Brighton BSAC '007' SCUBA Diving Club

11/05/2026

If you’ve ever wondered what UK shore diving really looks like beneath the surface, this is well worth a few minutes of your time.

One of our divers at Brighton BSAC 007, Dr. Ray Ward, has created an interactive 3D dive experience from Church Rocks, a fantastic local shore dive site in Shoreham near Widewater.

The video lets you “swim” the dive yourself and explore the site from your phone or computer, giving a brilliant insight into just how much there is to see on our own stretch of UK coastline.

From rocky gullies and marine life to hidden surprises tucked away amongst the reef, it’s a great reminder that you don’t need tropical waters to enjoy amazing diving.

👀 Bonus challenge: can you spot the sleeping catshark?

Whether you’re already diving, thinking about learning, or just curious about what’s beneath the surface locally, have a look and see what UK diving is all about.

Huge thanks to Dr. Ray Ward for putting this together and showcasing one of our favourite local dive sites in such an innovative way 👏

Interactive 3D dive here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HJsOakceCM

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/10/2025

Brighton BSAC 007 on tour

05/08/2025

We made it on to the BBC- well done everyone from our wonderful club for support divers and skippers! Not forgetting Sussex Underwater and Dave and Cameron on the additional support boat

29/07/2025

Here's the video link to Ray's Reef Relief Dive. 4 hours and 3 minutes underwater with support from divers in our club and free divers from Sussex Underwater. See our previous post for more information

The UK government is currently undertaking a consultation on no trawling in our marine protected areas, as agreed at the recent UN Ocean conference. In order...

23/07/2025

*Reef Relief Dive* - A Four-Hour Drift Dive to Showcase Sussex’s Marine Recovery Following Historic Trawling Ban taking place on 24 July 2025

In a powerful display of marine conservation in action, local marine scientist Dr Ray Ward will undertake a unique four-hour drift dive along the Sussex coast on 24 July.
The dive will traverse a stretch of seabed dramatically recovering since the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) implemented a trawling ban in 2021, protecting vital inshore habitats and the livelihoods they support.
The route—starting at Church Rocks in Shoreham and passing Church Rocks, Supermarket Rocks, Sea Coal Ridge off Widewater, Beechams Pipe, and the newly installed artificial reef known as Minters Hotel—will be filmed continuously capturing the high biodiversity and ecological richness of this recovering marine area. This is believed to be the first uninterrupted dive across this route, offering rare visual evidence of nature’s resurgence in the absence of bottom-towed fishing gear.
Dr Ward will document the reef systems and marine life along the way. Supported by Brighton BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club), Sussex Bay, Sussex Wildlife Trust, and Sussex
Underwater. See link to one of Ray's recent dives in the area to be surveyed that shows the unique ecology off our coast- there are many more on his Youtube Channel!https://youtu.be/CPZYvLJV25w?si=kSRzxwLRzlZIFp-V

12/06/2025

Heartfelt thanks to Eric Smith and Alan Minter for coming along to Brighton Sub Aqua Club last night. With Dr Ray Ward presenting about the Sussex Bay Kelp Recovery Project and then the amazing "Minters Hotel" we had a lively evening with lots of questions and answers about the installation of the underwater "hotel" which is already attracting wildlife after just a couple of weeks

27/05/2025

Join us for a fascinating evening with Brighton BSAC!

Long-time member Ray Ward will be giving a talk on his 15-year journey working on the Sussex Marine Ecosystem Recovery, including the recent installation of “Minter’s Hotel” and the latest developments in the Sussex Kelp Recovery Research.

When: Wednesday 11th June, 8:00 PM
Where: Doug Bishop Room (Ground Floor), Sussex Yacht Club

Don’t miss this chance to hear firsthand about the incredible marine restoration work happening along our coast. A Q&A session will follow the talk.

Check out Ray’s video in the post on our page for a preview. Everyone is welcome!

06/05/2025

BSAC 007 hits the airwaves!

Today, our very own Dr Ray Ward (Queen Mary University London) and club chairman Al Locke welcomed the BBC World Service aboard the BSAC 007 dive boat for a special feature on local kelp regrowth.

Science journalist Graihagh Jackson joined the team at Bognor Rocks during low tide, even braving the chilly May waters herself to witness the resurgence of kelp first-hand. With stunning visibility, the team encountered a rich array of macroalgae and were joined by a familiar cast of underwater residents—catsharks, bream, wrasse, and more.

Great to see science and sea life getting the spotlight they deserve!

03/05/2025

At last- our first dive of the season! A shallow 10m dive to get us back in the water. The Indiana wreck never disappoints, 1000s of fish, wrasse nest guarding and mating displays, Black Bream shoo-ing us away from their sea bed nests. Squid eggs, nudibranch eggs, congers galore!

29/03/2025

After major overhauls to our compressor and RHIB engines we are at last coming to the end of our winter maintenance schedule- it's taken a while but finally cleaning and anti-fouling ready for re-launch very soon