Life under the sea at Studland in Dorset is about to become a lot more accessible with a new kayak and snorkelling experience introduced for summer visitors by local watersports company Fore Adventure.
Self guided tours from Middle Beach, round to South Beach and out towards Old Harry, allow visitors to take out a sit-on kayak to a spot they want to explore, putting on a mask and snorkelling, before moving round the bay to investigate another area.
Translucent shrimps live amongst multi coloured outcrops of seaweed
Plenty to see beneath the surface
The sea in Studland Bay has been at around 18 to 19 degrees Celcius through July 2025 and have largely been crystal clear, making it ideal for snorkelling with or without a wetsuit.
Interest in the self guided kayak and snorkel tours offered from Fore Adventure’s hutquarters on Middle Beach has been high since they were launched on Monday 7th July 2025.
In the shallow, still waters of Studland Bay there is plenty to see beneath the surface – including pipefish, crabs, shellfish, anemones and seaweeds – and snorkellers get a waterproof guide to take with them for identification.
And while Studland’s highest profile residents, its spiny and short snouted seahorses, are strictly off limits to protect the rare creatures, the evidence of the healthy marine ecology they love is all around.
Jade and Dan Scott run Fore Adventure and Sae Seaweed from Middle Beach, Studland
“Response to the trail has been fantastic!”
Jade Scott, who runs Fore Adventure with husband Dan, said:
“The response to the trail has been fantastic, people have absolutely loved the mix of adventure and independence we have created!
“We make sure to brief everyone carefully on how to use the equipment and the area that the trail covers and where to avoid disturbing protected areas, so they can go in feeling confident and have a really memorable experience.
“Studland’s seahorses are a protected species and we are very strict about the areas that we have marked on the trail that are appropriate to snorkel in and explore, we clearly mark the protected zone where the sea horses are as a no go area and we think it’s really important to do so.
“We explain to visitors that their presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, and while it’s exciting to know they’re there, the true value lies in letting them thrive and live here undisturbed.
“For us, it’s about nurturing curiosity and respect and educating people to explore the underwater world sensitively.”
Fore Adventure kayaks, beached at Studland, are the start of the snorkelling experience
“Safely guided by local knowledge”
Jade added:
“The waterproof guide we provide shows a map of where to stop and shows a wide variety of species to discover in this location; sea anemones, fish, crabs, seaweeds and more.
“Dan is a British Sub Aqua Club instructor and we have been offering snorkelling courses for more than 10 years, but we wanted to introduce a self-guided snorkelling experience because we saw that people were eager for a bit more freedom to explore at their own pace.
“This kayak snorkel trail experience offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in Studland’s unique marine world as a protected area, safely guided by the local knowledge that we provide.
“It’s a way for people to tune into the landscape on their own terms, but with the right equipment and guidance, and with respect for the marine life here.”
Studland has always been popular for sea sports, and now people of all ages and abilities have a chance to explore for themselves
Easy to lose track of time
The self guided snorkelling adventures, either for one or two hours, begin from the Fore Adventure beach hut on Middle Beach from where customers head out on kayaks to investigate.
The first stop is suggested at Red End Point, a coastal headland rich in geographical and historical interest, where there are anemones, limpets, crabs, pipe fish and a number of seaweed fields to find.
Although it is easy to lose track of time when your head is beneath the surface of the bay, the guided trail also takes you further around the bay to the cliffs at South Beach with a different underwater habitat where shrimps, blennies and crabs can be spotted.
Fore Adventure’s hutquarters on Middle Beach is where the adventure begins
Dan Scott at the company’s seaweed spa where it offers a range of wellness experiences
Always take a phone along
Fore Adventure – which also runs guided sea snorkelling experiences for the more adventurous – provides a snorkel trail guide, snorkel, mask, swim buoy, kayaks, paddles and buoyancy aids.
Visitors are asked to bring footwear to protect their feet, such as aqua shoes, fins or even old trainers, wetsuits or a swimming costume, and also sunscreen, a rash vest, a change of clothes, a towel, and a water bottle to stay hydrated.
And as best advice is always to take a phone along when you go out on the water, a waterproof case is also a must to bring along.
Jade Scott’s company has grown from a small watersport hire to a broad coastal experience firm
Colourful anemones can be spotted beneath the surface of Studland Bay
Helping people to connect with nature
Jade Scott said:
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a real increase in how many people are connecting with the outdoors and wanting to try new things outside of their normal comfort zone – not just in visitor numbers, but also in the range of experiences people want to try now.
“We started Fore Adventure 15 years ago as a small operation focussing mainly on watersport equipment hire, guided kayak adventures and sea kayaking in Studland.
“It has now evolved into a much broader outdoor offering, including foraging, bushcraft, snorkelling, paddleboarding – even wellness activities with the new addition of our seaweed spa.
“This growth has been shaped both by visitor demand and by our own interests and passion for helping people connect with nature in meaningful, responsible ways.”
An inquisitive crab comes up to investigate on a Fore Adventure experience
Pipefish can also be spotted not far off shore along the Studland coastline
“We see change as part of nature’s story”
Jade added:
“It is a fascinating time here and as sea levels rise and coastal management shifts, Middle Beach is changing shape rapidly.
“We’re really excited about the future because we see change as part of nature’s story – we have had to learn to adapt to coastal change and embrace it in our time here and we will continue to do so.
“We anticipate a wilder, more dynamic coastline at Studland, with shifting sands, evolving dunes, and richer habitats for wildlife and marine life.
“Although it can be a challenge it also provides opportunities for us all to deepen our connection with the processes that take place in our natural environment and learn to respect it more. We’re ready to adapt and help our visitors understand and appreciate these changes.”
Studland’s Middle Beach is likely to become a wilder, more dynamic coastline in future
Further information
- Discover all Fore Adventure has to offer on its website
