Seasearch Ireland

The Seagrass of Fenit
2024-02-28 20:00 - 22:00 (Europe/Dublin)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

Seasearch Ireland - Let's get recording - Online talk
2025-02-12 20:00 - 21:30
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
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
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
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
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

Crustacean ID workshop
2025-03-26 20:00 - 21:30
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
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
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.

Seasearch Observer - Cork - April
2025-04-12 - 2025-04-13
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 €70 Adult

You can register by emailing Seasearchireland@gmail.com.

Polychaete ID with Jamie Maxwell - Online talk
2025-04-16 20:00 - 21:30
The workshop will cover how to identify the major families of polychaetes found along the Irish coast, and the common genera within them. The morphological characters used to identify each group will be covered, along with the habitats they would be expected to be found in. Examples of common species will be shown as examples, as well as advice on how to best photography polychaetes for identification and future validation.
Jamie Maxwell is a marine biologist, whose research focuses on the taxonomy, ecology and zoogeography of marine invertebrates. He completed his B.Sc. in Marine biology in the University of Galway. He did his M.Sc. in Marine biology at the University of Algarve where he investigated the distribution and connectivity of polychaetes that live commensally with deep-sea corals, from which he described a new species, Gorgoniapolynoe pseudocaeciliae. He returned to Galway to complete his Ph.D. investigating the phylogeny, ecology and distribution of Antarctic sea spiders. Jamie currently works at the National Museum of Ireland, Natural History as a collections assistant.
You can register for this talk here.

Seasearch Observer Course - Kerry - May
2025-05-24 - 2025-05-25
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 €70
You can register by emailing Seasearchireland@gmail.com.

Seasearch Observer - Dublin - June
2025-06-14 - 2025-06-15

Seasearch Ireland : 2026 & Beyond
2026-02-11 20:00 - 21:30
An introduction to the work of Seasearch Ireland and our on-going projects in 2026. This will be followed by a quick over view of Seasearch Ireland’s goverance structure before a discussion on the current and future structure of Seasearch Ireland. If you are interested in getting more involved in Seasearch Ireland’s work or are interested in joining a Seasearch Ireland committee make sure you attend.

You can register for the meeting here

Crustacean Identification
2026-02-25 20:00 - 21:30
Online workshop on identifying various groups of crustaceans in inshore waters by Lin Baldock, Seasearch co-ordinator.
You can register for this free online talk here

Serpula vermicularis - Biogenic reefs in Galway
2026-03-04 20:00 - 21:30
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 tiny 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 of those sites are in Galway.

You can register for this free, online talk here.

MPAs & Nature Restoration with Fair Seas and Irish Wildlife Trust
2026-03-11 20:00 - 21:30
An update on Marine Protected Areas and the Nature Restoration Law in an Irish context from experts from Fair Seas and the Irish Wildlife Trust.
You can register for this free online talk here.

Seagrass Meadows
2026-03-18 20:00 - 21:30
A talk on the biology and ecology of seagrass meadows in Ireland with Tim Butter, as well as the on-going work by Cork SAC on their monitoring of the seagrass meadows in Oysterhaven.
You can register for this free online talk here.

Seaforest - from reef to resilience
2026-03-25 20:00 - 21:30
The SeaForest Project is a new initiative that sets out to enhance the scientific understanding of Ireland’s natural kelp forest habitats. Over the course of four years, the project will use habitat suitability modelling, field studies, and laboratory analyses to build an extensive dataset about the distribution, biodiversity, and health of kelp forests along Ireland’s coast, with a focus on five main species of kelp.
You can learn more about the project here
You can register for this free, online talk here.

Monitoring Kelp : The View from California with Kenan Chan
2026-04-01 20:00 - 21:30
Kenan is a marine scientist and freelance photographer. His scientific work has brought him around the world, though much of his work has been concentrated in and around temperate coastal waters. His primary scientific interests lie in temperate water ecology and organismal interactions within ecosystems. He has worked on projects investigating the resilience of Irish kelp forests (KelpRes), long-term monitoring of kelp forests and rocky intertidal habitats of California, habitat association and cohort structure of the Mediterranean giant fan mussel, Pinna nobilis, and several other projects.
This talk will cover kelp ecosytems of California and Ireland drawing on Kenan’s expertise with both habitats.
You can register for this free online talk here.

Seasearch Observer course - Waterville, Kerry 2026
2026-05-30 - 2026-05-31 | Waterville, Co Kerry, Waterville, Kerry, Ireland
In person Seasearch course in the lovely Waterville with the team from Sea Synergy.
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 €70
You can register by emailing Seasearchireland@gmail.com.
