Our training season runs from March to October and courses are added througout this time. If you would like to know when a new course is added to an area near you, click the button below and add yourself to our wait list.
BDMLR’s Marine Mammal Medic Course (MMMC) is open to anyone over the age of 18 and you do not have to be a diver. It is a full day training programme designed to provide you with the basic knowledge, skills and expertise to enable our volunteer teams to respond to a callout and act on behalf of that animal’s best welfare interests. On completion of the course you are added to BDMLR’s Marine Mammal Medic database, which is used to alert medics of nearby animals in distress. However, even if you do not live by the sea, it is a fun way to learn the correct first aid techniques to help marine mammals should you come upon an animal needing help.
Course cost: £115.00
Course details:
Course structure
The day of the course is a full practical session and run outdoors so suitable clothing (drysuit [preferred] or wetsuit) is required. However, before the practical day you will need to complete three online lectures. These are online videos specifically designed to give you an understanding of marine mammal biology, health assessment, first aid and decision making. When you sign up for the course you will receive a link to the videos and can watch them at your leisure as many times as you like before and after the practical session.
The first lecture is about marine mammal biology, and seal and cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) identification. The second lecture is about cetacean physiology, first aid and rescue techniques. The third lecture is on seal physiology, first aid and rescue techniques. Important health and safety points are noted throughout these too.
Practical session
There are ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ courses, which will be specified on the specific course details. A ‘dry’ course (often held during the winter), does not require delegates to enter the water. However, if you are attending a ‘wet’ course the practical modules are held on a beach (fresh water or salt water) and trainees will be getting in the water.
Delegates on a ‘wet’ course require a dry or wet suit as you will be in and out the water during training. If you are going to be wearing a wetsuit, please ensure you have trainers or boots (not wellingtons) that you do not mind getting wet. You should also take a windproof jacket, plus a hat and gloves to stop yourself getting chilled on the beach. In sunny weather, please ensure you use sun protection.
The specified course date is a practical day at an outside venue. Full details of how the course will run will be given during a morning briefing (course structure can vary depending on location). However, as a general rule the practical session is split into three modules:
Seal rescue
Trainees are taught how to assess, give first aid, handle and lift an injured or stranded seal pup safely. Each delegate will have the chance to try out their newly learned skills on a life sized model seal pup.
Dolphin rescue
Trainees are taught how to assess a stranded dolphin or porpoise on the beach. They are then taught cetacean first aid skills plus handling and lifting techniques using a life-sized, water-filled model dolphin.
Whale rescue
Using BDMLR’s specialist lifting pontoons, trainees learn how to refloat a two tonne, life-sized model pilot whale. The model is filled with water and very life-like. It is not unusual to have members of the public offer to help as they believe it is real!
The course will, at an appropriate point, break for lunch. Lunch is not provided, but where possible the course details will give information on places to buy food, although participants are encouraged to bring their own food and drink.
The course finishes when everyone has completed each module, usually about 4.00pm. After which, there is a final de-briefing where a course pack is handed out to delegates.
The course pack includes:
The course fee includes hire of a lifejacket, your first year’s subscription to BDMLR and third party insurance cover while on rescues.
Please note: BDMLR strongly advises you bring a dry suit for this course, whatever the weather. For the practical sessions you will be in and out of cold water and if you only have a wetsuit you will chill quite quickly.
How to book – please read carefully
Sign up to our wait list at the top of this page to be notified of new courses near you. Alternatively, keep regularly checking the course map page as courses are added throughout the year (courses usually run from March-October).
Booking conditions – please read before booking your course
BDMLR incurs charges for fee transactions and are not always able to fill a cancelled place on a course. We reserve the right to apply the following refund policy if a delegate does not wish to transfer to another course:
| If you cancel within two weeks (14 days) of the course date | 50% refund |
| If you cancel within two days of the course date or the delegate fails the turn up | No refund |
If a delegate cancels for health or compassionate reasons charges may be waived at our discretion. Cancellations should be made by calling the office on 01825 765546, Monday-Friday (9am-5pm).
Please note: we will only swap your place on to another course in exceptional circumstances and if the course you would like to book on to is not currently full. We continue to have a large amount of requests asking to change bookings to a course that becomes available closer to their current location. This is a lot of administration time for us and if you are moving from a course that is currently full we cannot guarantee we will be able to fill this now missing place and therefore could lose essential funds that allow us to carry out our vital rescue work. With this in mind, we cannot swap you to a course closer to where you live if it becomes available and you have booked on to another course further away.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer any discount on courses as the funds we raise through courses fund our rescue costs.
Please note: courses are occasionally cancelled by BDMLR due to low numbers or circumstances out of our control (weather etc) and it will advise delegates as soon as possible. In this instance BDMLR can only refund fees paid to us and not additional costs for travel or accommodation. If you cannot cancel these then you may find you are able to claim them from your travel insurance.