Life Under The Waves
Gill Sherry
When Chris Saunders visited the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, he had no idea how it would impact the next twelve months of his life.
Chris is the founder and CEO of Adventure Carrick, an activity provider based in Girvan. It’s a social enterprise that has been operating throughout the whole of Ayrshire since its inception 20 years ago.
“I was on a fact-finding trip for one of the projects I’m involved in, and while I was there I noticed these big boards advertising the North Berwick Snorkel Trail, and I thought, wow, that’s a great idea!”
Apparently, it formed part of Scottish Wildlife Trust’s National Snorkel Trail which, despite being a keen snorkeller himself, Chris had no idea existed.
“I went back home and googled it and saw they didn’t have anything on the mainland of South West Scotland. There is one in Arran but nothing in Ayrshire, nothing south of Glasgow, nothing along the Galloway coast. We’ve got some great snorkelling down here, so I contacted the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and that was the start of it.”
It took a year of hard work from inception to launch but the South Ayrshire Snorkel Trail has been live since June 2024. Appropriately, it was launched to coincide with the World Ocean Day Festival in the neighbouring village of Maidens.
The Trail has six designated sites: Big Isle (Lendalfoot), Horse Rock (Girvan), Maidens West Pier Beach, Culzean Country Park, Dunure Castle and Bellast Bank (Troon). All are suitable for both beginners and advanced snorkellers, with the exception of Dunure Castle which is for experienced snorkellers only.
“When we were designing the Trail, we were conscious about choosing sites that were accessible, had parking, and were suitable for beginners. They are fantastic, and each of them is different.”
As well as providing map references, and details of public amenities for each site, the Trail leaflet includes a QR code, allowing people to report their findings to the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Snorkellers can see a whole host of sea life on the Trail including jellyfish, starfish, molluscs, crustaceans, plants and algae. Chris spotted a beautiful fish whilst snorkelling at Lendalfoot.
“I was swimming through a kelp bed and suddenly there was a fish there. It was electric blue and orange, it looked really tropical. It was the most beautiful thing.”
He later learned it was a cuckoo wrasse and that, according to a local fisherman, they are quite common in this area.
“I’ve seen more of them since, they’re so vibrant. It’s amazing that we have these fish in our waters in South Ayrshire.”
Chris tells me he’s thought about that first sighting quite often, which is one of the great things about snorkelling.
“It’s an opportunity to see things that you don’t see in your everyday world. One of the pleasures of being involved in water is that when you’re sitting in your everyday life your mind goes back to those amazing moments… like when you saw the fish, or you were swimming through beautiful seaweed, or a wave came over your head. They’re great things for your mental health.”
The Snorkel Trail, Chris tells me, is all about getting people into the ocean. We’re all familiar with looking out over the ocean, but few of us get to experience the pleasure of looking under it.
“There’s exhilaration and a natural vibe being in the ocean. Because of the sway, it’s rhythmic, you’re part of that greater existence. When you’re in the ocean you connect with that very easily. Slowing down and breathing in rhythm is so good for you.”
Adventure Carrick does offer organised snorkelling trips, but the South Ayrshire Snorkel Trail is designed to encourage you to just get out there and try it. That said, safety is paramount.
“Always be aware of a change in weather and tides. Don’t be passive, be dynamic in your thinking. When we’re leading groups, we have a risk assessment, but we also have a dynamic risk assessment in our heads, because things can change. On the day, it might be colder than you think. Be prepared for that.”
Whilst some may choose to wear a wetsuit for their snorkelling adventures, Chris appreciates that everyone is different and that some people – cold water swimmers and paddleboarders for instance – may be more used to cold temperatures than others. Snorkels and goggles are obviously essential, as is footwear.
“You don’t need fins. They’re great if you’ve got them, but they’re not a necessity. Footwear is always advisable, though.”
It must be fabulous to be under the water and to see what species frequent our shores. However, from a conservation point of view, it’s just as important to note what should be there but isn’t. The Scottish Wildlife Trust therefore encourages regular snorkellers to report these absences. It also asks that we all remember the three Ts: no touching, taking or teasing of marine animals, plants or shells.
South Ayrshire has a thriving marine environment and it’s good to know that Chris rarely comes across litter and plastic on his snorkelling trips.
“Adventure Carrick has been doing litter picks for years. We also help with other beach cleans. And yes, we have seen stuff, but most of the stuff we see is on the beaches rather than in the water.”
Even so, it’s a reminder for us all to take our litter home.
If you’d like to learn more about the South Ayrshire Snorkel Trail, you can either download the leaflet or visit
www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/snorkel-trails Alternatively, contact Adventure Carrick on 01465 710077 or email hello@adventurecarrick.com
The Trail is also featured in the newly released book, Snorkelling Britain: 100 Marine Adventures.
