There’s more out there than seaweed and seashells
Georgina ‘George’ Miller, six-time UK national record holder, is more than familiar with the UK’s coastal waters. Freediving up to 65 metres, holding her breath for seven minutes and being calm when face to face with a shark is a normal occurrence for the owner of Aquacity in Cornwall.
Having experienced diving with humpback whales and a tiger shark encounter, Miller still loves the British coast, especially down in Cornwall. Here are her top five animals to spot this summer.
1. Blue Sharks
Freediving is a great way to explore the UK coastline and July to August is the perfect time to see blue sharks circling the southwest coast. Marine conservation is important, and the trips Miller runs keep encounters safe and quiet for the sharks.
2. Seals
Miller says, while the UK has a bad reputation for being cold and murky, it’s mostly amazing. She says even divers who have learned in tropical places come to Cornwall and are blown away by the abundance of life – it’s like a garden of kelp and so many fish. Cornwall is host to several seal colonies; they are very friendly, inquisitive creatures. They are mostly grey seals.
3. Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin are the largest tunas and can live up to 40 years. They migrate across all oceans and can dive deeper than 3,000 feet and weigh up to 250 kilos. They are an endangered species so seeing them can be rare. Miller says, in the summer season, you can see massive bluefin tuna leaping out of the water.
Whales
It is not uncommon to see whales from their dive boats in Cornwall. In this area, Minke whales are the most common species. There have also been sightings of the second largest animal on the planet – the Fin whale – and Sei whales as well. Miller loves diving with whales saying it is a “very great honour of swimming down to see them.”
5. Dolphins
On Aquacity’s freediving trips, you have a chance to see harbour porpoises and pods of dolphins. Around the Cornish coast, you can see a variety of species from bottlenose, risso, striped, and Atlantic-white sided dolphins.
Next time you’re thinking of planning a trip to the Caribbean to see the wonderful marine life, remember the UK coast is right at your doorstep.
To read the full interview on how to start freediving, check out the next issue of GORP magazine (out March 28).