Uncovering the Rich Underwater Wildlife of Wales
It's just before sunrise, and the car is packed with thermoses of coffee, fleece-lined waterproof jackets, and underwater camera gear, as we drive toward the quaint Welsh seaside town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire. My close friend, wildlife photographer and documentarian Tatiana McCabe, has invited me to join her in snorkeling around Britain's first statutory Marine Nature Reserve, Lundy Island.
Though I moved to London from Chicago over a decade ago, the Welsh coast is entirely new to me. But its rugged landscape, with cliffs that plunge into the sea and give way to hidden coves and wide bays, have inspired poets and painters for centuries.
On arrival in Tenby, a timelessly alluring slice of British seaside, we're warmly greeted by Richard Rees, who moves with the ease of a surfer, having spent years paddling through all sorts of waters. Rees is an accomplished free-diver and marine conservationist; he's also the founder of Celtic Deep, a social enterprise run by ocean-lovers that offers in-water wildlife experiences off the coast of Pembrokeshire, the westernmost county in South Wales.
Through day excursions, Celtic Deep wants travelers to experience the rich wilderness of Wales—and remind them that diverse underwater life can be found here in the UK, not just in tropical waters. By inviting water sports lovers into this vibrant and ever-changing world beneath the sea's surface, Rees seeks to build the kind of connection that drives real conservation by educating visitors about the importance of marine ecosystems, conducting research and hosting researchers, and assessing their own impact on the environment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Parking warning at beach after vehicles submerged
People are being urged to park carefully and "treat the sea and coastline with respect" after three vehicles were caught out by the tide just days apart at the same beach. A campervan left at Traeth y Greigddu, also known as Black Rock Sands, near Porthmadog was submerged on Friday 13 June, while another was rescued just in time on Sunday 8 June. A VW Beetle was also swamped by the tide on Saturday 14 June. While parking is allowed at the beach, Cyngor Gwynedd has urged beachgoers to check tide times and avoid parking below the high tide line, warning that stuck vehicles may incur recovery costs. Beach parking warning after two vehicles submerged Stuck-in-mud driver 'ignored' beach warning signs More than 100 people cut off by tide on beach Drivers pay £8 to park their cars at Traeth y Greigddu and £16 for caravans, but some still venture into restricted soft sand areas despite clear warnings. Kevin Gibson, who lives in Morfa Bychan and walks the beach daily with his dogs, said he had seen about six vehicles stuck in the sand so far this year. He believes many tourists underestimate how fast the tide moves and ignore the council's warning signs. While recovery companies usually retrieve the stranded vehicles the following day, locals sometimes attempt to help, Mr Gibson added. On the evening of Saturday 14 June he received a call from a woman whose VW Beetle was stuck, but as he no longer does vehicle recoveries he advised her to contact the council using the details on the beach entrance signs. "She said she was staying at a local campsite and didn't really know the area," he said. "This is the third time in a week here. "I do feel sorry for them - these are often expensive vehicles, and I'm not sure what the situation is with insurance in these cases," he added. Dillon Green, from Liverpool, has had a caravan near Morfa Bychan beach for five years. He also runs a recovery company and said he often received calls from stressed drivers who have spotted his truck and contact details when he visits his caravan each weekend. Mr Green said: "I've been going there for five years in a recovery truck and never got stuck myself so I don't understand how people do it. "I have definitely seen a rise in the amount of cars getting stuck. "It's almost every weekend." Mr Green said even if people were stuck at the top of the beach it is usually not a problem, but down at the bottom the tide comes in fast and can trap vehicles quickly. "People often panic and make it worse by accelerating, which just digs the wheels in deeper," he added. Most of the time Mr Green said he could pull them out with the winch, but if the tide gets them, the car is "usually ruined". A spokesperson for Cyngor Gwynedd, which manages the beach, said while the council welcomed everyone to its "beautiful" beaches and coastal areas, it wants "everyone to enjoy themselves safely". Visitors are urged to check the weather forecast, tide times, and to "treat the sea and coastline with respect". Motorists should avoid parking below the high tide line and remain alert to changing conditions, the council added. Despite "multiple signs" warning of potential dangers and vehicle restrictions, the local authority said some drivers still become stuck in soft sand or rising tides, often after ignoring advice. The spokesperson said: "Where possible, during staffed hours, council officers will endeavour to recover any vehicles that get into such difficulties. "However, in some cases it may be necessary to seek assistance from a third-party contractor, for which the driver or owner of the vehicle would be responsible for the associated costs. "Beach wardens will be on duty daily from 27 June to 6 September, and the beach barrier will close at 8pm each evening to "prevent vehicles gaining access to the beach."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The American diner serving burgers bigger than Llandudno's Great Orme
Towering high above Llandudno, the Great Orme, occupies one of North Wales most spectacular sites and views. I was hoping to find a similar rugged, foreboding pinnacle on Gloddaeth Street in Llandudno, as someone had told me that Dinos, served mountains of meat, which were just as difficult to conquer? Dinos Llandudno is a big and brash American diner and takeaway, which offers deluxe burgers bigger than your head. So, if your eyes are bigger than your stomach, then this could be the place for you. Dinos ranks high in the Trip Advisor ratings, but surprisingly has no American stars and stripe's theme with the inside décor. Instead, it is simply decorated with basic turquoise and pink walls. Despite its central location, the venue was relatively quiet when we visited. READ MORE: I tried an angelic café in North Wales city centre and found a little taste of heaven READ MORE: Doctor urges millions to get a tin of baked beans before June 30 Dinos is obviously burger barmy but the saliva-inducing menu has various other options from across the pond such as chicken wings, shakes and pizza. There are lots of turkey rashers and barbeque sauce on the menu as you might expect, with toppings drawing largely on American Ranch influences, with enough cheese to sink a ship. Every type of burger is listed here. From, simple American style burgers with gherkins and American mustard for £11, to a massive Welsh dragon burger, food challenge, which involves two x 16oz Welsh lamb burgers and enough chili sauce to blow your socks off for £34. There were about twenty-three burgers listed on the menu, with all kinds of strange names such 'Heart Attack' 'Angry Bird' 'King Kong' or the patriotic 'Snowdon Mountain' burger. There were charcoal cooked chicken burgers such as the 'Bob Marley' burger or Cajun spiced and even a tandoori version. Although, I still think they were missing a trick by not having a 'Great Orme' burger. When it comes to burgers, there are some who think, less is more, and even though I didn't see any 'Smash Burgers' on the list? I did notice that there were a couple of Welsh Lamb burgers, which didn't include any sauces or cheese, so that you could get the full taste of the meat. The pizza list was just as big with over twenty-four choices such as 'Cajun sizzler' 'Hot Mexico' or 'Spicy Italian', all fairly self-explanatory with their ingredients. Grilled meals included various versions of chicken and there were a few healthy salads on offer for people who were counting the calories. I decided to leave the diet until tomorrow and went for the 'King Burger', which was an 8oz cheese burger with Parmesan cheese and a Caesar dressing. We were told by the waitress that we could add a meal deal, which meant French fries or Potato Wedges with a can of pop for £5 extra or you could add a fresh milkshake and your choice of fries or wedges for £7 extra. I couldn't resist and it was good to have an attentive service from a waitress, who didn't judge us for our guilty food choices. The burger was a plump, well- shaped pillow and the seeded bun was sturdy enough not to fall apart in my hands. There were three extra crunchy onion rings placed on the top of a skewer, which was delicately holding the whole thing together. The burger was smoothed in cheese with a primal, charred exterior but was soft and succulent inside. My wife went for her cheese burger to be concealed in a wrap. The results were surprisingly different and delicious, with her version tasting a bit like a big juicy burger kebab. The burger was cut into half and squeezed into the wrap with some salad and a burger sauce. The fries were presented in a mini chip pan fryer and were very morish indeed. The milkshake section was also extra-large and included all the usual suspects along with flavours such as Kinder Bueno, Peanut Butter, Oreo and Nutella. I completed my American dream with a thick and delicious snickers version, which tasted like caramel, peanut butter and chocolate at the same time. Desserts included USA inspired things like New Yorker Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake or Cookie Dough ice cream. We also saw a fine-looking Chocolate Pizza, which I am sure the kids would enjoy. Talking of big kids, I was still slurping my thick milkshake, topped with a flake, long after the burger had been digested whilst my more sensible wife sipped her simple Americano. Dinos food is also available for takeaway via the just eat app, and there is just as much choice on there, including melting meatballs, dirty fries, and various chicken bites, nuggets and strips. We decided to walk off our burgers with a stroll along the prom and the pier and by vowing not to eat again for at least 24 hours. Dinos Llandudno offers an American dining experience that keeps customers coming back for more. How can you resist a big plate of delicious carbs and sugar? If you like American classics, such as sloppy burgers, loaded fries and pizzas bigger than a dustbin lid, then you certainly won't be disappointed eating at Dinos. The Facts King Burger £11.00 (Milkshake meal deal) £7 Flake 50p Cheese Burger wrap £11.00 Americano £3.00 Total £32.50 Opening Times: Monday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Tuesday\u0009Closed Wednesday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Thursday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Friday. 4pm–10 pm Saturday\u000912pm–10 pm Sunday\u00094pm–9:30 pm Atmosphere- Despite its central location, the venue was relatively quiet. Car Parking- Some limited street parking nearby. Disabled Access- Some steps into venue and toilet. Plenty of room inside. Service- Attentive service from a waitress who didn't judge us on our guilty food choices. Overall- The American diner serving burgers bigger than the Great Orme, Llandudno. Dinos Llandudno 5 Gloddaeth Street , Llandudno, LL30 2DD
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Landslip-hit Pembrokeshire coastal path reopens after months of work
A landslip-hit section of the Wales Coastal Path in Pembrokeshire has re-opened after its latest months of work. The path between Coppet Hall, Saundersfoot and Wisemans Bridge, which includes an under-cliff tunnel, has been plagued by landslips since late 2023 and most recently closed since the end of February 2025. Earlier this year, it was stated that £700,000 had already been spent by Pembrokeshire County Council on repairs. Cliff stabilisation work at the landslip-hit site. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) At the time of the February closure, the authority predicted that the work would take around four months, and has now shared the news on Facebook that the path has re-opened. The post stated: "Some great news to bring you this afternoon – the popular coastal footpath between Coppet Hall and Wiseman's Bridge has re-opened – just in time for the lovely weather! "Thanks to everyone for their patience while the important safety work was carried out over the last few months following a series of landslides. "Thanks also to the council teams and contractors who have worked tirelessly to open the pathway. The popular path features the 'long tunnel' between Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge. (Image: Pembrokeshire County Council) Hundreds of locals and visitors have welcomed the path's re-opening. Said one Saundersfoot resident: 'It makes a huge difference to our community.' Another commented: 'Delighted to be able to use it again'. And there was also gratitude for the extensive work which has been carried out, with one person posting: 'Thank you to all those who made it safe for us.'
