Youngsters learn their lesson
A THIRD group of Highland children completed their ‘Dolphin Snorkeller’ course in Ullapool last week.
The course is a series of seven lessons put together by the British Sub Aqua Club. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and Ullapool Leisure Centre have been working together to deliver the training to local children, ensuring they gain an introduction to how to snorkel safely and stay safe in the sea.
In January, two groups of children trained in the pool. This time around, the trainees attended pool lessons from Monday to Thursday, then on Friday, Highlife Highland staff and Living Seas Officer Noel Hawkins and snorkel instructors took the youngsters into the sea beside the village jetty. The children were put into ‘ buddy’ pairs and taught how to enter and exit the sea.
‘Getting children into the sea and seeing the marine life and habitat off our shores is a great way of introducing them to their local environment whilst having fun,’ said Noel Hawkins.
‘Of course, going into the sea raises risks and safety issues. By training in the pool first we can ensure the youngsters are aware of what to do and how to stay safe, watch out for each other and enjoy their experience in the sea.’