Boat trips, waterskiing, jetskiing, paddle boarding, and gig rowing – come on in, our water’s lovely!

Booking is now open for the National Marine Park Big Blue Splash event which will give people the chance to enjoy and explore Plymouth Sound National Marine Park up close, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A free weekend of exciting activities will run on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July which will give both adults and children the chance to try out watersports and learn more about the ocean and the seashore around Tinside, Mount Batten and Mount Edgcumbe.

While advance booking will be needed for some activities which have limited spaces, there are events that people will be able to turn up and enjoy on the day. Plymouth City Council is also working closely with local community groups and has reserved a number of places for groups to book, enabling as many people as possible across the city to take part in activities. 

For the adventurous there’s the chance to get wet and take part in paddleboarding, snorkelling and swimming, wakeboarding and kneeboarding. Really explore the UK’s very first Marine Park with fishing and sea exploration boat trips, keel boat sailing and rafting.

For those who want to take it a little easier, there is also the chance to relax and unwind with gentle yoga and art sessions and to learn more about the rockpools and coastline that surround the sea. Learn the skills of survival and find out what’s living and surviving on our shores.

In addition to the daytime activities there will be ticketed ‘Live at the Lido’ music event at Tinside Lido during the evenings.  

Councillor Pat Patel, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport at Plymouth City Council said: “The Big Blue Splash is an amazing weekend of activities that will allow everyone to come and fully enjoy and experience our amazing National Marine Park. There will be really be something for everyone to enjoy and take part in – both in, on and around the water.

“Big Blue Splash is the perfect opportunity for people to come and start their connection with what’s happening in the park and how they can continue to be part of it and enjoy what it has to offer. Not only for leisure and relaxation, but learning the benefits it has for our economy, the planet and our wellbeing.”

The Big Blue Splash event has been funded through the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park Heritage Horizon Award, which has been made possible with a £9.5 million grant from the Heritage Fund, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.

The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park aims to deliver a positive response to climate change, improving access and engagement to our natural and maritime heritage to ensure all citizens can enjoy the significant benefits that being on, in, under or next to the sea provides. By increasing community connection with the natural environment, it is hoped that the National Marine Park will increase engagement with sustainability and ocean protection, improve the health, wellbeing and resilience of our community and boost the blue economy.

Spaces for bookable events are limited and some activities may be affected by the weather. Some activities also have minimum ages, so please check all the details before booking.

Find out more and book now at: visitplymouth.co.uk/bigbluesplash