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Join a serene, sunset paddle and night time wildlife experience unlike any other.

Launching with South West SUP, from just outside the iconic Royal William Yard, we paddle along the historic shoreline of Plymouth as the sun dips to the West and the sky changes colour. Drifting past Firestone Bay and towards the lights of Plymouth Hoe, the moon can be seen rising in front of us over Jenny Cliff.

We land in a small bay, tucked beneath the illuminated Smeaton’s Tower, where The Rock Pool Project CIC will explain the next adventure that awaits. With their special waterproof cameras and UV torches, a friendly marine biologist guide helps to reveal the mesmerising world of rock pools by night!

Many of the species found here are nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). They hide away in the daytime to protect themselves from predators such as curlews, oystercatchers, turnstones and gulls.

However, when the sun sets and these predators return to their roosts, some of these secretive creatures of the rock pools are free to come out in to the open! Even more spectacular than that, however, is the astonishing array of wild, glowing colours your UV torches will reveal – when you are shown where to look by your expert marine biologist guides, of course…

After recording your finds on camera, helping The Rock Pool Project CIC with their citizen science research programme, we share a cosy, delicious hot chocolate on the beach together.

Hopping back on the boards, we head back West now, under moonlight, following the shoreline calmly towards Cornwall and the welcoming lights of the Royal William Yard.

Experience Details