Funding and Education

“I’ll be honest – I went into this marine program with pretty high hopes. I was excited to learn about the sea life around here and maybe see some sharks, but I had no idea I’d fall head over heels for something I’d never even considered: freediving. Who knew holding your breath underwater could be so incredible?
Those expectations I had? Completely blown out of the water. The instructors were amazing – you could tell they absolutely loved what they were doing, and that enthusiasm just rubbed off on everyone. Every day felt like hanging out with people who genuinely couldn’t wait to share all the cool stuff they knew.
And there was so much cool stuff. We covered everything from the weird and wonderful creatures living along the Pembrokeshire coast to diving deep into shark biology – and wow, did that blow my mind. I came home spouting facts to my family: “Did you know there are 500 different shark species? 500!” Angela was incredible at sharing these expert-level facts while completely dismantling all those ridiculous stereotypes about sharks being mindless killing machines. Turns out they’re way more fascinating and complex than Hollywood would have you believe. Lisa’s session on pollution was equally eye-opening – I can’t walk along a beach now without spotting plastic bits and thinking about what she taught us. It’s like she gave me new eyes.
But freediving? That completely changed everything for me. I’ve spent years doing water sports, always staying on top, never thinking about what it would be like underneath. It was like finding a secret world I never knew existed. I brought my GoPro down with me – not to become the next Jacques Cousteau or anything, just because it felt too magical not to capture somehow.
Learning proper breath-holding techniques was mind-blowing. There’s something powerful about just… stopping. Breathing slowly. Really paying attention to what’s happening around you. It sounds simple, but it’s actually pretty challenging – in the best possible way.
What made the whole week even better was the people. Everyone was so genuine and passionate, and we all just clicked. It’s rare to find a group where everyone’s genuinely excited about learning and discovering new things together. We laughed a lot, helped each other out, and I actually made some real friendships.
This experience didn’t just teach me about marine science – it reminded me why I love throwing myself into new learning opportunities. There’s something special about programs like this that make everything feel alive and meaningful. I left feeling inspired not just by the ocean itself, but by meeting all these people who actually care about protecting it.
I have to mention the incredible people who made this week unforgettable: Gary, whose brutally funny sense of humor kept us all laughing (and slightly terrified), and Darren, this friendly, laid-back photographer who was jumping into these experiences for the first time too – I had so much respect for his openness to it all. Then there’s Lisa, the founder of OnePureSea, who’s brilliantly educated but completely down-to-earth, and Angela, an enthusiastic marine biologist whose friendly, supportive energy made everyone feel welcome. These people didn’t just teach us – they showed us what it looks like to be genuinely passionate about protecting our oceans.”