Vitamin Sea Project 2026: The Andrew Bengey Memorial Trip With Lundy Diving

For the last three years, the team at Lundy Diving have generously supported us to deliver an unforgettable trip for young carers in North Devon. 

They donate their boats and their time to take these young people out to Lundy Island for a magical day snorkelling with seals in one of the UK’s most pristine marine protected areas. 

This year, our trip coincided with one of the heatwaves we’ve experienced this summer. As we left Ilfracombe harbour, the two boats of young people were quiet. The breeze whipped across the sea as we picked up speed. 

Gradually, these young people who arrived separate and clutching their bags, began talking to one another. Some got up and looked at the spray over the side. Others pointed to birds. One girl held out her hand to the girl next to her who had been nervous to stand up.

The next minute they were laughing and smiling together as the bow waves occasionally splashed them. 

Before we even reached Lundy or got them in the water, it felt as though things were shifting. They were relaxing, laughing and enjoying themselves.

One of the girls who wore contact lenses had forgotten them and only had her glasses. “I can’t see much without them on,” she said with a laugh.

That’s when another of the girls on the trip came out with one of the most insightful quotes of the day: “You’ll just have to enjoy the full sensory experience of being in the water instead.” 

We all laughed, but she was right. And that sensory experience included the chill when you jumped in, the buoyancy of the water supporting your weight, the quiet sound of waves lapping on the hull of the boat, the squishy texture of the thousands of moon jellyfish that we joined in the water and, of course, the sight of the playful seals.

The seals kept their distance as everyone jumped in. There was splashing, squeals about the cold and many adjustments to masks and fins, but gradually everyone settled into the rhythm of floating.

In her seal briefing ahead of our snorkel, Gemma told us that the less interest you showed in the seals, the more interested they’d become in us. She was right. After about half an hour, the seals started getting closer and checking us out.

They swam directly under some of the kids – one girl popped up and excitedly said that the seal looked like a dalmatian. 

Another seal followed one of the girls almost back to the boat – popping its head up every few metres as if checking that she could make it back safely. She was oblivious until we told her when she got out. 

“Aaaahhhh that’s so cute!” she said, turning to watch the seal disappear back underwater and swim in the direction of the shore again. 

For a couple of hours, the kids swapped between being in the sea and warming up on the boat with hot chocolates and snacks. 

The seals got ever closer to those in the water, looking at us with inquisitive eyes and showing off their far superior underwater acrobatics. 

By the end of the snorkelling session, everyone had emerged with huge smiles on their faces.

Back on the boat, in the warmth of the sun, we chatted about what we’d seen. Kat, one of our snorkel instructors, answered questions about the jellyfish and other marine life in the area beyond the seals. 

Talk turned to marine biology, with two of the young people on the trip expressing an interest in working in this area. Some of the volunteers on the trip were from one of the local dive clubs which offers sponsorship to young people who want to learn to scuba dive. 

It was the perfect opportunity to introduce some very deserving young people to an incredible opportunity to develop their skills and experience many more chances for connecting with the oceans.

As we left Lundy Island behind and made our way back to the mainland, the atmosphere on the boat was transformed from how it had been in the morning. Everyone was chatting and laughing among themselves. Two of the girls had become inseparable friends – and took a nap together in the wheelhouse.

When we asked everyone what their favourite part of the day was, the consensus was clear:

“Seeing the seals!” (although the snacks were a close second).

Several of the young people told us it was their “best day ever!”. But one of the most profound comments came in a conversation Gemma, from Lundy Diving, had with one of the girls. 

Gemma asked if she’d like to come on the trip again the following year if there was space. Her response floored us: “I would love to, but I also know there are other children who really need a day like this so I’d want them to get the opportunity to come.”

It’s so beautiful to see these young people, who do so much for others in their daily lives, get a chance to enjoy themselves. 

One of our favourite parts of the Vitamin Sea projects we run around the country every year is seeing this transformation – of young people going from being nervous or even fearful to falling in love with being in the ocean or the water. Watching them go from a bit quiet and withdrawn to splashing, laughing and making new friends. 

This is what it’s all about – creating moments of connection, not only with the ocean, but with each other.

Photo by Kat Lewis.