Trying to turn the tide on marine litter
Divers in Plymouth have been getting to grips with a different type of terror from the deep.
Ten Members of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) plunged beneath the waves and returned with a trove of rubbish, including rope and a gentleman's shoe.
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Eamonn Coffrey of Chiltern Divers Sub Aqua Club collects litter from the waters around Fort Bovisand, Plymouth, as part of the club's Underwater Litterpick 2012. And right: Eamonn with Richard Gammage picture: Neil Hope
The divers hope their haul of detritus goes some way to highlighting what is a serious problem for the region.
Eamonn Coffrey, training officer at the Chiltern Sub Aqua Club, was appalled at the quantity of waste the team discovered.
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"We dived at Bovisands at Plymouth and couldn't believe the sheer volume of rubbish lying on the seabed and close to the shore," he said.
"It opened our eyes to what is a huge problem. Let's hope the BSAC campaign raises awareness of the problem."
The rubbish is an issue because it threatens marine life and can cause problems for the delicate eco-systems.
The divers performed two clean-up dives, one from shore and the other on the wreck of HMS Scylla in Whitsand Bay.
The frigate was deliberately sunk upon decommissioning in 2003 to form an artificial reef.
Even at a depth of 25 metres however there was no escaping the tide of debris. Divers described the wreck surrounded by "plastic lying around".
The club's efforts are a precursor to an extended BSAC and Marine Conservation Society (MCS) campaign to clean up some of Britain's marine habitats.
The BSAC Litterpick will begin in earnest on October 31. MCS is holding its Beachwatch Big Weekend on September 15-16.
Mary Tetley, BSAC chief executive, said: "The BSAC Underwater Litterpick gives our divers the chance to contribute to the fight against marine pollution by retrieving and then recording the underwater litter that they find.
"It is also contributing to wider research and understanding of the pollution issues our precious seas face."
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