Expedition Diving Resource Centre - Recent Expeditions

Thousands of BSAC diving expeditions take place every year all over the world. The vast majority of these are organized within BSAC branches. Details of BSAC Branch expeditions can be found by contacting the Diving Officer or Expeditions Officer of the branch that organized the expedition.

The Expeditions listed on this webpage are mostly Regional or National Expeditions organized in recent years.

2007 REDS South Scotland: Firth of Lorne (Expedition Trophy winner)

Not for the faint hearted! For the third year running the REDS South Scotland team set out to explore offshore pinnacles and undertake some exhilarating drift dives. These particular drift dives require careful planning, on a par with some extended range and trimix dives. For a superb and efficiently run expedition Max was awarded the Expedition Trophy. The expedition was also awarded a £1000 BEGS grant.

2007 Leicester Underwater Exploration Club, Skye Expedition

LUEC returned to Skye to conduct a more detailed survey the wreck of an 18^th century shipwreck discovered during last year’s expedition. A high profile expedition saught professional archeological support and produced an excellant wreck map. They were awarded a BEGS grant of £1000.

2007 Cardiff Sub Aqua Club, Manx Expedition

Mark Gosling led a branch expedition to the Isle of Man with the aim of carrying out some adventurous diving. They were awarded a BEGS grant of £500. For details of Cardiff branch and how they got on during their visit see their website at http://www.cardiffbsac.org/.

2007 REDS South East

The South East REDS scheme under the leadeship of Dave Tresidder and Tim Venebles yet again organized a couple of extended range and trimix expeditions aimed at experienced divers.

There are fewer members are into this sort of diving but REDS scheme is a fantastic way of getting these divers together in sufficient numbers to form a team to carry out this diving economically and safely.

2007 REDS West Midlands: Croatia

The clear and warm waters of the Adriatic Sea have carried the shipping trade of the Greeks and Romans over thousands of years, through to the modern day where the Italian, Greek, Croatian and Serbian ships ply. The eastern coastline of the sea is teeming with islands providing natural harbours but also shipping hazards. These navigational hazards, combined with the countless number of voyages made over the years provide the Adriatic with some of the most exciting marine archaeological areas in the world.

In May of 2007 the West Midlands REDS sent a team of divers to the Island of Korcula and the Dupin Dive Centre, a BSAC Premier School, to survey a Roman wreck.

2007 Interbranch Expedition to the North Goldstone.

A group of divers working towards First Class Diver decided to lead an expedition to this rarely dived site north of the Farne islands. They were aiming to dive and survey the wreck of the SS Pegasus. One of the expedition team conducted some excellent research into the wreck itself and the group experimented with some photomosaic techniques for recording part of the site. They were award a BEGS grant of £1000.

2006 Foula’s Titanic (BSAC Expedition Trophy Winner)

Winner of the BSAC Expedition Trophy 2006. Stephen Jackson led a combined military and civilian team upto Shetland to dive amongst other things a sister ship to the Titantic, the Oceanic which lies off Foula., they also raised a white ensign on the war grave of the E49 submarine and raised £750 for MENCAP on a charity dive around Muckle Flugga, the UK’s most northerly point.

The expedition was self sufficient and involved transporting boats, compressors, tents all the way to Shetland and this was achieved within a sensible budget.

The judging panel felt that this expedition promoted the ‘true spirit of adventurous diving’ and was also a fine example of what can be achieved by most BSAC branches if they put their minds to it.

2006 Exercise Jurassic Shark

Major Andy Reid led a shark tagging expedition to the Cocos Islands. Exercise Jurassic Shark as it was called highlighted the issue of the exploitation of sharks. The expedition was well publicised with articles appearing in BSAC Dive Magazine and members participating in interviews for TV and radio.

An excellent diving project and a worthy contender for the BSAC Expedition Trophy. The team set up a website http://www.jurassic-shark.org.uk/ to report on the project which is well worth a visit.

2006 Leicester Underwater Exploration Club, Skye Expedition

Anthony Farrant led the club on an expedition to the NW of Skye, exploring rarely dived sites in the Minch as well as some firm favorites on the way home. During the course of this expedition they discovered an 18^th century shipwreck and conducted an initial wreck survey. The BSAC provided a grant to support this expedition and the expedition was a worthy contender for the BSAC Expedition Trophy. They returned to the site in 2007 to contact a fuller archeological survey.

2006 Brittany Expedition

Lev Roberts-Haritonov led the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Branch to NW Brittany for a fantastic week of adventurous RHIB diving aimed at dive leaders. They towed the club RHIBs across to France and dived numerous wrecks and reefs. The plans also considered the needs of non-divers and families aswell. A worthy contender for the BSAC Expedition Trophy.

2006 BIG REDS Bash

Steve Pearson led an expedition to Anglesey to survey a number of wrecks off the coast. Despite atrocious weather conditions, over 100 divers turned up and went diving. Steve reported the expedition in BSAC DIVE magazine and gave a presentation at the Diving Officers Conference. An excellent diving project and a worthy contender for the BSAC Expedition Trophy.

2006 Reef surveys in Cardigan Bay:

Wynne Evans lead members of Cantre’r Gwaelod Divers, University of Wales Swansea SAC, University of Wales Aberystwyth SAC and Cardigan SAC to monitor the outer patches reefs and Sarn Cynfelin in Cardigan Bay. The BSAC provided a grant to support this expedition. The expedition culminated in a report submitted to the MCS as part of its Seasearch programme.

2006 REDS South Scotland:
Not for the faint hearted! After a successful expedition in 2005 the REDS South Scotland team set off again to explore offshore pinnacles and undertake some exhilarating drift dives in the Sound of Luing. The BSAC provided a grant to support this expedition.

2006 Wreck exploration in Cardigan Bay:

Alan Thomas lead members of Cardigan SAC and other BSAC clubs on an expedition to dive and survey the Sutton and some former military missile targets, HMS Whirlwind and HMS Lewiston. The BSAC provided a gr Preparing for trimix dive

ant to support this expedition.

2006 Isle of Man Trimix Expedition

Steve Cowley led an expedition to dive a number of wrecks off the Isle of Mann. The BSAC provided a grant to support this expedition. Steve Cowley gave at presentation at the Diving Officers conference. Although they were aiming to locate just one particular wreck, they ended up identifying an number of different sites.

2006 REDS Channel Islands:

Howard Barnes lead members if Guernsey, Jersey and Aldernay branches of the BSAC in a hunt for some virgin wrecks off the Guernsay. During the expedition they saught and obtained permission to dive the site of an Elizabethan ship. The BSAC provided a grant to support this expedition.

2006 REDS South East
Tim Veneables and Dave Tresidder organised a couple of expeditions aimed at experienced divers. The first expedition was to Weymouth for Trimix divers, looking to explore wrecks in the 45-55m range. The second was extended range or trimix diving to mid channel wrecks.

2006 One day Expeditions 4 – 40m
After a successful expedition in 2005 to some rarely dived wrecks, a group of North East divers lead by Andy Hunt returned to continue the expedition started last year and explore wrecks off Amble and Blyth. It again proved that adventurous and challenging diving does not necessary mean having to go deep!

2005 North East REDS expedition to Loch Etive:
Nick Foster organised a variety of drift, wall, wreck and night dives (sometimes all rolled into one) for a group of divers participating in the expedition to explore Loch Etive. This expedition also successfully applied for a BSAC Expedition Grant.

2005 National One day Expeditions 4 - 40m off the North East Coast:
Hardboat space was booked on a number of weekends above dates. BSAC divers explored sites off the North East coast and got an insight into how adventurous and challenging diving does not necessary mean having to go deep! .Sites were between 4 to 40m and aimed at a minimum qualification of experienced Sports diver/Dive Leader trainee. The expedition was led by Andy Hunt.

Click here for the Expedition Plan
Click here for the Expedition Risk Assessment
Click here for the Expedition Report

2005 North East REDS expedition to Skye:
Skye and the Small Isles by RHIB - varied diving exploring new sites of Skye and weather permitting the small isles. This expedition also successfully applied for a BSAC Expedition Grant. Click here for the expedition report.

2005 Environmental expedition to the Outer Hebrides: Adventurous and challenging advanced diving from RHIBs invesitgating underwater flora in special areas of conservation. Organized and led by the BSAC Environmental Officer led by Andy McCloed.

2005 South Scotland REDS expedition to Firth of Lorne:
Not for the faint hearted! Diving from hardboat Porpoise 2 the expedition explored offshore pinnacles and some exhilarating drift dives. This expedition also successfully applied for a BSAC Expedition Grant.

2005 Southern Region REDS expedition to South Wales
This was a hardboat-based expedition organised by Richard Trevithick and gave members an opportunity to meet new divers, take part in adventurous diving and wreck surveys. The expedition was an excellant opportunity for those preparing for First Class Diver, as well as those who wanted to consolidate their dive planning and marshalling skills. The expedition was open to BSAC Dive Leaders and above.

2005 Isle of Man Expedition:
This expedition led by Howard Barnes conducted deep air diving in the 45m to 50m range off the Isle of Man attempting to positively identify a number of wrecks. The dive platform was a hardboat. The expedition successfully applied for a BSAC expedition grant.

2004 North East REDS:
Bad weather limited some of the local diving off the Tyne but the absence of this was more than made up for by the Easter wreck hunting expedition to the Torran Rocks and SW tip of Mull. The expedition led by Andy Hunt was covered in DIVE magazine and one of the participants wrote a report for the BSAC website. See http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/redsmull.htm for details.

2003 North East REDS:
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the BSAC, four weekend expeditions to the Firth of Lorn and Mull areas were organised as well as a lot of RIB diving off the Tyne. The Corryweckan was the pinnacle of these expeditions. Good weather also permitted many RIB expeditions off the Tyne investigate a number of smaller wreck sites all in the 40-45m range which according to the Hydrographic Department were allegedly the same wreck. The expeditions were led by Andy Hunt.

2002 North East REDS:
Andy Hunt led a number of expeditions which included the discover of a virgin wreck lying off Blyth. The wreck is extremely difficult to locate and lies only in 20m. It is thought to be the bow section of the Hanne.

There was also an expedition to Loch Inver and Loch Cairbawm in North West Scotland which had hoped to dive some WWII sites but as a result of a last minute logistical problems the aims changed to locate some interesting scenic sites instead.

2002 Branch Expedition by Gibraltar Joint Services (317/s)
For many years, popular dive site in Gibraltar has been the Inner and Outer, two sections of metal wreck located just outside the harbour. No-one knew what the wreckage was, so the Gibraltar Joint Services Branch (317/s) and Gibraltar Museum surveyed the wreck, researched it and eventually identified it as HMS Erin, an armed trawler which was sabotaged in 1942. The expedition was led by Phil Smith.

2001 North East REDS:
Participants took part in an NAS Underwater Archeology Foundation Course early on in the year. Diving was all from various clubs RIBS (Newcastle University, Martini, Three Seas, Poseidon) on wrecks off Tynemouth and Beadnall. An number of 'unknown' sites in 20-42m range were researched, dived and surveyed. Andy Hunt was the expedition leader.

Expedition Links

Sources of Additional Funding
BSAC Expedition Grant Scheme (BEGS)
Jubilee Trust Grants

Expedition Diary, Reports and Awards
Current BSAC Expeditions
Recent BSAC Expeditions
The Expedition Trophy

Expedition Planning
Frequently Asked Questions

BSAC Expedition Leader Guidelines
Expedition Planning Notes
Dive Planning resource centre
Example Expedition Plan : One day Hardboat Expeditions
Example Risk Assessment: One day Hardboat Expeditions
Example Expedition Report: One Day Hardboat Expeditions

Example Expedition Report: Week Long RHIB Expedition to Skye

Expedition Safety
Diving Safety Section

Other Expedition Guidance
Branch Officers Handbook
Contacts for Special interest Groups and Expeditions
Important information on diving wrecks

Expedition Safety
Safe Diving

Other Expedition Guidance
Branch Officers Handbook
Contacts for Special interest Groups and Expeditions
Wreck Heritage
Wreck Divers Code

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Page last modified: 17th Jan 2008 - 13:37:04