Do you enjoy a game of spot the difference? Would you like to volunteer to help a Scottish conservation project learn more about the critically-endangered flapper skate from home? Then this might be for you! Find out more and sign up now: skatespotter.sams.ac.uk #citizenscience

🤩 Still blown away by this encounter with a critically endangered female Flapper Skate (Dipturus intermedius) - the worlds largest skate! During a shore dive at Macduff yesterday with Chris Rickard 🤯 So so special!!! #flapperskate #elasmobranch #scubadiving

Nudibranch . On wrecks, even small ones, it's easy to get distracted by the big things. But by slowing down and really looking you often find so much more! . 📍 Akka Wreck (The Clyde) - Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 . Olympus OM-D EM-1 MKII + Olympus M.Zuiko ED 30mm f/3.5 Macro + AOI UH-EM1 III

Satellites recorded record-breaking sea surface temperatures during the recent marine #heatwave off the UK and Ireland. But a SAMS underwater glider, patrolling the north-east Atlantic at the time, revealed something the satellites couldn't. Read more: sams.ac.uk/news/sams-news…

Serpula vermicularis emerging from their tubes in Loch Creran. These worms used to be so abundant that they would form reefs in the loch. Sadly, only small clusters of these creatures remain now. #polychaete #lochcreran #scotland #nature #wildlife #BBCWildlifePOTD

Thank you so much Argyll Hope Spot for the opportunity to spend a glorious week underwater in magical marine habitats; writing, drawing & meeting such inspiring, creative & innovative people on the 2023 Snorkelling Artists’ Residency! The Hope Spot is a special place for us all🌊

Ever wondered how to contribute to seagrass conversation with just a few taps of your phone? If you’ve seen seagrass, let us know at SeagrassSpotter and help us track the worlds distribution of seagrass!🔎🌱 #CitizenScience

Postcards. Fragile, handle with care.

✨Species Spotlight - Flame shells✨ 🔥Create nests by weaving together shell debris; multiple nests form reefs 🔥The largest reef in the world is thought to be located in Loch Alsh, covering 7.5 sq/km 🔥Flame shells can produce an acid secretion as a defence mechanism

Knowing where seagrass isn’t can be just as useful as knowing where it is… Did you know you can now upload absence data to SeagrassSpotter? If you know where seagrass used to exist and now no longer does, let us know at SeagrassSpotter.org or via the app 🔎🌱

There are some stunning creations on display by local makers who rose to the Edinburgh Shoreline Project call to celebrate each of the 100 species of the Firth of Forth. The #RestorationForth project is an incredible effort to restore such precious species & habitats. #seagrass #nativeoyster

Historically, the Firth of Forth was once home to enormous native oyster beds. 🦪 #RestorationForth has now restored the first of 30,000 native oysters to these waters. This is an exciting moment for marine life & local communities. Find out more: wwf.org.uk/scotland/resto…

Wonderful to see Danny Renton & @seawilding getting the support & recognition they so deserve. All power to you! #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork #OceanOptimism 🌱🦪👏

Last year I had the privilege of joining the Argyll Hope Spot Snorkelling Artists Residency. Wonderful marine life, inspiring restoration & dynamic community action. 💙🪸🌱🐙 See some of the brilliant results of taking artists, musicians & writers underwater; next week in Glasgow!

Happy to have a piece in the new Gutter! Serpulids, seagrass, writhing, glowing, glittering things, a love letter to Argyll Hope Spot for making me fall hard(er) for underwater lives and light. Reading n’ celebrating at the launch on Saturday Edinburgh International Book Festival, can’t wait 🪸🪱