British Divers Marine Life Rescue

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British Divers Marine Life Rescue

British Divers Marine Life Rescue is a frontline charity responding to marine mammals in distress

04/06/2026

🦭 Small conversations, big impact 🦭

Our volunteers also spend countless hours monitoring marine mammals, often seals resting on our shorelines, and chatting with people who are curious to learn more about the wildlife around them.

By sharing advice and answering questions, they help people enjoy incredible wildlife encounters while allowing animals the space they need to rest and relax.

💙 This Volunteers' Week, we'd like to say a huge thank you to all the Medics who give up their time to educate, monitor and help protect marine mammals around our coasts.

Have you ever spoken to one of our volunteers on a beach? 👇

03/06/2026

💙 No Funds: No Rescues 💙

Think of BDMLR volunteers; you'll probably picture Marine Mammal Medics responding to stranded seals, dolphins and whales.

What many don't see is those same volunteers running event stalls, organising fundraisers, selling merchandise, baking cakes, running marathons and giving up their time to raise the funds that make rescues possible.

The equipment we use, the training we provide and the animals we help all rely on volunteers going the extra mile.

This Volunteers' Week, we'd like to say a huge thank you to every Medic and supporter who has helped raise funds for marine mammals. Every pound raised helps put rescuers, equipment and expertise where they're needed most. 💙

Do you know of an event BDMLR could attend? Tell us where below! 👇

02/06/2026

💙 Can someone come and help?

That's how every rescue begins...

One day our volunteers might be monitoring a healthy sleepy seal pup. The next, helping a stranded whale, responding to a walrus sighting, or assessing a dolphin stuck up a river.

That's one of the things that makes being a Marine Mammal Medic so rewarding.. you just never quite know what the next call will bring!

👀 Which of these call-outs do you think was the most challenging for our volunteers? 👇

For Volunteers' Week 2026, we're giving an enormous shout out to our hard working volunteers out in all weathers helping marine mammals in need. 🥰

01/06/2026

🎊 Volunteers' Week: A celebration! 🥳

Since the first courses held in the mid 90s, every BDMLR Medic has started their journey in exactly the same way: on a Marine Mammal Medic Course.

Through online learning covering biology, ecology, welfare and rescue response, followed by an intensive hands-on practical day, volunteers learn how to safely assess seals, respond to stranded whales and dolphins and work as part of a skilled rescue team.

This weekend just gone, a new group of enthusiastic marine mammal lovers began their journey as Medics in Kent, as thousands of volunteers have before them. They're now ready to dive in and respond to incidents along their coastlines.

Every incident attended by a Medic starts with someone choosing to give their time to learn. To all beginning their journey with us this year: welcome to the team. 💙

Question: What would inspire you to sign up for a Marine Mammal Medic Course? 👇

31/05/2026

🦭 Disturbance avoided 👏

Last week, this large seal hauled out on a busy beach and was attracting attention from beachgoers. We received many calls to our hotline for advice, so our Marine Mammal Medics attended to monitor the seal. Due to the heavy footfall, North Yorkshire Police also attended and set up a large cordon using scene tape.

The result? A well rested adult seal, snoozing peacefully on the beach. 😴

Many seals are currently moulting, so they may spend longer periods of time ashore looking sleepy or docile.

While they may appear approachable, they still need plenty of space and not chasing in to the water. They can also bite if they feel threatened or cornered.

A huge thank you to everyone who respected the cordon and helped give this wild animal exactly what she came ashore for: rest 💙

30/05/2026

🦭 What should you do? ✅️

After yesterday's concerning video, we'd love your help spreading an important message.

Most seal disturbance isn't caused through malice, but through a lack of understanding. Help marine life by sharing this post to local coastal groups to help more people learn how to give seals the space they need.

Remember the 5 S's:

🛑 Stop: Don't approach or chase in to the sea. Keep dogs on leads and children at a distance

↔️ Space: Give seals plenty of room. At least 100 metres whenever possible

🤫 Silence: Keep noise and sudden movements to a minimum

😴 Sleep: Seals come ashore to rest, digest, moult and nurse their pups. Disturbance uses up vital energy

📞 Support: If you're concerned about a seal, call the BDMLR hotline for advice

Thank you! The poster is also available to download from our website ❤️

29/05/2026

⚠️ Distressing footage 🥺

Seals aren't pets, cuddly, approachable, or need putting back in to the sea.

These people may not have intended to cause harm, but wildlife doesn't understand intent - only consequences. In this case, harm was caused. Seals are wild animals, and these people are extremely lucky not to have been bitten.

Every unnecessary encounter for a seal means lost rest, wasted energy and increased stress. Over time, repeated disturbance can have serious and long term consequences for a seal's health, welfare and survival.

Spotted a seal on a beach? ✅️ Give them space and move on.

If you have concerns about any seal - contact the BDMLR 24/7 hotline for advice 📞 01825 765546

28/05/2026

🐬 Why the sheet? 🤔

Stranded dolphins and whales can become dehydrated surprisingly quickly when out of the water.

Wind, strong sunshine and even cooler dry conditions can cause their sensitive skin to dry out, crack, split and burn. Unlike seals, cetaceans aren't adapted to being exposed to the elements on a beach.

That’s why our Marine Mammal Medics may be seen using damp bedsheets to cover the animal during beach assessments. These help shield the skin from direct sun and weather, while also holding water against the body to keep the skin cool and hydrated. 💧

Importantly: their fins are left uncovered to let them regulate their core temperature.

On some beaches, there are natural materials we can use too. Can you guess what it might be? 🌿

27/05/2026

🦭 Side Sleepers 💤

This might not look very comfortable to us... balancing on your side with your flippers in the air. For seals, this is completely normal and a great way of staying cool while relaxing. 😄

Both grey seals and harbour/common seals are known for striking this pose, often nicknamed “banana” because of the curved banana shape they make while relaxing on shore.

This was one very contentedly relaxed seal monitored by our Marine Mammal Medics this afternoon 💙

If you'd like to join our teams helping monitor seals resting safely on our shores, check out our courses on our website!

26/05/2026

🦭 Imagine trying to sleep here...

Yesterday, This young seal hauled out on a packed Sussex beach in the middle of sunbathers, paddleboarders and beachgoers.

While a small minority crowded the seal for photographs, our Medics were pleased to see many people, including children, doing exactly the right thing: keeping their distance, giving the seal space to rest, and even encouraging others to do the same. Round of applause for them all. 👏

As harbour/common seal pupping season approaches, scenes like this become increasingly common. Young seals often haul out on busy beaches to rest, but repeated disturbance can have long term impacts on their health and chances of survival.

If you spot a seal trying to find a quiet corner of a busy beach, please give plenty of space and keep dogs well away.
If you're concerned about its welfare, our hotline is always available for advice: 📞 01825 765546

Address

Lime House, Regency Close
Uckfield
TN221DS

Telephone

+441825765546

Website

http://www.bdmlr.org.uk/

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