Dorset Underwater

14/10/2026

"Wimborne's River Wonders"

Did you know that there's over 1,000 kms of rivers in Dorset or that 95% of the world's chalk streams are in Dorset or our neighbouring counties of Hampshire or Wiltshire?

Monday night saw me attend a brilliant talk at Planet Wimborne's Festival. Linda Bunting, the Chair invited Zoe Randall from Dorset Catchment Partnerships who talked about the work being done to protect Dorset's rivers and Bex Johnson-Smith from the Stour Valleys Partnership and how Citizen Scientists can get involved to help.

There's lots more brilliant events both during the day and the evening, so pop along if you can.

A huge thank you to them all for an amazing evening and for letting me bring Nemo 🙏. Never ever did I think he'd be scared in a church ☺️

13/10/2026

"A Million Thank Yous 🙏💕🥰"

Wow, what on earth happened last night. I went into Planet Wimborne's brilliant talk last night on rivers - more on this tomorrow but make sure you get to their festival this week as it's AMAZING 💚) and came out to get the bus home to all of your incredible comments - I honestly was grateful for just one ❤️

I'll reply to you all tonight as I'm giving my first ocean talk at a local care home 🥰 but yes I offered to fund a crabbing banner through my disability help and even a recycling bin, plus offered to take the lines, etc to Weymouth & Portland Marine Litter Project to be recycled through the Net Regeneration Project. I will keep trying and thanks to all of your passion and love for our seas, this post will definitely help to raise much needed awareness.

Another interesting find this summer has been poo bags underwater 💩😃. Did you know that recycled poo bags do NOT biodegrade underwater which I found in Bowleaze Cove, and neither do biodegradable cups which I fished out of Weymouth.

Just before I head off, I just want to add that most of the crabbing nets lost ARE accidents. They easily snag onto rocks and once that happens, it's impossible to get them back as the string is too weak. Biodegradable ones don't degrade in the water either, so I'm not sure how best to help, other than literally getting in the sea.

I'll be passing all of these findings onto the Marine Conservation Society who have been really supportive since I raised a concern last year that I was finding quite a few beneath the waves.

Thanks again so much for all the support, shattered after last night but got to keep trying.

Hope you all have a lovely day - Maria x

12/10/2026

"98 crabbing nets rescued from Swanage and Weymouth "

I'm not going to lie, Friday saw me close to giving up because honestly, trying to raise awareness of litter which is underwater and which people don't see, has definitely been the hardest, craziest thing I've ever done (apart from selling my dive kit to fund a trip to help get Manta Rays and Sharks protected through CITES from Asian Fisheries).

Swimming through sludge, crawling through flies in the hot sun, but at least I know that there's just a minuscule chance that by keeping these out of the sea, that it helps to protect marine life.

Especially the larger crabbing nets, as when the netting degrades, the ring poises a huge danger like Flying Rings do to seals and other large marine life.

Even just a like or a quick comment means the world to me to keep going, because otherwise this stuff is lost forever 😔 - Maria x

07/10/2026

"Voice for our Seas"

Today I plucked up the courage to attend my first local Council Meeting as it was a special meeting about my home coastal area.

All I can say is that it was so hard being alone speaking up for our sea in amongst a packed table of local sea-lovers. Even harder was to be told by a local conservation organisation that they're now branching into the marine side and will offer a credit for my images - no mention of inclusion or thanks for any of the voluntary work I've been doing for 10 years.

The hughest thanks go to Bridget from Swanage Swimmers Club and Malcolm who's a keen snorkeller for being supportive 💙

I will keep trying ☺️ x

06/10/2026

"Small fish, Fascinating Life"

Did you know that there are 6 kinds of pipefish in the UK?

This morning in the midst of the fog at 6 am I found this Lesser Pipefish, also known as a Nillson's Pipefish.

Growing up to 17 cms, they are commonly found near seagrass and camoflague well with their surroundings. They feed on the tiniest of organisms or crustaceans, sucking them up through their long snout.

They are related to seahorses, and just like them, males handle incubation of the juniors in their very own brood pouch.

Have you seen one?

04/10/2026

"Small Blades, Massive Impact"

Did you know that seagrass meadows are one of the most valuable marine habitats on earth?

Today I returned to the seagrass meadow in Swanage which I mapped last year to help the Ocean Conservation Trust and the Seahorse Trust.

Seagrass is so important to help prevent coastal erosion, it captures and stores carbon and provides food and shelter for so many marine species 💚

I bumped into lots of beautiful marine life in the bay, including two cute Dragonets. Did you know that males can develop blue stripes and glowing spots?

Don't forget that if you see seagrass, even from land, that you can help too by logging it using a free App by Project Seagrass 💚

Excited to share more stories with you soon x

01/10/2026

Have you heard of the South Coast Marine Recovery Project?

All the Wildlife Trusts along our South Coast from Sussex through to Cornwall have pledged to help restore marine life and protect habitats.

Launched by The Wildlife Trusts which Dr Kizzy Beaumont and Caitlin Woombs brilliantly explained at Planet Purbeck's Discovery Fest Event last week, we can all be a voice to help our seas tackle water quality, sustainable fisheries and manage recreational pressures.

Simply fill in this form created by Dorset Wildlife Trust and be a part of an incredible project to help our coast thrive. They're also giving a FREE Online Talk on Tuesday 20th October at 7 pm.

Huge well done to them all for their work in this 🙌

Dorset Wildlife Trust is playing a key role in the new South Coast Marine Recovery Project – a partnership bringing together wildlife trusts from Cornwall to Sussex to support the recovery of marine life along England’s south coast. 🌊

The project aims to create a long-term roadmap for healthier, more resilient seas that benefit both wildlife and coastal communities. As part of its development, the project team wants to hear from people who live, work and spend time along our coast. 💙

What do you value about our seas? What pressures do you think they are facing? And what would encourage you to get involved in protecting them?

Your views will help the project understand local priorities, explore the challenges facing our marine environment and identify practical opportunities for recovery.

Have your say by completing the questionnaire 👉 https://bit.ly/3VVWnAI

You can also find out more about the project and hear from the team at an online talk on Tuesday 20 October at 7pm.

Sign up for the talk here 👉 https://bit.ly/4hlZ7jq

Whether you live by the coast, work on the water, enjoy exploring our shores or simply care about the future of our seas, we’d love to hear from you. 🌊 ~ Jack

📸 Kimmeridge Bay - Sophie Cooper

30/09/2026

"Exploring our oceans was such a crazy idea 😃"

Happy National Podcast Day!

Today's a day to say thank you to the incredible team of Gemma and Ian from The BIG Scuba Podcast for inviting me on their show back in 2023.

If you've ever wondered about my ocean journey and how I got so lost in it all snorkelling, diving, then snorkelling again, well here it is.

Start at 16 minutes and you'll hear my crazy idea of following whale sharks and heaps of giggles which carry on right through .....

I really hope that it inspires someone that they can get over their fears to exploring our oceans too 💙

Thanks so much Gemma and Ian, and tune in to their other episodes too, there's so many more awesome stories from incredible humans to listen to 🙌💕 xx

29/09/2026

"From Washed-Out to Wow"

Yesterday was back to West Dorset and was one of those days when as soon as I got in the water, I was thinking I should have stayed on land, the visability was that poor.

Did anyone else see Simon Reeve's Wilderness with on Sunday night? It took me back to the start of my ocean journey, looking for and trying to satellite tag whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez.

Yesterday was truly all about seeing beauty in little things and making friends with Two Spotted Gobies. Did you know that males have two black spots, whereas females just have the one by their tail?

Who else loves the small stuff?