Nelson's Dangerous Dive is an engaging story that explores deep underwater with Nelson the Whale where he discovers a hidden shipwreck and learns that what lurks below may not let you go. As he desperately signals for help, luck is on his side as a group of brave tourists give him the break he needs!

Beautifully illustrated and based on the true events after a humpback whale became entangled in ghost fishing nets, the stunning artwork captures the imagination of young readers and brings to life the very real threat lost or abandoned fishing nets pose to our environment. It's powerful message which invites children and adults alike to question their actions and the effects on our environment. With suggestions to support sustainable fishing and ideas for the future together with activities which reinforce the story.

A 'Nelson' Whale soft toy is also available separately on our website.

Loved by children, parents and teachers around the world, Wild Tribe Heroes is the #1 children’s book series tackling important environmental issues in a positive and inspiring way. The Wild Tribe Heroes books have received personal letters of congratulations from Sir David Attenborough and King Charles who are both extremely concerned about the issue of ocean plastics and are doing everything they can to help raise awareness.

Nelson's Dangerous Dive

£7.99

Quantity

Author: Ellie Jackson

Illustrator: Laura Callwood

Dimensions: 27.2 x 21 cm

Paperback

Printed sustainably in the UK from FSC approved sources.
A magnificent young humpback whale in urgent need of help was the inspiration for Nelson’s Dangerous Dive. An everyday boat trip for a group of snorkelers turned into an incredible experience when they saw a humpback whale in distress. The whale was splashing around and blowing sounds through his blowhole which caught their attention. After speeding over to discover what had happened, the rescuers were dismayed and overwhelmed to find the whale completely entangled in a near invisible monofilament gill net – a type of net used for catching large quantities of fish. The whales fins were pinned to his side and he was virtually immobile from the hundreds of metres of net entwining his body. Armed with one small knife, the rescuers faced a difficult and dangerous dilemma. Do they risk waiting over an hour for help and the whale disappearing in the meantime or do they risk their lives in trying to cut the net free.

Humpback whales can weigh up to 40 tons and reach 30 metres. Their sheer power especially up close cannot be underestimated and yet these people chose to try to free him by themselves. First they dived in to try to cut him free and after realising the scale of the problem they decided to tackle this from the boat. Leaning over with the whale submerged underneath the boat, they painstakingly started to cut the whale free with just one small knife. This was an unbelievably dangerous mission – one flick of his tail and he could capsize the boat, one powerful dive and he could pull his rescuers underwater with him. And yet, they continued with their work, desperate to try to help this one distressed whale and whom without their help would certainly die. After realising his fins were free, the whale tried to swim away yet his tail was still tangled in net, half of which was now in the boat. As he swam, he pulled the boat along behind him, his rescuers committed now to whichever direction he chose to swim in. After about half a mile, he slowed down and the people worked quickly to free the remaining net. After pulling the last strands into the boat the whale disappeared and the boat of people started to celebrate – and yet the best was still to come! The whale breached a few hundred metres away in an incredible display which lasted almost an hour. No one on the boat was left in any doubt as to the reason for his display as anything other than pure joy, happiness and thanks in being alive.
Ellie Jackson is a Cornish based bestselling environmental children’s author. As an environmental scientist who taught geography for six years, Ellie conceived her idea to use children’s books as a way of educating young people about the threat to sea life due to our dependence on plastic after she and her young family saw a turtle called Duffy being released back into the ocean after a year of treatment for ingesting plastic.