Marine Mammal Medic Course

If a whale or dolphin stranded on a beach near you, would you know what to do?

Through the Project Jonah Marine Mammal Medic course you can learn the skills and have the confidence to do the right thing and provide basic first aid to these animals in their most desperate hour of need.

By the end of the course you’ll be trained to:

• Assist in the rescue of stranded whales and dolphins
• Act as a role model to untrained rescuers
• Understand the roles and responsibilities at a stranding
• Avoid potential hazards for people and whales

Our training course consists of a full day session split into two parts;

The morning session is made up of lectures and presentations. We’ll cover the adaptation and anatomy of dolphins & whales, their behaviours & social structures, and the reasons why they may strand. We will take a look at stranding rescue techniques, key roles & responsibilities and personal health & safety.

In the afternoon we relocate to the beach to put your newfound knowledge and skills to the test. We’ll practice first aid on our life-size, life-weight model dolphin and pilot whale and get to grips with rescue equipment including our dolphin lifting mats and specialised rescue pontoons.

You will receive a comprehensive handbook and be issued with a Project Jonah lanyard, stranding cue card, marine mammal medic ID card, certificate and high-viz vest. Most importantly, you will be added to our national database for future stranding call-outs.

Important: Due to the inherent dangers of working with wild animals and the sea, participants must be 15 years or over. Disclaimer forms must be signed by all participants and signed by a parent or guardian, for those under the age of 18. Please advise us in advance if this applies to you.

What to bring:

• Pen and paper
• Lunch
• Wetsuit, togs and towel
• Wetsuit booties/reef shoes
• Sunhat, sunglasses and sunblock
• Additional warm clothing

If you don’t own a wetsuit, contact your local dive shop and ask about day rentals.

If you are booking on the course as a student please bring your valid student ID with you on the day.

Please read our cancellation and refund policy before booking.