Encounter Guidelines

Swim-with blue shark code of conduct

Celtic Deep is proud to have worked directly with MARECO and other swim-with operators to help create a national code of conduct for our industry. Scroll through the slides below, Full version available on MARECO website:

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Shark habituation and association

It's well documented that feeding sharks can cause issues, altering natural foraging behaviour. Creating, an association between humans and food that can be dangerous to human and/or sharks. Like many wild animals, sharks will be seduced by an easy meal and will change their natural behaviour if they are fed regularly and consistently at the same location and time of day. 

The process whereby a shark becomes dependent on regular feeding is called habituation. We want to make sure we are minimising the chance of this with the sharks we encounter. We use chum to draw the sharks to our boat. Chumming gives the sharks a scent trail to follow... a promise of a potential meal rather than a meal.  We use chum made from locally caught fish, bran and fish oil to create a long curtain of smell that in the right conditions can stretch for many miles.  Although small chunks of fish are thrown periodically to keep the interest of the sharks as they follow this trail towards us, we never carry fish into the water with us or hand-feed the sharks. 

Blue sharks are numerous and highly mobile, capable of travelling hundreds of miles a day. Due to this it is already highly unlikely that in an offshore setting we would encounter the same animals on any given day.  However, we look to further minimise any risk by varying the locations and by not keeping a set time schedule. 

Seabirds

Seabirds such as Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets are spectacular swimmers and snorkeling with them is an opportunity to see these agile underwater predators through a different lens. 

We're acutely aware of the fine margins seabirds have to tread in order to survive. We're not about to compromise what is a crucial few months for them in the sanctuaries of Skomer , Skokholm and Grassholm. 

By keeping our numbers low, keeping our distance and following the guidance of wardens from these islands, we're excited to collaborate on creating a new code of conduct that will ensure we're providing a sustainable snorkelling experience.  

Grey Seals

There are clear guidelines for swimming with our grey seals. These have been developed in Lundy. Everything applies to our Pembrokeshire colonies too, with the only key difference being that in Pembrokeshire we are not allowed to approach seals in the water, they must come to us. Which, if you’re respectful, they invariably do!

Lundy Island Seal Code of Conduct

  • If you observe any behaviour which might indicate stress, such as increased vocalisation, teeth bearing or rapid entry into the water please move away and allow the seal to recover.

  • Keep boat speed below 5 knots within 100m of the shoreline.

  • Whilst snorkelling or diving, please refrain from touching or feeding the seals.

  • Do not take toys into the water to play with the seals

  • Do not directly approach the seals on land or in the water or attempt to chase them, given time they will come to you.

  • Take plenty of pictures and feel free to send these onto the respective warden, but avoid using flash photography as this may scare the seals.

Pembrokeshire Marine Code: Grey Seals code of conduct

Cetaceans

We’re freedivers and we're passionate about getting in the water to observe wildlife.  First and foremost though, we're conservationists. We are not here to push the limits of what are hard-won rules in the UK regarding whale and dolphin disturbance.

Whilst exploring near shore or transiting to the Deep, we have the excellent Pembrokeshire Marine Code to follow. During our time in the Celtic Deep our engine is off. Our goal is to set up a platform where wildlife comes to us rather than us pursuing wildlife. We drift with the currents in the hope that sharks will find us and other wildlife too: birds, tuna whales and dolphins have all come to the boat while we’ve been in the water.  We will not actively enter the water if cetaceans are within 100m of the vessel.  If they show up we will wait and enjoy them from the boat until they have left the vicinity. In some cases, dolphins in particular, will return and investigate us while we’re in the water.  If they seek us out while we’re in close proximity of our idle vessel, we remain passive, do not pursue the animals in any way and monitor their behaviour. The animals are visiting us on their terms and able to leave at any point. Throughout the day we use pole-cams and enter the water periodically to survey the area around the boat for sharks that may not be visible from the surface. 

Pic: @davidmillerartuk