If Snorkelling Made Saturdays.........

So, in August I got to go swimming with seals off one of the most beautiful coastlines in the UK, and even though it left me ill because I ignored my body and stayed in longer than I should have, I would do it all again in a heart beat and here is why....

For years I wanted to work as a marine biologist but I had one teensy little issue. Having sat and watched Jaws, I couldn't think of anything more terrifying than the deep blue sea, but at the same time I was utterly enamoured with everything that it represented.

There is a haunting, never-ending flow to its vast and immeasurable landscape that slips its way into your soul and embraces your heart.

The gentle lull of the waves is hypnotising, and calms even the worst of moods, bringing you into the moment and reminding you that the past is gone and tomorrow hasn't been written yet.

It encourages you to just stop. To breathe. To live for that moment and allow yourself to exxperience it with every one of your senses.

Anyhoo, one of my very favourite people in the world sent me a very excited message about an arranged snorkelling session just off the Farne Islands. Wor Katie has been at me for ages to come with her so when I got the message I jumped at the chance.

Onto the internet I went to buy a wetsuit to go with my snorkelling gear and within minutes, I was sorted.

(In case you are wondering, Mountain Warehouse in the sale. Bargain! Thank you Mountain Warehouse.)

As the day began, I found myself wondering how it would go. What will I do if I can't see more than a foot below me in the water and there is a great white lurking beneath the waves? What if I jump in and forget how to swim, and most importantly - what does one wear under a wetsuit? All very relevant concerns of course and as it turned out, completely unnecessary.

(For reference, generally a swimming costume or bikini is the answer to the last question, although I actually just wore a pair of tankini shorts because I am no longer 20 and a sports bra type thing.) If you haven't worn one a wet suit before, trust me when I tell you - not only are they snug but they are rather warm. The less you can get away with, the better!

We headed down in the car to Seahouses all suited and booted in our wetsuits.

Again, for those who may be considering this but haven't worn one before - travel in the suit or have it on before you get onto the boat. Its a mission and a half to put them on and honestly, I think I would have given up on the whole thing if I wasn't already wearing it.

Also, getting out of the car with a wetsuit already on is kind of cool and jsut a little bit hip.

I immediately went from the weird, slightly kooky, hippy dippy witchy girl to the chick wearing her wetsuit tied around her waist with a swimming bra on and all her tats out. (Thats T-A-T-S for tattoos. Not tits - just in case you were wondering ;) )

It was a stunning afternoon, warm, bright and full of blue skies. Gotta be honest, we were both a little excited. Although she has done loads of these types of dives, this was my very first open water snorkelling session. In fact, when I think about, she also was the one to break me in for the cold water swimming on Blyth beach on a rainy, absolutely freezing night in March last year.

Believe me when I tell you, the name of the group Blyth Bluetits is very apt!

Katie has been the one who has gently nudged me into shark infested waters several times over, and I have loved every minute of it! (I know it seems dramatic but you never know, and I did have a bloody cut on my finger from earlier that day)

The trip out on the boat was glorious. There was enough of a breeze to take the edge off the heat but not so much that you were left cold. The sunlight was glistening off the waves and dancing along the gentle crests as they ebbed and flowed.

Having never really suffered from any kind of seasickness unless I am on a huge cruise type ship, the journey was absoutely magic . It took maybe 25 minutes or so to get to where we were going, but the closer we got, the more apprehensive I began to feel.

You see, I am a bit of a scaredy cat sometimes. It never stops me doing anything but once I start thinking, I tend to overthink, and by the time I am ready to do whatever the activity is, there are about 20 different scenarios running through my head.

Unfortunately most of them end in a brutal, tortuous death - usually mine!

This particular scenario related to the fact that the night before I had managed to slice my finger whilst opening a tin, and it was still bleeding.

Of course, in my mind, that meant that the minute I got into the water, the scent of blood would attract one of the many maneating sharks that live on the other side of the planet, and during the 40 minutes or so that I spent in the water, it would make its way to the Farne islands, completely ignoring the icy cold because I was there and ready for eating!

That folks.... that is why I write.

Super over active imagination!

It helps to keep me sane. I would like to say sensible but I suspect there are a large number of people who may disagree with that!

Anyway, part of that stupendously crazy thought process came from an expectation of not being able to see more than a foot or so below the water, therfore there would be no warning when the shark swam up from the depths of the murky waters to crush me in its jaws.

Imagine my disbelief however when we got there and this was what I saw...

(Just in case you're wondering, that first photo was unexpected and incredibly lucky. Seeing the red flippered Katie fish is extremely rare in the wild!)

Unless you have done it, its really hard to put into words, even for someone like me.

From the moment you put your head under the water and start to swim, the outside world seems to disappear and you become part of this quiet, majestic, underwater kingdom full of life.

The geenery is reminiscent of a forest with soft grass covering the ground and tall trees moving slowly back and forth as if a gentle breeze is blowing softly through their branches.

The colours are incredible - vibrant and dynamic, the range of green alone breathtaking.

From the gentle sandy white on the sea floor to the unexpected violet streaks dancing across the luminous skin of the jellyfish, its a stunning environment to be in and akin to entering a completely new world.

The quiet is all encompassing, comforting and soothing, leaving you with the overwhelming feeling that you are the only person quietly traversing the alien landscape. The strange thing about it is that doesn't feel frightening. The tranquility removes the fear and leaves you feeling as if you could float around in the world forever.

Of course, for those of you familiar with the North Sea, you will fully understand why this would not be possible. Cold doesn't really cover it and whilst the mind was willing - the flesh was weak.

As the pins and needles began to kick in in my outer extremities, it was definitely time to head back to the boat, dry clothes and the hope of some warmth.

What finished it for me was that on the way back to the boat, the seal's who had kept their distance decided to make an appearance. We had seen them in and out of the water from a distance but to see them up close was just magical.

On top of that, we then also got treated to the most stunning sunset as we sailed back to harbour.

What a day musers!

I can wax lyrical about this all day but until you experience it yourselves, this is something you just cannot truly put into words. To be in the water, sharing the seals environment and experiencing the beauty and serenity of the sea is an almost spiritual experience.

We are incredibly lucky in the North East as we are home to one of the largest Grey Seal colonies in the UK. Its become a protected area, and every year during the Autumn, around 3000 pups are born. Thats 40% of the worlds Grey Seal population being born in the UK, so these colonies are incredibly important to the ongoing survival of this beautiful species.

(Photos were curteousy of the group we went with)

If you get the chance, book an excursion. I cannot recommend it enough. It gives you a whole new respect and understanding not only of the beauty of the sea, but its importance to the species that share it, humanity included. The details for who we booked through are at the end of the blog and they were absolutely brilliant.

If you do nothing else over the next 12 months - do this.

It will change you. I guarantee you.

Until next time........

https://www.farne-islands.com/#:~:text=Discover%20the%20beauty%20of%20the%20Farne%20Islands,and%20stunning%20scenery.%20Book%20your%20adventure%20today!