Derry scuba diver releases colouring books featuring marine animals and oceans of the world
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Derry scuba diving aficionado and author Declan Bradley has released three beautiful colouring books featuring the marine animals and oceans of the world.
Currently living in Cornwall with his wife, Maria, and new baby daughter, Alma, and practicing law in London, Declan revealed he began work on the books during his recent paternity leave.
Speaking to The Derry News on a recent trip home, Declan said he was inspired to compile the Ocean Explorer Series following a year spent travelling around South East Asia, China and Australia.
“About 10 years ago I was working for an international law firm and that was very intense, so, I decided to take a break and away I went,” he smiled, “and that was when I found scuba diving.
“While I was travelling, I was trying to do loads of stuff, whatever was there. I went to a few places and saw people scuba diving and I thought, ‘I’ll do that. I’ll try it once’, added Declan.
“I had always loved jumping in the sea when I was growing up in Derry and going to Donegal and Buncrana, and snorkelling down at Ned’s Point. I have always loved the sea, so I thought I’d give scuba diving a go.
“Now it definitely wasn’t natural at first. The hardest thing I found was learning how to take your mask off, under the water, while you are still breathing. Humans have a thing called a mammalian reflex, so, once water hits your face, it wants you to stop breathing. You have to get used to breathing through your mouth, not your nose.
“Luckily I was in a pool because I freaked out the first time. My brain just didn’t compute and I just jumped out of the water. Luckily I had a patient teacher. He was with Ocean Sound in Koh Tao in Thailand.
“The first time I got in the sea, it was amazing. I was just hooked. It was fantastic being in Thailand because the visibility was brilliant, up to 30 metres, and it was warm, and you were surrounded by all the colourful fish,” recalled Declan, “and you saw the little Reef sharks.”
Declan encountered more sharks while diving in Indonesia.
“The real moment I was properly hooked was at a place called Nusa Lembongan, a small island southeast of Bali,” he said.
“I will never forget my 30th birthday, I went to a Manta Ray feeding station. There were maybe eight or ten Manta Rays, with their massive wing spans, just coming over my head, because they love the bubbles. After that dive, I was hooked,” he added.
“So, I worked in London for quite a few years and I was in a scuba diving club there. We were always leaving London at the weekends to go to the south coast, to Swanage, Portland and West Bay, where we were diving and exploring World War II wrecks. That’s when I decided to move to Cornwall.
“I love being back home but I haven’t dived here yet. I go snorkelling in Cruit Island in Donegal but I haven’t dived. I am itching to get back.
“Once I decided I was going to move back to Derry, I got in touch with the Inishowen Sub Aqua Club. I love diving, just to get my mind away from a screen.
“I love the other worldly aspect, being in that and seeing all these animals you would never normally see and interacting with them. When a seal comes up and nibbles your fins and is playing with you up close, there is no other feeling like it. Exploring marine life is what I love about diving,” said Declan.
“For me it’s all about the environment. In the Ocean Explorer Series: Marine Animals of the UK and Ireland book I mention Fathoms Free - a volunteer marine conservation and awareness group based in Cornwall, a ghost net clearing charity run by a friend of mine, Luke. I started training up with them,” he added.
“Basically, when fishermen get their lines caught and they don’t want to pay for them to be recycled or whatever, they just cut them and they get trapped on wrecks and reefs. What you find is all sorts of animals, birds and all sorts get caught in them, so Fathoms Free do ghost net clearing and free the trapped wildlife.
“So, after Alma was born in March, I had two months of paternity leave. Obviously I couldn’t dive as much but I wanted to keep my toe in the metaphorical water in some way.
“I was doing a bit of research about something and I thought, ‘I could do a marine colouring book’ about the animals I’ve seen while I was diving, animals people might not otherwise know about, like the Tompot Blenny - the coolest wee fish in Ireland and England. It looks like a wee clown fish,” said Declan enchanted.
“I hope one day Alma can colour in these pictures. I want the books to be fun and educational,” he added, “because then, if kids can learn about this stuff they'll be able to protect it.
“I do think it is definitely an issue these days. We are losing sea life at massive rates and the more people that can get behind sustainable practices the better.”