Seasearch Scotland's longest serving coordinator shares his experiences

This year, Seasearch celebrated its 35th Anniversary and it also marked my 20th year as West coast of Scotland coordinator and tutor. I've seen quite a lot of changes over the last couple of decades and watched Seasearch mature from the province of a few geeky scientists to part of the mainstream of diving.

Some dive organisations such as the Scottish Sub Aqua Club have even incorporated Seasearch training into their training schedules and every year hundreds of divers go through the training courses.

Owen on a boat after a dive.

In the earlier years it wouldn't be unusual for me to travel half way across Scotland to teach a tiny handful of enthusiasts, whereas with the most recent courses, I've often had to create a waiting list of disappointed people to invite on the next course. This isn't just due to the increased awareness of Seasearch amongst the diving and snorkelling communities.  As Covid forced a move to more online courses, it allowed more people to attend the courses as they are done from the comfort of home.

We still have to go diving though, otherwise what's the point!

Owen with group after a face-to-face course on Arran in 2018.

I first learned to dive in 1981 using a wet suit in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth and over the years I've worked as a commercial diver on Scottish fish farms and as a scientific diver with Heriot Watt University.

I think it's safe to say though, without Seasearch I may have come to my senses years ago and given up diving. (Though the invention of heated vests may have helped as well!)

Seasearch has given me the opportunity to dive with other like-minded divers from all sorts of backgrounds. And more recently, with a growing awareness of marine issues amongst non divers, I've spent a lot of time working with various community groups intent on protecting their bit of coast.

Much as I enjoy the teaching and conservation side of Seasearch, the real reason I'm still involved after all these years is my fascination with the ocean and the life it contains. Any time not spent on or under the water feels a bit like time wasted.

Some moments are etched forever on my memory such as surfacing in a glassy sea off Arran with Manx Shearwaters overhead or the startling sight of part of the seabed erupting as a massive flapper skate took off over a field of Fireworks anemones in Loch Duich. Flying over the Summer Isle maerl beds or hovering off the Firth of Lorne rock walls are right up there, as is feeling the ocean swell at 20 metres off Lewis.

Sunstar on bed of Maerl in Argyll in 2015.

There is also the anticipation of new experiences to come.

Already my mind is buzzing with potential projects for 2024. A yacht-based expedition to the wild West Loch Tarbert on Jura, helping community groups monitor the health of "their" maerl beds, revisiting the amazing west coast of Lewis and, closer to home, visiting the Fireworks Anemone fields of Loch Fyne.

There is never enough time to do everything I want to do, but 2024 is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy year as usual!

Photos by Karen Boswarva.

AUTHOR

Owen Paisley
Seasearch Coordinator - West Scotland

Owen first learnt to dive in 1980 and has worked as a commercial diver on Scottish fish farms and a scientific diver with Heriot Watt University.

He became the Seasearch coordinator for West Scotland and a tutor over 20 years ago and continues to run survey trips and training courses for the project.