Wildlife-Conscious: A Course for Sea Kayakers, Swimmers & Outdoor Adventurers

Cornwall’s coastal adventure practitioners, including those involved in paddleboarding, kayaking, wild swimming, coasteering, and other outdoor activities, have a unique opportunity to join the online Adventure WiSe course scheduled for Monday, March 18th. This course is part of the national WiSe Scheme, known for its commitment to responsible wildlife-watching practices among boat operators, adventure guides, and other coastal activity providers.

The Adventure WiSe course aims to set a professional standard for practitioners by offering insights into minimising disturbances to marine and coastal wildlife. The targeted participants for this course include sea kayakers, wild swimmers, coasteering practitioners, stand-up paddle boarders, snorkellers, coastal rock climbers, and coastal walkers. The course content is designed to enhance interactions with marine life such as whales, dolphins, basking sharks, seals, and seabirds, focusing on reducing the impact of outdoor activities on these species.

Delivered over two consecutive evenings, with two hours of instruction each night, the course will cover critical aspects of wildlife conservation, including seasonality, group size, maintaining distance, time spent observing wildlife, and safety measures. The instruction will be led by experienced instructors, featuring a combination of presentational material, opportunities for questions, and short quizzes.

The course schedule is as follows:

• Monday, March 18th, 19:00 – 21:00: Introduction to WiSe, the five key messages, marine wildlife legislation, details on seals, otters, and basking sharks.
• Tuesday, March 19th, 19:00 – 21:00: Focus on cetaceans, the rocky shore, seabirds, Blue Health, followed by an assessment based on the five key messages.

Participants are required to attend both sessions to become Adventure WiSe approved, committing to abide by national and local laws on wildlife conservation, the WiSe Scheme Codes of Conduct, and any local wildlife-watching codes. Upon completion, attendees will receive digital resources, a personalised certificate of attendance, a waterproof Adventure WiSe sticker for their equipment, and promotional materials for their services.

Additionally, approved practitioners will be listed on the WiSe operator pages, enhancing their visibility as responsible wildlife guides. The WiSe Scheme recommends that approved individuals upgrade their skills with a Master WiSe course every three years to maintain their accreditation level.

For groups with more than three registrants from a single company, a discount code is available upon request before booking. For more information on the course, levels of accreditation, and registration details, interested individuals can visit the WiSe website or book directly through Eventbrite .

This course represents a significant step towards sustainable tourism and conservation efforts in Cornwall, ensuring that the region’s unique marine and coastal environments continue to thrive for future generations to enjoy.

Book online here