Atlantic Diver - Diving Cornwall

Two Newquay zoology graduates are preparing to swim with sharks to raise money for turtle conservation.
Nicole Howarth and Nicola Morris want to purchase a satellite tag to allow the next turtle that is rescued and rehabilitated by Blue Reef aquarium to be monitored after release back into the wild.

To raise money the girls are doing a sponsored cage dive off the Cornish Coast on September 7 where they are hoping to encounter blue sharks which measure around 4 meters in length and are very inquisitive and will swim right up to the cage. The dive has been very kindly sponsored by Chris&Annabelle Lowe who run their business Atlantic Diving in Newquay as they want to highlight the plight of the massive decline in shark populations worldwide due to the overfishing and cruel shark finning trade.

The girls were spurred into action after a blind Loggerhead turtle was treated at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay and has now been given a permanent home there. This will be a particularly difficult challenge for Nicola as she suffers from the circulatory disorder Raynauds and cannot usually go into the sea without suffering extreme pain. She is very determined to do this as they are both very passionate about the cause.

In total nine sea turtles have been rescued, rehabilitated and released but this will be the first time one of them has been tracked using a satellite tag to monitor its progress. This will mean that experts gain a deeper understanding of wild turtle behaviour.

Nicole Howarth, who studied BSc Zoology with Mrs Morris at Newquay College, said: “Turtles are facing a number of threats which are causing populations to decline.
“The most serious marine environment threat to turtles is commercial fishing but other factors such as severe storms are also a factor. Recently there has been a significant increase in the number of turtles being washed up around the UK coastline due to bad storms.”
“Blue Reef Aquarium are receiving more and more washed up and injured turtles each year,” she added.
The first of the fundraising events was held at Sainsbury’s on July 17, followed by August 28 and September 3.
There will be information about the project and ways in which people can sponsor or donate.

Businesses and schools are also being encouraged to support the turtle conservation project by holding ‘Green Days’ where everyone wears an item of green for a day.

For further details or how to donate please contact Nicole Howarth 07906 599 897 or Nicola Morris 07595996955 or email us on ukulalana@gmail.com or nic.j.morris@hotmail.com

                                                            GOOD LUCK GIRLS !!!!