UKDIVING
Enslaved Kinlochbervie
Shetland by Shore
Sound of Mull HMS D1
Dom Robinson shared the story of six BSAC Mixed gas CCR divers exploring the site .
At the close of 2020 , maritime archaeologist Mallory Haas wrote about her involvement with the BBC / Discovery documentary , Enslaved [ SCUBA December 2020 ]. The series highlighted a little known aspect of the slave trade , and the diving scenes provided a tangible link to history .
Another leftfield candidate was photographer Alex Mustard , for his visual exploration of the dive sites around Kinlochbervie in North West Scotland , published in the March 2021 issue of SCUBA .
Rob Bailey ’ s liveaboard voyage around Shetland was also considered , as it offered one of the best photographic records of the archipelago in recent years ( SCUBA , April 2021 ). As with Alex ’ s trip , it was more of an individual achievement than a team effort .
The judges all admired the Shetland by
Shore project , carried out by members of Shetland BSAC when only shore diving was allowed post-lockdown [ SCUBA , April 2021 ]. The judges admired the self-sufficiency and the notion of ‘ backyard ’ exploration and research at a time of Covid restrictions .
There ’ s always room for a self-sufficient club exped , and a great example was provided by Leon R Smith of Severnside SAC , whose RIB odyssey took in the classic wrecks of the Sound of Mull [ SCUBA , June 2021 ].
Deep wreck aficionado Steve Mortimer led a technical exped that resulted in the identification of an historic submarine , as reported in HMS D1- the forgotten submarine [ SCUBA , July 2021 ].
By contrast , Vincent Johnston needed only snorkelling kit for his effort verifying the Snorkel Trails of Harris [ SCUBA , August 2021 ]. At the same time , he demonstrated that discovery and exploration is possible with minimal hardware .
Historical investigation at depth was back on the agenda with Fran Hockley ’ s report on an exped that succeeded in identifying German submarines U-93 and U-95 off the South Coast [ SCUBA September 2021 ]. These dives were carried out in the 70-metre zone .
We were back on a recreational footing by November 2021 , when SCUBA reported on Andy Clark ’ s ambitious Western Ecology Tour . Expedition member Alex Diffley wrote up his involvement in this series of camping and shore diving trips , which brought together scientists and recreational diving [ SCUBA November 2021 . In the same issue , SCUBA columnist Kirsty Andrews published a big photo-feature revealing the beauty of the Scottish Outliers , with a little help from the Clasina liveaboard .
SCUBA has yet to publish a full account of Lothian SAC ’ s self-reliant expedition to Loch Nevis , having entered for the award via BSAC ’ s website . Watch this space for a full account of their adventure . �
U-93 Western Ecology tour Scottish Outliers
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