Jellyfish invasions, aggressive dolphins, abandoned seal pups – marine researchers in Wales have had much to cope with over the years, but nothing quite as bad as this: soggy volunteers.

For eight hours a day throughout the season, come rain, hail or shine, volunteers from Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) at New Quay have logged the presence of bottlenose dolphins and other marine creatures from a position on the sea wall or on board the centre’s scientific research vessel.

And often they’ve become cold and bedraggled in the process.

But help is at hand. The group has been awarded a grant of £1,500 by Environment Wales to buy extreme weather gear to keep them warm and dry.

Project officer Laura Mears says the centre’s 30 volunteers have a wonderful job, sitting on the sea wall counting dolphins and recording their behaviour – just as long as the sun is shining.

“But when the rain sweeps in and the wind blows it’s a different story. We’ve had them coming back looking decidedly soggy, dripping wet and in need of thawing out with a cup of coffee.

“We give them protective clothing of the sort round-the-world yachtsmen wear, but over years of daily use and with an increase in the areas we’re surveying, it needs replacing – and with the grant, we can do that”.

Laura says CBMWC is grateful to Environment Wales for supporting its work.

“It’s impossible to conduct effective surveys, a crucial part of the important work we do looking after all this amazing wildlife right here on our doorstep, if you’re shivering and your fingers are numb”, she added.

CBMWC is currently recruiting volunteers for the coming season to help with dolphin surveys, as well as in the visitor centre, data entry and education work.

There are also opportunities to help co-ordinate the work of volunteers and to help run the centre’s educational programme in the wider community.

Prospective volunteers can contact Laura at CBMWC on 01545 560224 or email volunteer@cbmwc.org.