New snorkel trail invites you to Dive In the Moray Firth
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A new self-led Snorkel Trail, created by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, featuring accessible sites to explore along the stunning Moray Firth coast will be officially unveiled at Dive In.
This fun public event on Saturday, June 17 and Sunday 18 will be held at Macduff Marine Aquarium to inform people about water safety, beach litter and marine wildlife during the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week.
The trail was designed in partnership with Macduff Marine Aquarium, which promotes environmental themes within its exhibits, events and educational programming, and East Grampian Coastal Partnership, who run the Turning the Plastic Tide project tackling marine litter through organised beach clean ups.
Marie Dare, Learning officer at Macduff Marine Aquarium, part of Live Life Aberdeenshire, said “ We are thrilled to be involved with the creation of this new snorkel trail!
"The aquarium showcases the diverse Moray Firth marine habitats and wildlife and the new trail is a fantastic way for people to get to know our coastal waters first hand.
"We hope the trail will encourage more people to get out there and experience the wonder of snorkelling in the Moray Firth.
"We are also very excited to be hosting the launch event at our Dive In Weekend.
"This event will feature some great opportunities to explore water safety through demos and talks, along with craft activities, the aquarium's popular dive show and much more.”
Elouise Cartner, Living Seas Public Engagement Officer with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, who worked on the new trail said: “We have highlighted several beginner and slightly advanced snorkelling zones, from an iconic location in Portknockie overlooking Bow Fiddle Rock to Cullykhan Bay along the magnificent Moray Firth coast.
“We have focussed on promoting accessible sites to enable more equal access to nature.
Alongside helpful beach maps with beginner and advanced snorkel areas, the leaflet highlights local facilities (for example, kit hire, parking and toilets), family-friendly attractions (visitor centres, parks, picnic areas), accessibility information and community-led marine citizen science opportunities, all for a wonderful day out!”
The trail leaflet is available to download from the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/snorkel-trails/ where leaflets detailing other Scottish Snorkel Trails are also available including: Arran, Berwickshire, East Lothian, Lochaber, North Argyll, North Harris, North West Highlands and Torridon. The existing Snorkel Trail network showcases 55 stunning snorkel sites across Scotland.
