Each month we feature a selection of your letters
Each month we feature a selection of your letters
We ’ re still looking for a new prize for a Star Letter , so please bear with us for a while longer . It ’ s a difficult time for the diving industry , so sponsorships are a tricky proposition at the moment .
ChatSend your letters to simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
Aerial view of Langstone harbour and landmark WW2 Mulberry unit
Recording our harbours
THE SOLENT ’ S HARBOURS OF Chichester and Langstone have a rich history going back thousands of years . Over time , these natural havens have supported local communities with fishing , oyster , and salt production . They are also important sanctuaries for wildlife , especially birds , juvenile fish and even seals .
However , like many harbours , the future of these precious habitats is under severe threat from human activity and
A diver surveying for native oysters in Langstone harbour
PHOTO : ALISON MAYOR climate change . Despite a number of legal protections such as SSSI , National Landscape and RAMSAR , increased urbanisation , agriculture , pollution , and recreational water sports have all taken their toll , resulting in the significant loss of important natural habitats in the last 50 years .
Having just moved to the northern shores of Langstone Harbour , members of Southsea Sub-Aqua Club have recently launched a new project to support research aimed at restoring and sustaining the harbours .
Project ‘ Portunus ’, named after the Roman god of Harbours , will provide valuable data which can support research by national , educational , and community groups aimed at understanding the current status of the harbours ’ underwater environment and inform regeneration plans .
Throughout the year , our divers will be using the skills gained from BSAC ’ s Underwater Surveyor and MCS Seasearch training to record the underwater habitats and marine life observed at various sites in both harbours . In addition , our divers will be recording water quality
PHOTO : MARTIN DAVIES
( pH , salinity , visibility among others ) as well as looking for non-native species and UK Priority Species and Habitats such as seagrass and native oysters .
We have been closely liaising with harbour authorities , research , and conservation organisations to agree locations for our dives . Working with voluntary and community groups , we also have a great opportunity to show others what we have seen through a community engagement programme .
At a successful event to launch Project Portunus , it became very clear that we can use our diving and survey skills to provide high quality data that will be essential to helping secure the health and sustainability of our harbour ecosystems . We are hugely excited at this opportunity to learn about our local waters , which have been largely un-dived for many years .
Project Portunus is a tremendous way to celebrate Southsea branch ’ s 70th anniversary year . The local waters of the Solent was the location where our first club members ventured into the sea with the most basic scuba equipment . No doubt things have changed , and I often wonder what these early pioneers saw back then … ALISON MAYOR , Southsea SAC
Head south for sharks
WELL THAT ’ S WHAT THEY SAID , SO GAN at the southern end of the Maldivian archipelago here we went ! Everything was arranged by Helena at Diversetravel so we knew the flights – three in total to our final destination – would all go to plan .
We were met by the team at Emperor liveaboard Leo , having flown from a wet and cold Birmingham airport to a tropical 30 ° C in the Maldives – lovely !
Introductions all round , our group was composed of eight divers from two BSAC branches : Coventry 58 and the Monday Club 2606 . A mixed group of Chinese , Spanish , German and Lithuanians made up the rest of the boat ’ s compliment , all very experienced open circuit divers and all diving on 30 %
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