Rachel Cole
Rachel Cole - Marine Biologist
Rachel Cole is the woman at the helm of Monty Halls’ business in town.
The 26-year-old marine biologist is business manager at Monty’s Great Escapes and can often be seen out on the water in the company’s RIB, as both skipper and marine educator.
She said, “I love taking people out in the boat. There’s always something amazing to see out there.
“Last summer we saw a huge aggregation of seabirds in the air diving into the water to feed on the fish, followed by loads of bottlenose dolphins. It was beautiful, only about a mile off shore, right on our doorstep.”
In summer, Rachel takes people to the Mewstone, a rock island about ten minutes past the castle and then on towards Scabbacombe. She explained that such coastal islands and headlands are fantastic places to see wildlife as the sea movement around them encourages clusters of plankton – a bounty of food for fish, which then attracts birds and seals.
She added: “It’s like a mini eco-system out there, with seals and many seabirds including cormorants, shags, oyster catchers, guillemots and a variety of species of gull.
“We often see different species of dolphins out around the coast and on ninety per cent of our boat trips we see seals. We’ve also spotted basking sharks out there, the second largest fish after the whale shark.
“Also at Scabbacombe there is a wonderful colony of fulmars, a species of bird related to the mighty albatross.”
Rachel has a ‘full on passion’ and enthusiasm for her subject. She has been working with Monty since graduating with a first class honours degree in Marine Biology from Plymouth University two years ago.
She has always had a love and affinity for the South Devon coastline, and grew up in Brixham her fisherman father.
She said: “Dad was a massive influence on my interest in marine life. We used to have a little boat and go out fishing and see dolphins.
“My mum and dad would also take me for walks along the coast all year round. I was fascinated by the life found on the rocks and beaches.”
As soon as she was old enough she started volunteering at seashore centres and aquariums at Goodrington and Newquay.
She also worked at Torquay’s Living Coasts where she was one of the presenters for the penguins.
Rachel is a very keen diver and whilst at university, completed her Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commercial diving certificate to be employed to work underwater.
She assists underwater media filming projects with Monty and collects underwater data during scientific dives.
She also gained her RYA skipper qualifications at the university.
Monty approached staff at Plymouth University in early 2012, when he was looking for someone to run his new Dartmouth business. He is an alumnus of the university’s marine biology course.
Rachel was thrilled to be put forward.
She said: “I had a phone call from one of the university dive instructors asking me what I was planning to do after I graduated.
“Luckily I’d been travelling for a couple of years before I went to university so I wanted to start work as soon as possible.
“Apparently a few people had recommended me which was nice, so I came to Dartmouth for an interview and started the job with Monty two days after finishing university.
“It’s a fantastic, exciting job. I love it and I’m very happy living and working here.
“Dartmouth is a timeless town with a lovely sense of community. Everyone’s really helpful and friendly.”
When I spoke to Rachel she had just returned from a diving expedition which she had coordinated for Monty in Cape Wrath, Scotland.
She regularly takes groups of trained divers for exploratory dives around the country, as part of the Great British Diving Expedition.
She has dived all over the world – including Australia, Bali and Hawaii whilst travelling before university – but said her favourite place to dive is back home in Torbay, with the local wildlife.
She said: “I was diving down here recently and felt a tug on my fin. I turned around and saw it was a seal chewing on it!
“They’re so inquisitive, like puppies. They often sneak up on divers and then quickly swim away again. Always such good fun.”
Although she likes nothing more than diving in local waters she does hope to dive in the abundant tropical waters of Palau in Micronesia, and also Iceland. She also has a three-week diving holiday planned to Sri Lanka next January, when business is very quiet in the town.
The Great Escapes boat still goes out looking for wildlife in the winter – although usually up river to Anchorstone to see the seals in their winter habitat.
Rachel said: “During the winter there is still plenty to see in the estuary, especially as the seals come in and shelter on the pontoons.”
Rachel asked Emily Stroud – a fellow marine biology student from Plymouth - to join her for this summer, as the business is getting busier.Administrator Sophie Hughes makes the third member of the team.
Even so, the dynamic Rachel works six days a week in the summer, although less so in the winter, but still finds time to be a member of the Dartmouth life boat crew.
More information on the boat tours can be found at www.greatescapesdartmouth.co.uk or at the shop on Market Street.
By the Dart August 2014