The aim of Seasearch is to map the marine habitats and species found around our coast, and to use the information to identify sites of specific conservation concern.
In 2012 Seasearch in Cornwall is part funded through the SLICK Environmental Challenge Fund from the Peter De Haan Charitable Trust.
How you can get involved
Seasearch in Cornwall has a network of qualified divers who participate in organised surveys and complete and send in Seasearch forms from their own recreational dives. If you would like to get involved contact Angie Gall, Marine Conservation Officer on the details at the bottom of the page. Training is available for volunteers; for information about the kind of training Seasearch courses provide please visit the Seasearch website.
Events 2012
Observer course
This is the basic introductory course for Seasearch. Saturday in the classroom, Sunday 2 boat dives.
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April
Plymouth, Bovisand. Contact Sally Sharrock from Devon Seasearch for details sally.sharrock@btopenworld.com
Course cost £85
Surveyor course
A two-day course for experienced Seasearch Observers to increase your identification and underwater recording skills. The course includes 2 boat dives, with the possibility of an additional shore dive. We will be based at Porthkerris Divers where there is an option to camp overnight. Tutor Sally Sharrock from Devon Seasearch will lead a fascinating and fun course to progress your Seasearch skills. Please get in touch if you want to discuss the suitability of this course for you.
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May
Porthkerris, the Lizard, Cornwall
Course cost: £85
Sea squirts course
A two day course with expert Bernard Picton from National Museums Northern Ireland. Course includes an introduction to sea squirt identification and diver collection, with lab work and fieldwork. The course includes 2 boat dives.
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th June
Falmouth Marine School, Falmouth, Cornwall
Course cost: £80 diver, £35 non-diver
Further dives and training courses for 2012 will appear here shortly, please check back often.
Please note that for all Seasearch diving with Cornwall Wildlife Trust you must meet the following requirements:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be a trained diver qualified to the level of BSAC Sports diver, PADI Rescue diver or equivalent
- Have recent experience of cold water diving including a minimum of 20 logged dives, 10 of which should be in the UK and 2 of which should be within the last 6 months.
- Have your own dive gear or able to rent dive gear which must be serviceable and within test date
- Have a current diving medical or self-certification declaration
- Have third party liability diving insurance.
- Be fit on the day and fully able to participate
Please get in touch if you are interested in doing the one day Observer course to get started with Seasearch. We will run another one when there is enough demand. We can also run one for your dive club if you have at least 10 people interested in signing up.
In 2011 Seasearch in Cornwall focused more on surveying seagrass and our Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas. 2012 will involve surveying proposed Marine Conservation Zones and special habitats such as maerl and seagrass as well as looking out for non-native invasive species. 
Countrywide data and reports are available from the Seasearch website and reports regarding Cornwall specifically can be downloaded in the related links box to your right
