that was rescued, rehabilitated and released back in the New Year by British Divers Marinelife Rescue Marine Mammal Medics and RSPCA West Hatch had turned up at Lundy Island….(a Special Area of Conservation and Marine Conservation Zone and idealic conditions  for Grey Seals)…with thick blue netting entangled around her neck. The Lundy Island Wardens were extremely concerned for her well being and through BDMLR and Sue Sayer of Cornwall Seal Group organised a visit to the island so that BDMLR Medics could attampt a rescue.

Medics gather at Ilfracombe about to board  the ferry the "Oldenberg" to cross the Bristol Channel to Lundy Island where the Wardens were investigating some blue netting they found on the beach which looked suspiciously like the netting around the seal's neck…could the seal have broken free….we spent the next 4 hours quietly observing the seals who were, logging, playing and hunting in breath takingly beautiful coves around the beaches . Photos were taken so that Sue Sayer who holds an enormous Photo ID data base of Grey Seals who attempt to id the seals to see if indeed the West hatch seal was finally free.

We watched as adult females and juveniles passed by…ahh what a lovely way to spend a day….we now await the results and thank all involved in the attempted rescue including the ferry staff .

Lots of exciting "Things to Do " this weekend at Newquay Harbour as Newquay Marine College will be hosting a fun and educational "Ocean Discovery Day" on Saturday16th March ,when second year Marine Conservation and Wildlife and the Media will be guiding FREE 1 hour sea safaris aboard "Atlantic Diver"…our superfast 10m Blyth Powerboat Catamaran. Marine Wildlife to spot for will be …breeding birds which have started returning to the coast , pairing up for that all important nesting event. Last Saturday 3 Bottlenose Dolphins were actively hunting and foraging in Newquay Bay and  "Medallion Man "..a semi resident Grey Seal to Newquay Harbour is back after leaving his winter haul out site. Take a look at the below poster and call Leyla to book onto trip before all the free places run out. Weather is looking promising so far and its a fun filled day with rockpool rambles, Cornwall seal group stall, Blue Reef guides and lots more…looking forward to seeing you all and do come and support our local students.

"https://docs.google.com/file/d/1LAdevCQoK0tG8_3Ea7q6rR4k0pB8yN6_qEQD7LwpVFu7_2D_qu_Ht2If5OVr/preview"

 any questions..add a comment below and we'll do our best to advise…happy boating..Annabelle

Tucked well back in the shelter of a Cornish Cave was a tiny  female seal pup  in trouble suffering from multiple bite wounds . She weighed in at just 17kilos and fortunately a kind member of the public called the "British Divers Marine Life Rescue 24 hour hotline" and a crack team of Marine Mammal Medics were sent to the rescue. The cliff team rescuers Dan and Chris scaled down the cliff and it wasn't long before she was assessed and  taken to Gweek's Cornish  Seal Sanctuary for rehabilitation. At this time of year the Grey Seals are pupping and breeding and the little weaners often get into trouble during the first few weeks of life as they are only under the protection of their mothers for the first three weeks of life. For information on what to do if you suspect a seal is in trouble please click on the link below:

http://www.bdmlr.org.uk/index.php?page=stranded-animals

127 Marine protected areas are preposed around our Uk coastline…they will only happen if we support the proposition…Please give your support and click on the link below to sign the petition and leave a comment to have your say about where and how they should be.This is for everyone to comment …members of the public, boat users, fishermen, potters, jetskiers, kayakers, surfers, swimmers, coasteerers…anyone with a passion for the sea and whats in it!..thanks

http://wildlifetrusts.org/MCZfriends

Chris and I were snorkelling today near to Newquay harbour when we swam right over the top of Medallion Man , Newquay's Semi-resident Grey Seal. He was fast asleep on the sea bed bottom, right next to a bed of kelp. It was really funny as the slight swell was rolling slightly backwards and forwards much in the same motion as  a baby's cot would swing. He continued to snooze gently and then meerly peeped at us through one open eye before returning to his slumber. Lack of breath meant he returned to surface occassionally and at one point he hauled out on a close by rock and rolled onto his back for a real good back scratch…just like a big bear would do up and down a tree trunk. We amused him for a few seconds as he lolled off the slippery rock and over to us before again returning to log on the sea bed bottom….I Love MM!!!

Click on link below for you tube footage of him asleep on the seabed bottom

http://youtu.be/3tC1ncRm2SU

Despite the changeable Easter weather…a family from Belgium were enjoying a Sea Safari aboard Atlantic Diver and learning that Lobsters are actually "Blue" when they are fresh from the sea . They learned about ; Spider Crabs, Edible Brown Crabs , Star Fish and Lobster as well as meeting Medallion Man the semi -resident Grey seal to Newquay Harbour.

For more info about the lives of lobsters please visit our friends at The National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow or click on the link below for more info:

www.nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk

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Another fun overwinter job is to service “Atlantic Diver’s”  liferaft. At Liferafts and Inflatables, Ed Banyard offers an amazing service and even invites customers to see their Liferaft inflated. This gives an ideal opportunity for skippers and crew to familiarize ourselves with the life saving piece of equipment. We open the liferaft box and begin to inflate. It has two tubes for safety that inflate one at a time.  A bag full of emergency survival kit is checked too and amusingly, it contains a SMALL handpump….skipper Chris immediately allocates possible job of  keeping raft well inflated to Annabelle in the guise of “It will keep you warm love!”…hmmm I pulled the short straw there then!Luckerly this one inflates with a compressed gas cylinder and the job is done in seconds. For more info about the process please click on link below:

http://www.liferafts-inflatables.com/?page_id=12

A few hours later on the same day Ed and his team have the Liferaft back to Atlantic Diver and we are ready for sailing the ocean wide again. Passengers can feel safe that crew are confident in the deployment and handling of the liferaft.

Ever wonder what it looks like  being deployed at sea…check out ed’s website for some video action…enjoy!  Please click on the link below:

http://www.liferafts-inflatables.com/?page_id=114