UK Student Iestyn Morgan Freedives at Night to Document Marine Life off Wales Coast
Iestyn Morgan, a 21-year-old geography student from Pembrokeshire, Wales, uses freediving to film nocturnal marine species off the UK coast and shares the videos on TikTok. He encounters species such as squid, garfish, cuttlefish, stingrays, and cat sharks during night dives.
Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)During Night Dives A student reports that marine animals appear more active and closer at night.
In one instance, a group of squid was drawn to torch light, circling for about a minute. Such diversity exists locally without needing to travel abroad. Dives always occur with a companion and stay close to shore to mitigate risks.
During a summer dive, small venomous jellyfish were encountered in high density, obscuring visibility and requiring exit from the water.
waters have been reported in parts of the UK. Frequent sightings of squid during night dives suggest an impact from warmer waters. The jellyfish presence is a sign of changing conditions. Concern was expressed that such environmental shifts affect everyone and warrant more discussion.
Plastic pollution appears in every dive location, with litter visible on beaches. Collective action and awareness could lead to greater protection efforts. The footage aims to showcase the variety of marine life off the UK coast.
Viewers engage most with night videos, which reveal species behaviors not commonly observed. Ongoing dives provide opportunities to document further changes in local ecosystems.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- Summer 2025
Morgan encountered thousands of mauve stingers during a dive amid a marine heatwave.
1 sourceThe Bbc - April 2025
Morgan started freediving after seeing an online video and purchasing a torch.
1 sourceThe Bbc - Ongoing since 2025
Morgan films nocturnal marine species off Wales and shares on TikTok.
1 sourceThe Bbc
Potential Impact
- 01
Increased public awareness of UK marine biodiversity through shared videos.
- 02
Documentation contributes to records of species shifts from climate effects.
- 03
Potential rise in local discussions on plastic pollution cleanup efforts.
- 04
Encouragement for others to pursue safe freediving with proper training.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
NASA Releases Thousands of Photos from Artemis II Lunar Mission
NASA has released over 12,000 images from the Artemis II mission, which orbited the moon in April 2026. The photos capture views of Earth, the lunar surface, and a solar eclipse observed during the crew's return. Astronauts from the mission also visited the United Nations headqua…
deccanchronicle.comThree Die in Hantavirus Cases on MV Hondius Cruise Ship
A hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has killed three passengers and sickened seven others, prompting an international response coordinated by the World Health Organization. The ship, carrying 147 people from 23 nationalities, is set to sail to Spain's Canary Islan…
newscientist.comHoutman Abrolhos Corals Show High Resilience to 2025 Heatwave, Unlike Global Losses
Coral reefs at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off Western Australia endured a prolonged heatwave in early 2025 virtually unscathed, unlike widespread global die-offs. Researchers found exceptional heat tolerance across multiple species, with lab tests showing survival rates far exc…