Online seaweed identification workshop
2022-02-02 20:30 - 22:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Kerry
We’re delighted that Dr Kathryn Schoenrock-Rossiter of the KelpRes project is once again offering her vast expertise on all things algae related. This workshop will cover how to identify, press and appreciate the importance of the common seaweeds in Irish waters. It’s intended to be aimed at complete novices and those who know their way around a rocky shore.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
You can register for this free online workshop here.

Serpula reefs - Galway's Hidden gem
2022-02-23 20:30 | Kerry
Biogenic reefs are hard material created by living things that build up to form structures. While typically we think of things like the Great Barrier reef, tropical waters and corals Ireland is home to its own miniature version in the form of Serpula vermicularis reefs. Serpula are small worms that grow calcareous tubes on hard substrares, they are the white tubes you find growing on rocks, harbour walls or boat hulls. However at a number of sites the larvae settle on existing tubes so that the tubes eventually grow to form large reefs which can be up to 2m in height.
3 sites in Galway host these unique reefs and since 2021 Seasearch Ireland has undertaken a project deploying GoPros in at one site to record the creatures that visit, feed on and live in the Serpula reefs. While this talk will cover some of the more technical and scientific details related to Serpula vermicularis it is intended to be aimed at a general audience and will generally cover the Serpula project and the videos that have been collected during it.
This free online talk is open to all and you can register here.

Photo Identification - Photos and Nudibranchs
2022-03-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
The first of a series of 3 talks on adding photo identification to your tool kit for identifying species while diving. Some extremely knowledgeable photographers (award winning even) will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room.
This first of 3 nights we will cover underwater photography in the hands of Martin Kiely and Maja Stankovski will show you how to take the perfect nudibranch shot.
You can register for this free online workshop here.

Photo Identification - Cowries, Anemones and Fish
2022-03-30 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
The second of a series of 3 talks on adding photo identification to your tool kit for identifying species while diving. Some extremely knowledgeable photographers (award winning even) will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room.
Maja Stankovski (cowries), Joe Fitzgibbon (anemones) and John Breen (fish) will guide you through the process of getting the perfect snap to identify those tricky marine critters.
You can register for this free online workshop here.

Photo Identification - Crustaceans, Cameras and Show and Tell
2022-03-31 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
The third of a series of 3 talks on adding photo identification to your tool kit for identifying species while diving. Some extremely knowledgeable photographers (award winning even) will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room.
Rory O’Callaghan will talk about how not to photograph crustaceans for identification purposes before Martin Kiely offers some advice on cameras from your first GoPro to a rig the size of your dive buddy. We’ll then round off the 3 lecture series by going through photos submitted to see can we identify the species in them.
You can register for this free online talk here.

KelpRes - the diversity and resilience of kelp ecosystems in Ireland
2022-04-06 20:30 - 22:00 | Kerry
KelpRes is an EPA funded project run by NUI Galway exploring the biology, ecology and genetics of kelp (Laminaria hyperborea) in Ireland.
This talk by Dr Kathryn Schoenrock-Rossiter will explore some of the key findings of the project and how you can get involved in monitoring your local kelp ecosystem. It’s difficult to overstate how seminal this work has been in creating a baseline of data on kelp forest ecosystems in Ireland. You can read some of the findings of the work here, here and here.
Level – Any
You can register for this free online workshop here.

Rays in Irish waters with Maya Harries of The Ray Project
2022-04-13 20:30 - 22:00 | Kerry
Skates, more commonly known as rays, are a demersal fish that lay eggs on the seabed in shallow waters. Each species of skate is believed to have different nursery habitats; their behaviour and specific environment are still lacking in understanding. Over 70% of Irish native skates are classed as Near Threatened, Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, local extinction is believed to be imminent for many species unless we can protect their breeding grounds.Skates, more commonly known as rays, are a demersal fish that lay eggs on the seabed in shallow waters. Each species of skate is believed to have different nursery habitats; their behaviour and specific environment are still lacking in understanding. Over 70% of Irish native skates are classed as Near Threatened, Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, local extinction is believed to be imminent for many species unless we can protect their breeding grounds.
Seasearch Ireland are collaborating with The Ray Project on their skate habitat project. We have been supplying the Ray team with photos and detailed habitat descriptions of all our skate and ray sightings to help aid their research of nursery habitats and biodiversity of the native Irish skates that are in desperate need of protection.
Maya Harries is the founder and managing director of The Ray Project which is a non profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and research of rays and skates worldwide. They are currently working on mapping and protecting nursery sites of skates in Irish waters.
Event is free, online workshop open to all.
You can register here.

Seasearch Observer Course - Kerry
2022-05-28 - 2022-05-29 | Waterville, Co Kerry, Waterville, Kerry, Ireland
Course content:

Find out about the Seasearch project
Gain a basic grounding in marine recording
Learn how to recognise and classify marine habitats
Learn how to complete the Seasearch Observation Form by watching a ‘video dive’
Complete two dives (or snorkels) with a Seasearch tutor

This is an introductory course aimed at giving divers and snorkellers new to the project and new to marine recording a basic grounding. The course will consist of a one day classroom session and one day diving.
At the end of the course, you’ll get a Seasearch Qualification booklet. Once you have completed five forms for real (two on dives with a tutor available to help) you will be a qualified Seasearch Observer and able to take part in Seasearch dives or snorkels.
Cost €80 Adult, €60 Student
You can register by emailing Seasearchireland@gmail.com.

Sponge workshop
2022-06-26 | Galway Atlantaquarium, Galway, Ireland
Dr Maria Vittoria Marra will be presenting this introduction to sponge identification. Though sponges are one of the most commonly seen species by divers they are extremely under recorded and make up only 8% of Seasearch records in Ireland. This in depth course will cover the range of sponges in Irish waters and some of the issues in terms of identification. We will look at how to prepare sponge samples so that spicules can be examined under a microscope. We will also be recruiting volunteers for the sponge recording project.
Level – This course is aimed at recorders interested in expanding their knowledge of this under recorded group of marine animals. While no prior knowledge of sponge identification is required but this course will be quite in depth in terms of topic
Cost €60
Register for this event by emailing SeasearchIreland@gmail.com

Seasearch data: the whole journey
2023-02-08 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
This talk will give an introduction to Seasearch, which is a citizen-science project around Britain and Ireland for divers and snorkellers. Angus Jackson, the Seasearch data officer will provide some background to the project and describe what it does. He will then explain the complex journey between collection and application of the data, and then illustrate the great value of Seasearch with examples of the many important ways in which the data are being used.

Register here for this free online talk

Online talk - Gobies, Gurnards and Dragonets - small fish puzzlees
2023-02-15 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Online talk by Lin Baldock, Seasearch co-ordinator and fish ID expert this talk will be about pointers to identifying some common, small Irish fishes. This talk is aimed at those already relatively comfortable with identifying small fish to genus in the water and assumes that participants are able to recognise these three groups. Session will consist of a talk and Q&A.
Intermediate to Advanced level talk
You can register for this talk here.

Biogenic habitats in Ireland
2023-03-01 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Talk by Dr. Jose Maria Farinas-Franco of ATU
Habitats created by shellfish are complex biogenic structures rich in marine life and integral to the ecological functioning of our seas. These habitats, truly hotspots of biodiversity, are highly sensitive to human impacts, especially from overfishing and the use of mobile fishing gears, and recover poorly without intervention. This talk is an introduction to the main shellfish biogenic habitats found in Ireland, concentrating on those created by the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus, a large, slow growing, cold-water bivalve capable of forming extensive, elevated reefs. I will define the main types of horse mussel biotopes, their distribution, and their conservation importance presenting the results of a recently published study defining the biodiversity baselines for these habitats across their North Atlantic range. To illustrate the sensitivity of horse mussel reefs to physical damage from demersal fishing practices I will travel to Strangford Lough, in County Down, to introduce the, once ‘extensive and lush’ horse mussel reefs that were used as one of the main features in the designation of the Strangford Lough MPA, their dramatic demise after years of an unregulated queen scallop fishery, the futility of a late fishing ban, and the attempts to restore them.

You can register for this talk here

Fair Seas: Ireland's journey to 30x30
2023-04-05 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Ireland is lagging behind neighbouring and European Union (EU) countries in terms of the quantity and quality of its Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. Despite a Government commitment to delivering 10% of Irish waters as protected by 2020, increasing to 30% by 2030, Ireland’s MPAs currently extend to only 8.3% of our seas, with little to no management plans in place. Fair Seas is a campaign led by Ireland’s leading marine-focused eNGOs and networks. It is their aim to see the Irish government create ambitious new legislation that will allow us to designate, monitor and manage a new network of Marine Protected Areas that cover at least 30% of Irish waters with at least 10% of these being highly protected. As an island nation Ireland’s communities are intrinsically linked to the ocean and we hope to build a movement of ocean stewardship right across the island by bringing communities together and highlighting connections to the ocean within our communities. Divers are one of our most valuable sets of eyes and ears in the underwater world, in this Sea Search talk Jack Trá will discuss the work of Fair Seas to ensure greater respect for our ocean is fostered with a new MPA network and how divers can play their part and share stories from life in the ocean.

You can register for this talk here.

Online Observer course
2024-02-07 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
The first step in any budding recorders journey on the road to the fame and respect of your peers that the Seasearch Surveyor moniker brings. This is a short course aimed at giving divers new to the project and new to marine recording a basic grounding. At the end of the course you should be able to complete the Seasearch Observation Form and take part in Seasearch dives either on your own, with your club or on dives organised by Seasearch partners.
The Observation form is a relatively simple form once you’re familiar with it and can be filled out on any dive with practice. Records gathered at Observer level are particularly valuable in Ireland due to the gaps in the distribution records of even extremely common species and recording new species can bring an added zest to your diving experience.
If you’re interested attending an Observer course email SeasearchIreland@gmail.com
The course will be held over several nights with videos of each session available to review throughout the course to allow you to learn at your own pace.
Wednesday, February 07, 2024 Observer 1 – Intro and Habitats
Thursday, February 08, 2024 Q&A
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Observer 2 – Species
Thursday, February 15, 2024 Q&A
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 Oberver 3 – Filling in the form
Thursday, February 22, 2024 Final Q&A

The Seagrass of Fenit
2024-02-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
Ed Sheldon of the Fenit Coast Conservation group will be giving a talk on their work studying seagrass in Kerry. Ed has been snorkelling and surveying for a number of years now with a team of dedicated volunteers.

You can register for this free online talk here.

Photo Identification - Lights, camera, fish!!
2024-03-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
The first of a series of 2 talks on adding photo identification to your tool kit for identifying species while diving. Some extremely knowledgeable photographers (award winning even) will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room. This talk will cover advice on cameras and torches from your first GoPro to a rig the size of your dive buddy before looking at how to take the perfect photograph of a fish to identify at your leisure.
You can register for this online talk here

Photo Identification - No more frustrations snapping camera shy crustaceans (and anemones)
2024-03-21 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
The second of a series of 2 talks on adding photo identification to your tool kit for identifying species while diving. Some extremely knowledgeable photographers (award winning even) will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room. This talk will focus on getting the perfect snap of crustaceans and anemones.

You can register for this online talk here.

Online seaweed identification - Spring 24
2024-03-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
We’re delighted that Dr Kathryn Schoenrock-Rossiter of the KelpRes project is once again offering her vast expertise on all things algae related. This workshop will cover how to identify, press and appreciate the importance of the common seaweeds in Irish waters. It’s intended to be aimed at complete novices and those who know their way around a rocky shore.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate

You can register for this free online talk here.

Sponge identification workshop - Spring 24
2024-04-17 20:00 - 22:00 | Kerry
Dr Maria Vittoria Marra will be presenting this short introduction to sponge identification. Though sponges are one of the most commonly seen species by divers they are extremely under recorded and make up only 8% of Seasearch records in Ireland.
This course is aimed at recorders interested in expanding their knowledge of this under recorded group of marine animals.
Level – Any
You can register for this free online talk here.

Rescheduled - Advanced fish ID - Spring 24
2024-04-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Kerry
Online talk by Lin Baldock, Seasearch co-ordinator and fish ID expert this talk will be about pointers to identifying some common, small Irish fishes. This talk is aimed at those already relatively comfortable with identifying small fish to genus in the water and assumes that participants are able to recognise these three groups. Session will consist of a talk and Q&A.
Intermediate to Advanced level talk

You can register for this online talk here.

Seasearch Observer Course - Waterville, Co Kerry - In person event
2024-05-25 | Waterville, Co Kerry, Waterville, Kerry, Ireland

Seasearch Ireland - Let's get recording - Online talk
2025-02-12 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Rory, our Adopt-a-Site Coordinator, will introduce Seasearch Ireland and give an overview of the projects you can get involved with. He’ll also take you through various species groups and share top tips for improving your ID skills.
You can register for this free event here

Sponges Advance - Online Talk
2025-02-19 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Dr Maria Vittoria Marra will be presenting this short introduction to sponge identification. Though sponges are one of the most commonly seen species by divers they are extremely under recorded and make up only 8% of Seasearch records in Ireland.
This course is aimed at recorders interested in expanding their knowledge of this under recorded group of marine animals.
You can register for this free online talk here.

Taking UW photos and using your Camera - Online Talk
2025-02-26 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Martin Kiely, knowledgeable and award winning photographer, will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room. This talk will cover advice on cameras and torches from your first GoPro to a rig the size of your dive buddy
You can register for this free online talk here.

Lights camera, anemone, fish!! - Online talk
2025-03-06 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
The second of a series of 2 talks on adding photo identification to your tool kit for identifying species while diving. Some extremely knowledgeable photographers (award winning even) will guide you through taking the perfect snap to capture your record. We can’t promise you’ll find fame on Instagram but you’ll be able to get the snap of that nudi or fish so you can ID them in the comfort of your living room. This talk will focus on getting the perfect snap of anemones and fish by Joe Fitzgibbon and John Breen.
You can register for this free talk here
Note unlike the other talks in this series this talk is on Thursday.

Seaweeds intro - Online talk
2025-03-12 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Aoibheann Gillispie-Mules will be giving an introductory workshop on how to identify the seaweeds most commonly seen while diving.

You can register for this free online workshop here.

Seaweeds Advanced workshop with Dr Katherine Schoenrock-Rossiter
2025-03-19 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry

Crustacean ID workshop
2025-03-26 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
This workshop will focus on identifying hermit crabs and spider crabs . This is an advanced course which assumes a basic knowledge of crustacean identification and biology.

You can register for this free online talk here.

Crustacean workshop part 2
2025-04-02 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
This workshop will focus on identifying swimming crabs and other brachyurans. This is an advanced course which basic knowledge of crustacean identification and biology.
You can register for this free online talk here.

Invasive Species - Biodiversity Ireland
2025-04-09 20:00 - 21:30 | Kerry
Online talk by John Kelly, Invasive Species Programme Manager at the National Biodiversity Data Centre. This talk will provide an introduction to identifying some of the marine invasive species present in Irish waters. We will also touch on ways divers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by practicing good biosecurity. This talk is aimed at those who are new to identifying marine invasive species. The session will consist of a presentation followed by a Q&A.

You can register for this free online talk here.
