Update from Geopark Partner: Blue Marine Foundation

Jersey’s shallow marine habitats have beauty and diversity hidden just beneath the waves, and now a new snorkel trail in Bouley Bay offers residents and tourists another opportunity to explore this mesmerising marine environment, alongside some of the 3,200 species inhabiting Jersey’s waters.

Created by Blue Marine Foundation, in partnership with Bouley Bay Dive Centre and kindly supported by Mourant, the trail supplements Snorkel Portelet ~ the first of Jersey’s snorkel trails established in May 2022. Both snorkel trails have three components: the trail itself, an education programme and a citizen science portal.

At Bouley Bay, the self-guided trail showcases rocky reefs along the bay and around an islet, as well as a reef of kelp and seaweed stretching across the bay alongside a sandy seabed.  These habitats support a range of marine life, with wrasse, rays, anemones and sea hares among many other species for snorkellers to see.  Two of the trails sit within the bay, with another more advanced trail leading around the rocky islet called L’Islet.

The aim of Jersey Snorkel Trails is to connect people to the sea, providing an opportunity for all generations to spark an interest and appreciation for our oceans. Children – as the future generation of ocean stewards – are the key to the future of our seas.  As part of the initiative over the summer, Blue Marine has been working with Bouley Bay Dive Centre (Geopark Ambassador) to deliver an educational outreach programme, providing underwater experiences to approximately 420 children; totalling 600 across two years.  Targeted at primary school pupils aged nine to 11, the programme includes a classroom lesson, a pool session and a guided snorkel tour at either Bouley Bay or Portelet Bay.

Find your copy of the Jersey Snorkel Trails leaflet below for all the necessary information to assist your snorkelling adventure, including the maps for both Snorkel Portelet and Snorkel Bouley, important safe snorkelling practices, as well as some of the species you might see!