Isle of Man Diving Conference 2007

[Michelle Haywood]

Isle of Man Diving Conference 2007
Theme : Protecting our marine heritage and wildlife

Saturday 24th February 2007

Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man

Free entry :D
due to generous support from Manx National Heritage and Discover Diving (BSAC Centre of Excellence)

12.30 - 16.30

Speakers:
Adrian Corkill (Author of Isle of Man Shipwrecks)
Trevor Norton (Author of Underwater to get out of the Rain)
Steve Cowley (HMS Repulse expedition)
Fiona Gell (Wildlife and Conservation Officer)

PLUS Special temporary exhibition of artefacts from the Racehorse wreck.

All divers welcome and all non-divers welcome too!

For further details PM me.

Best wishes

Michelle

[Michelle Haywood]

Hi all

Just to let you know, the conference was a great success. Standing room only!

Copied below is the press release due to go out this week.

The Isle of Man Diving Conference was held on Saturday 24th February at the Manx Museum, supported by Manx National Heritage and Discover Diving, a BSAC Centre of Excellence. There was standing room only as nearly 80 divers and local historians packed in to hear an exciting programme of speakers. Dr Andrew Foxon from Manx National Heritage welcomed the guests to the museum and looked forward to a growing co-operation and understanding between divers and MNH. Local author and diver Adrian Corkill presented his ongoing research into shipwrecks around the Island. During 2006, the wrecks of the Callista, the Lucy and the Downshire were formally identified by divers from Castle Rushen Dive Club. The gathered audience was tantalised by Adrian’s plans for 2007, several hitherto unidentified U-boats!

Steve Cowley presented a stunning series of photographs taken during the expedition to the South China Sea to dive on the wreck of HMS Repulse. Steve, whose grandfather Walter was one of the survivors from the sinking in 1941, explained the challenging conditions of the dive. The presentation was a poignant time for Steve as his grandmother, Walter’s wife, was in the audience to see the images for the first time. Steve described how 65 years after she sank with heavy loss of life, HMS Repulse is now covered in soft corals, and has become an artificial reef.

The theme of the conference was ‘Protecting our marine heritage and environment’, so Fiona Gell from the Wildlife and Conservation Office of DAFF was on hand to speak for the natural environment. Fiona explained the protection afforded to wildlife under Manx law, and the environmental importance of both maerl beds and eel grass. Divers were urged to undertake Seasearch training to help survey local sites. Chairing the meeting, John Kermode, then took views from the divers present on the prospect of Marine Reserves. There was a unanimous vote in favour and the Island’s divers would clearly welcome and support any Marine Reserve initiative.

The afternoon concluded with Professor Trevor Norton, former head of Port Erin Marine Laboratory. Supported by a cornucopia of maritime related imagery Professor Norton gave his irreverent view of our relationship with the sea.

Conference organiser Michelle Haywood of Discover Diving said;
“Divers from all over the Island came to hear about wrecks and reefs around the Island, and they weren’t disappointed. This will be an annual event to bring together divers with various interests and from different diving clubs. If Castle Rushen Diver’s plans to identify U-boats come to fruition, I’m sure everyone will want to hear the update.

The diving community was united in their support for Marine Reserves to be established in Manx waters. In the UK, the Marine Conservation Society presents data from Port Erin Marine Lab to show how such reserves benefit the environment, so it’s a sad irony that we don’t have any reserves in Manx waters.”

Best wishes

Michelle