Latest H20 News & Events

Navy Dilemma Over Vessels

[Plymouth Evening Herald; Fri 12 Nov 2004] Royal Navy bosses have admitted  that delays in replacing their ageing nuclear submarines could force them into extra maintenance work, potentially costing millions of pounds of public money.  The life expectancy of the Trafalgar Class submarines was 25 years, but this might need to increase by several years, at a cost of millions.

The idea is that the Astute class will replace the Trafalgars one for one.  Due to the delay of the Astutes the life of the Trafalgars might extend to 30 years.  Astutes are now four years behind building schedule.  Two of the seven Trafalgar submarines are out of operation at the moment and three are undergoing maintenance work, but these could be called upon if needed for operational reasons.  Two submarines are operational at sea - these are HMS Trafalgar and HMS Trenchant.

Mr Colin Breed, South East Cornwall MP, said:  "Most of us would be concerned about lengthy delays to Astute.  It raises some major issues for the MoD budget.  Do they spend millions of pounds on a refit of a Trafalgar submarines to find that six months later it's replaced by an Astute?"

Sue Calms Some Troubled Waters

Sue Puddick is the new Chief Executive of the troubled Mount Batten Watersports Centre, which three weeks ago agreed a deal with the City Council and Plymouth University to enhance its facilities.  A keen sailor, Mrs Puddick, aged 54, previously worked in leisure, tourism and fitness education.

The Mount Batten Centre was set up five years ago with Lottery funding to provide sailing for the people of Plymouth.  The new partnership with the city and the university is a strong partnership, which brings all the boats they need, for elite performers and beginners as well.  Although the Centre was fully committed to bringing sailing to the people of Plymouth,  it did not have any boats.

Plymouth Evening  Herald; Fri 12 November 2004

Seahorses breed in Britain for the first time

Two local divers couldn't believe their luck when they came across a seahorse while diving off the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. The spiny seahorse, Hippocampus Guttulatus, is one of two types of seahorse found in British waters. Both species are uncommon and, as they are perfectly designed to blend in with their surroundings, live sightings hardly ever occur. The individual found by Dorset Wildlife Trust marine officer Julie Hatcher and underwater photographer Steve Trewhella was exceptional as it is the first pregnant seahorse recorded in Britain, and proves conclusively that they are breeding here in Dorset.

Seahorses are unique in that it is the male that becomes pregnant, carrying the developing young in a pouch on his belly, and giving birth to tiny, fully formed young. This particular pregnant male was 6” long and due to give birth within the next few hours.

Julie, who is manager of the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and runs the Marine Centre at Kimmeridge, said “We couldn't believe our eyes and had to surface to confirm what we had actually seen. Then it was straight back down to have a good look and take some photos before we left it to find a suitable place to give birth.”

Seahorses are under threat from a number of activities. Scallop dredging and boat moorings can destroy their habitat and they are also collected for use in oriental medicine. The Seahorse Trust, which is campaigning to have them listed as a protected species in this country, also runs the British Seahorse Survey which has its 10th anniversary this year.

Seahorse sightings can be recorded on line at www.britishseahorsesurvey.org

Freediving World Record - Venezulan Becomes First Human To Break 100 Metre Barrier

History was made today in Limassol, Cyprus, when Carlos Costa from Venezuela became the first human being ever to break the 100 metre barrier in freediving. With only a mask, fins and a single breath of air, Carlos dived down to an incredible 102m and then, completely under his own power, successfully ascended to the surface.

Back on the boat he was all smiles as he talked about the dive. ‘I was very calm until about half way down. I was fearful, but kept thinking good thoughts and then I felt better’. The world record was ratified by A.I.D.A., the world's governing body for the growing sport of freediving.

Carlos was one of three freedivers attempting to break the record, and the only one to succeed.

The men’s constant weight category is perhaps the most respected event in Freediving.  The BIOS Freediver Open Classic 2004 is the venue for the deepest and most entertaining dives to date.  It seems like a simple thing to do: take a very deep breath, swim down a length of rope to grab a tag and bring it back up for the judges to see.

Although many divers have previously announced plans to become the first to hit 100m (400 feet) in constant weight, no one has attempted or achieved it until today.

On Tuesday, Hannah Stacey from the UK broke the British women's record by four metres, by diving to 54 metres in the constant weight discipline.

Freediving is a water adventure that allows enthusiastic men and women to experience the sights, sounds and challenges of the most natural of underwater experiences. Human evolution and development has ingrained us with an underwater potential the same as our marine cousins: whales, seals and dolphins.

Without the use of underwater breathing apparatus, freedivers on a single breath of air can explore the underwater realm for minutes at a time with relative comfort. Freediving is about the comfort and exploration of the ocean realm for recreation, spear fishing, competition or personal discovery.

The BIOS FREEDIVER OPEN CLASSIC is being organised by a Plymouth based company – Freediver UK. Freedivers from around the world have gathered in Limassol Cyprus this week to compete in the competition.

Read the full press release.

New World Record

The BIOS Open Classic kicked off today, Monday 14-06-04 , in Limassol , Cyprus . The first discipline of the week long competition was the Dynamics event. This event requires the competitors to swim under water in a pool while holding their breath.

75 competitors from all over the world, of which 28 were women, took part. Johanna Nordblad of Finland set a new Ladies World Record by swimming a distance of 158 metres while staying fully submerged. It took Johanna 2 minutes 48 seconds to travel over three lengths of the Olympic sized 50 metre pool.

The competition continues over the next five days with two more disciplines. The next event is Constant Weight, in which the athletes swim down to over 100 metres on a single breath of air. This will be followed by the Static Apnea event, which sees the athletes holding their breath while submerged in a swimming pool. The current world record is over eight minutes and training has seen several competitors exceeding this time.

Sinking of the Scylla

The former Royal Navy frigate was scuttled off the Southwest coast and created Europe's first artificial diving reef. On Saturday 27th March 2004, thousands watched from Witsand Bay as five years of planning came to an end. At just after 3.30 pm, explosives sent the bow of the vessel beneath the waves, half a mile off shore.

H2o TV successfully broadcast this exciting event live on the website! Check out the 'Sinking of the Scylla' by watching this historic event again, through our programmes page.

Drivers Down

An exclusive H2o TV programme is currently planned for this unbelievable project. Its wacky engineering brilliance makes it interesting, enjoyable and a door to exciting new possibilities.

The aim is to safely drive a modified 4x4 vehicle across the seabed from the French Coast to Jersey. Drivers Down, 'a fascinating insight into a world where the end of the road is definitely not the limit'.

Schroders London International Boat Show 2004

H2o TV were at Excel in London's Docklands to promote and raise awareness of what we want to achieve. This show brings together many people and businesses and is great day out. Well worth the visit.