British Divers Marine Life Rescue was formed in 1988, when a group of divers got together to see how they could help the Common seals in the Wash area of East Anglia during the outbreak of Phocine distemper which was causing mass mortality and eventually resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 seals in European waters, 2,000 of which were in the Wash.

From these beginnings the group has expanded, gaining knowledge and experience along the way, and BDMLR now train over 400 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics a year and have 20 whale rescue pontoons strategically located around the UK to help stranded whales and dolphins when needed.



Marine Mammal Medics are trained in rescue techniques for seals and cetaceans and are on 24 hour standby to go wherever they are needed. Not all of the trained medics are also qualified divers - this is not an essential, since most of our rescue work is on land.

Medics are grouped together in Regions - this website is that of the Yorkshire and Humber region - and all our volunteers regularly train together to keep up to date with rescue techniques and meet socially to keep in touch with each other and raise funds.


If you think you may be able to help BDMLR in any way, whether by training and becoming an active Medic or as a supporter on the fundraising or social side, regularly or on an occasional or one-off basis, please visit the BDMLR website http://www.bdmlr.org.uk where you will find more information, contact details etc.