The dictionary definition of an expedition is "a journey with a purpose". A BSAC expedition is simply a group of BSAC members going diving for a purpose.
Below is the expedition archive, listing club-organised expeditions that have successfully applied for a BSAC grant.
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| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| 2017 | 2018 | 1981 |
2018 expeditions
Dorset shipwreck project | May 2018
The leader of this expedition was Cameron Cromwell. The aim of this expedition was to locate and identify at least one of several wrecks in the Portland Bill area. We followed up on information obtained from the shipwreck project, which identified a number of interesting but unconfirmed targets. Sadly, the shipwreck project was closed down the previous year due to a lack of support, so there was no longer a database in which to contribute. However, we will be comparing our information with information previously provided by the English Heritage and Wessex Archaeology.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
2017 expeditions
Project Highball | July 2017
Exped reportProject documentary video
Led by Mark Paisey, 12 members mainly from East Cheshire SAC located and raised two highball practice rounds dropped in Loch Striven. These will be restored and displayed in museums. The team used their two RHIBS and jackstay search for small-scale item location as well as side-scan sonar and an ROV for large-scale site overview. The help of the Royal Navy (northern dive group, dive vessel Cato), a commercial survey vessel (Aspect) and a crane (SD Moorfowl), were all key to the success of this enterprise. A diver trail was established so others can enjoy this underwater museum. Progress of this endeavour was reported in the national news.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Project Banc du Cardonnet | June 2017
Led by Martin Davies and organised by Alison Major, members of Southsea Sub-Aqua Club and other branches returned to Normandy, Banc du Cardonnet, to discover more about the WW2 wrecks of Operation Neptune. They planned to record and photograph mainly two US tank landing craft and produce photogrammetry and 3D models. The team will be based in Grandcamp-Maisy and use their own boat, side-scan sonar, and portable air compressor.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Expedition Newfoundland | May-June 2017
Darwen Sub-Aqua Club marked its 60th anniversary with a fully self-sufficient dive expedition to Newfoundland. Led by Keith Dearden, team members from five branches spent four weeks in total, split over two groups, based near St. John's, Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club, and dived wrecks around Bell Island. They shipped, by container via Liverpool and Halifax, their own boats, compressors, gas and other usual dive equipment.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Survey of pink sea fans around Plymouth | March 2017
Led by Paul Ritson, nine members surveyed the state of pink sea fans at 10 (known and new) sites around Plymouth. Following Seasearch procedures and using previous Seasearch reports they dived over four days to determine the state of the sea fans. The pink sea fans were found to be generally in good health.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Survey of the UC42 in Cork Harbour | January-May 2017
Led by Philip Johnston, several branches around Ireland surveyed the UC42 in Cork Harbour. The branches included Cork (Sovereign), Nth Down, Belfast, Lisburn, Atlantic and DUSAC. They used their own RIBs and spread the diving over five weekends,100 years after her sinking.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
2016 expeditions
Maerl bed survey in Loch Hourn | October 2016
Led by Ian Dearden and Mike Holroyd, Darwen SAC returned to Loch Hourn. Ten team members surveyed the maerl beds discovered there using their own RIBs, compressors, and camped on-site. This was a follow-up to the previous expedition in 2014.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Dive six countries in six days (from one boat) | August 2016
Led by Michelle Haywood, members from the two branches—Discover Diving and Isle of Man SAC—aimed to dive in the territorial waters of six countries (Isle of Man, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Rep. of Ireland, Wales, England) all within six days.
Sites included known and unknown wrecks up to 50m in depth. The group of ten divers used a chartered hardboat as a dive platform, travelling 300nm, dived rebreathers on trimix and stayed overnight at various ports.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
2015 expeditions
Live Bait expedition | August 2015
The regional coach for Europe organised a trip to dive the WW1 Live Bait Squadron wrecks: HMS Cressy, Hogue and Aboukir, positioned 22 miles off The Hague. A team of 12 divers from various British branches and experience backgrounds including rebreathers dived off a chartered liveaboard to record the state of the wrecks by photographs and video, laid a wreath on the Cressy, and included some diver training progress.
Reporting included an interview of Carol Wood by Anglia TV and BBC Radio Suffolk, as well as an article in SCUBA magazine in January 2016.
This expedition was awarded £250 from the BEGS fund.
Rathlin Island expedition | July 2015
Members from SubC, Bury and Chaumont clubs dived around Rathlin Island. They surveyed wrecks, explored new sites and recorded Seasearch forms. The 15 members of the expedition were based in Ballycastle in self-catering accommodation, had their own transportable compressors and used their own RIB for transport.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Aud survey, Ireland | April 2015
The Irish Regional Coach planned to help prepare divers for the First Class Diver practical exam by surveying the wreck, Aud. The most intact sections were the main focus of the activity, resulting in a wreck guide. The results may be of interest to Irish historians as well as scuba divers. The group of ten divers will use their own RIBs.
This expedition was awarded £250 from the BEGS fund.
Campbeltown Kintyre wreck expedition | April 2015
Members from Lancaster, Aberdeen, Manchester and Glasgow branches planned to dive, survey and record wrecks around the Kintyre peninsula. The findings were published in Canmore, local media and dive magazines. The eight members of the expedition will be led by Simon Exley; the Fyne Pioneer will be their dive platform. Accommodation will be in a bunkhouse in Campbeltown and air will be drawn from a local dive base.
This expedition was awarded £250 from the BEGS fund.
2014 expeditions
Isle of Skye expedition | September 2014
ULSAC branch aimed to teach the next generation of club members how to plan and manage challenging expedition diving. Ten team members explored unknown dive sites to the club, albeit regularly dived. Diving off their own RIB they were self-sufficient in terms of boats, food, accommodation and other equipment.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Bringing History Home, Normandy expedition | September 2014
An international collaboration—consisting of 14 divers from Southsea SAC, nine divers from Scuba Ninjas (France) and three from Kish SAC (Ireland)—dived eight of the WW2 wrecks associated with Operation Neptune (the invasion of Normandy), diving off chartered RIBs from Asnelles.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Wild camping and diving, Loch Hourn expedition | September 2014
A group of ten divers, mainly from Darwen SAC, explored dive sites around Loch Hourn from an isolated base camp that is only accessible by boat. During that week they were completely self-reliant, having to take all their fuel, firewood, food, shelter, oxygen, compressors and RIBs with them.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Dubh Artach expedition | June 2014
Tyneside branch dived known and new sites around Skerryvore, Dubh Artach and Torran Rocks. This expedition built on previous expeditions and this time found wreckage which they consider being the Cathcartpark, although a conclusive identification still remains open. They also dived the Nyland and the Labrador. Based out of self-catering cottages in SW Mull for a week, the group of eight divers used a charted RIB and their own compressors.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
2013 expeditions
Gozo expedition | September 2013
Members of Inverness branch planned to dive the caves on the north side of the island, to carry out a Seasearch survey on behalf of Sharklab-Malta, and to carry out Dive Leader and Advanced Diver training. The expedition saw 12 members staying in self-catering accommodation over a one week period, diving from shore and RIB where that was not possible.
"What Lies Beneath?" south coast survey | Summer 2013
BSAC Southern Region led by Alison Mayor planned to provide training and experience of underwater surveys with the ultimate aim of inspiring members to undertake adventurous and meaningful projects in the future. This massive project provided structure and support for 11 branches to explore known and unknown sites along the South Coast. NAS underwater archaeology courses, as well as the BSAC Wreck Appreciation SDC, will be communally organised.
This project has been awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Haugesund, Norway expedition | June 2013
Led by Ian Dearden, 12-14 members mostly from Darwen branch (but also involving three other branches from the Greater Manchester area), planned to explore dive sites around Haugesund, over a two week period. Using side-scan sonar and a magnetometer, they intended to locate and survey wreck, wall and reef sites. They dived off their own two RIBs, ferried/towed all the way there, together with their own compressors and gas-blending equipment.
This expedition has been awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Skerryvore expedition | May 2013
Tyneside branch planned to dive old and new sites around Tiree, including Skerryvore. Based on Tiree for a week, a group of eight divers took their own RIB and compressor to locate and survey wrecks (e.g. SS Labrador), wall and reef sites around Roan Bogha in Gunna Sound and Skerryvore.
This expedition has been awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
2012 expeditions
Real reefs project | August 2012
This investigation, organised by Scarborough SAC, aimed to have 30 divers use the Seasearch methodology to survey 20 undived reef areas between Flamborough and Whitby, as well as the two recommended Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) just to the north and south of the area. Marine species and habitat data will be gathered and made freely available via the National Biodiversity Network.
This project has been awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Shetland seaplane expedition | August 2012
This week-long expedition, led by Ribble Valley SAC, aimed to locate and survey seaplanes around Shetland. A team of 12 divers from four branches used side-scan sonar and a magnetometer from a commercial hard boat to first locate promising sites and then survey and record results using the NAS WreckMap Britain procedures and forms.
This expedition has been awarded £750 grant from the BEGS fund.
Wreck hunters expedition | May 2012
The purpose of this regionally organised expedition was to facilitate divers from Yorkshire in preparing for National Instructor, First Class Diver and Advanced Instructor assessments. The prep session was based around diving in the Cumbrae area with a wreck survey theme based around the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) survey principles and a second Seasearch survey-based theme.
This trip has been awarded £250 from the BEGS fund.
2011 expeditions
Cumbrae assessments expedition | October 2011
The purpose of this expedition was to facilitate divers from Yorkshire in preparing for First Class Diver and Advanced Instructor assessments and complete the AP2 section of Advanced Diver. The expedition was based around diving in the Cumbrae area with a wreck survey theme based around the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) survey principles.
This expedition was awarded £250 from the BEGS fund.
Guernsey expedition | August 2011
Following on from a successful previous expedition to South France in 2010, a group of 10 members from University of London SAC and Crawley Divers explored the channel islands Guernsey, Herm, and Sark for 11 days. Led by Ali Gaudion they documented rarely-dived locations as well as trained and assisted several members towards their next dive grade. They towed their RIB from London to their base at St. Peter's port.
This expedition was awarded £750 from the BEGS fund.
North Shetland expedition | August 2011
Following on from a successful previous expedition, a group of 16 members from Clidive branch dived for two weeks around the remote area of north Shetland. Led by Ben Jaffey, they documented rarely-dived locations, both sketching wrecks (E49) and undertaking Seasearch programmes of scenic sites, and extended the dive guide they compiled on a previous expedition. They towed their RIB and compressors from London to their self-catering accommodation at Saxa Vord. Launching and mooring was at Balta Sound.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
SS Inkosi, Mull of Galloway expedition | Summer 2010 & 2011
Led by Andrew Pritt, three single-day trips were planned by the West Cumbria branch to produce a wreck tours-type site map of SS Inkosi. The expeditions team—made up of three FCDs, two ADs and one DL and several additional boat handlers—dived off two RIBs.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund in 2010 as due to various mishaps, the main bulk of the diving was postponed.
Summer Isles expedition | July 2011
Led by Michael Rickard, 17 members from Sub C Divers, Bury SAC, and Chaumont SAC branches dived for six days from their base at Tanera Mor. The expedition team had to be self-sufficient and flexible, relying on their own compressors and RIBs. They explored and documented dive sites, conducted Seasearch surveys and developed participants' skills.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
2010 expeditions
Sound of Jura expedition | August 2010
Using club RIBs, members of South Queensferry explored dive sites at the north and south ends of the Sound of Jura, around Crinan and Loch Sween. A group of trainee Advanced Divers were introduced to expedition diving.
West Wales wreck expedition | Summer 2010
To extend the currently limited range of dive sites, members of Cardiff branch located and published exact locations of known and new wreck sites in west Wales. Over several weekends, the dive team, consisting of one FCD and six ADs, used a side-scan sonar fitted to their club RIB, led by Rhian Lewis-James.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Dunnet & Duncansby Head expedition | June 2010
Following on from the last two expeditions in a series to the 'Extremities of Scotland', this successful third trip, led by Paul Bullen, took members from Edinburgh University to the most northerly and north-easterly points of the Scottish mainland. The expedition team had to be self-sufficient and flexible, relying on their own compressors and boats. Diving from their own inflatables gave the team the flexibility they required.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Jurassic Shark 3 expedition | June 2010
A high profile Joint Services Sub-Aqua Club (JSSAC) diving expedition for 16 personnel to Cocos Island, Costa Rica for two weeks, led by Andy Reid. The aim of the expedition was to electronically tag 15 scalloped hammerhead sharks whilst making a documentary film. The team was composed of civilian scientists, closed-circuit rebreather divers and other divers selected to develop their skills and experience as both divers and leaders.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
2009 expeditions
Monach Isles, Outer Hebrides expedition | October 2009
Andy Torbet led a group of four divers from Severnside branch to visit the Monach Isles for one week during the grey seal breeding season. They observed the seals and explored virtually undived sites. All equipment incl. generator, compressor, food, heating fuel, and all other supplies had to be transported to this remote site.
South of France expedition | September 2009
Under the leadership of Jeremy Davey and Nathan Long, 13 members of ULSAC spent two weeks diving wrecks around the three areas of Marseille, Giens and Cavalaire. They towed their own two RIBs from London, launched from public slips, used campsites as a base, and used local dive shops for air fills.
Gigha Island, Kintyre expedition | September 2009
This expedition, named Operation Sunrise, took 12 members of three branches (Midlancs., Salford Uni., Manchester Uni.) to the island of Gigha on the west side of Kintyre, led by Andy Bennett. The sites included drift dives and reef dives on rarely dived sites, as well as locating and surveying the wrecks HMS Riant, Osprey II, Moncousu, Karlti. and the U482 for those suitably qualified (trimix). The remoteness required an own RIB and compressor.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Ardnamurchan, West Scotland expedition | September 2009
Following on from last year's Cape Wrath trip, Edinburgh University Sub-Aqua Club explored rarely dived sites off the western Scottish mainland as part of an ongoing longer-term project to explore the extremities of the Scottish coast. Led by Paul Bullen, the expedition team had to be self-sufficient (incl. own compressors) and flexible.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund and subsequently won Edinburgh University's Livingston Trophy.
Unst, Shetland expedition | August 2009
For two weeks a group of 14 people from Clidive dived around Unst, a remote area of north Shetland. Led by Rory Budds, they documented at 18 rarely dived locations, both sketching wrecks and undertaking Seasearch programmes of scenic sites. They had to tow their RIBs and compressors from London to their self-catering accommodation in Valsgarth. Launching/mooring was at Baltasound.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Scapa Flow expedition | August 2009
As part of Medway Sub-Aqua Club's 50th anniversary, the branch undertook a series of enjoyable, challenging and interesting dives over one week in Scapa Flow. With accommodation in Stromness, they used the hardboat, John L, as a diving platform. The wrecks to be dived were the classic cruisers, the Coln, the Karlsruhe, the Dresden, and the Brummer, to try to understand the armament and assess the level of deterioration.
Isles of Scilly expedition | June 2009
Severnside Sub Aqua Club planned to celebrate its 40th anniversary by organising an expedition to the Isles of Scilly. Repeating an excursion of last year, they set out with their own RIBs from the mainland with the aim of having some great diving and to locate new and old dive sites on the islands as well as developing the members' skills.
Southwest Mull expedition | May 2009
Members of the Tyneside branch aimed to seek out new dive sites and conduct wreck surveys around the Ross of Mull. Using two RIBs and two of their own compressors, and led by Richard Booth, they explored scenic dives around the southwest area of Mull. The wrecks planned to be investigated were the Cathcart Park, Nyland, and SS Ostende, including position location and wreck survey.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
St Kilda expedition | April 2009
The clear, oceanic water supports a spectacularly diverse and stunning range of animals and plants. For this reason, Triton Oceanic Sub Aqua Club undertook its second expedition to the Scottish islands. The remote beauty of the islands' underwater world has been explored to the full, pioneering previously identified virgin dive sites and visiting some of the old favourites. The team led by Simon Campbell revisited the amazing St Kilda archipelago to assist in researching material for an Essential Dive Guide to the islands.
West Midlands regional expeditionary diving scheme (REDS), Croatia | 2007-2009
Andy Seddon led a group to explore a roman wreck site in the warm clear waters off Croatia. A REDS team was formed to dive and survey in detail a well-dived wreck of the Elk out of Plymouth to try archaeological survey techniques and see if there are any secrets left about the wreck to be discovered.
2008 expeditions
Sea Palling expedition | September 2008
Bedford Sub-Aqua Club, a highly active branch, aimed to explore wrecks off the East Anglian coast. Most of the diving was relatively shallow but mostly undived for a number of reasons: possibly poor visibility and shifting sandbanks make the wrecks sometimes disappear and reappear. Lisa Bedard led the expedition to research little dived wreck sites, survey marine life on them and produce wreck tour information for the branch.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Cape Wrath expedition | September 2008
Edinburgh University Sub-Aqua Club took the lead in a multibranch dive to explore sites off Cape Wrath as part of an ongoing longer-term project to explore the extremities of the Scottish coast, led by Paul Bullen. The dive location meant that the expedition needed to be self-sufficient and have a great deal of flexibility to change plans in case of bad weather. Diving from their own inflatables gave the team this flexibility.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund and subsequently won Edinburgh University's Livingston Trophy.
Wales Barrell Rock REDS expedition | July-July 2008
Over two separate days, REDS teams dived Barrel Rock and The Small's reef about 20 miles off the west of Wales. From club RIBs, on the first expedition, the rocks surrounding The Smalls were dived as a drift dive and on the second expedition the Garland Stone on Skomer, saving the period of slack water for the second dive on Barrel Rock. A total of 25+22 participants dived from 6+6 boats, involving eight different branches.
Benbecula expedition | June 2008
Richard Handy from Totnes branch of the BSAC brought together divers from a number of clubs on an expedition to locate some new sites in the Sea of the Hebrides. They located but did not dive the wreck of the SS Treverbyn in about 60-70m of water. A number of new scenic reefs were dived. Their dive platform was the Elizabeth G, a converted Norwegian ice-class rescue boat.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Isles of Scilly expedition | June 2008
Led by Mike Shean, a major expedition to the Isles of Scilly was organised to celebrate Severnside Sub-Aqua Club's 40th anniversary. Most previous excursions there were long ago on inflatable boats or, in later years, using the islands hard boats. This year, however, they looked back to the earlier years for inspiration and they set out with RIBs with the aim of having some great diving and accurately locate new and old dive sites on the islands.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Thor survey expedition | May 2008
Teresa Darbyshire led the Cardiff branch of the BSAC on an expedition to use their newly-acquired underwater archaeological skills. Having completed a NAS course they have chosen to survey the wreck of the Thor, a dutch coaster that sank in heavy seas in Milford Haven.
This expedition was awarded £500 from the BEGS fund.
Malin Head expedition | May 2008
Shane Wasik led a trimix expedition to dive some of the most famous wreck sites off the Donegal coast such as RMS Laurentic, HMS Audacious, RMS Justicia and the Empire Heritage.
This expedition was awarded £1,000 from the BEGS fund.
Falkland Islands expedition | January 2008
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Darwen Sub Aqua Club, 15 members dived the Falkland Islands in a self-sufficient expedition. All the necessary equipment had to be shipped out from the UK in a 40ft steel container, including both RIBS and trailers, spare parts and spare engines, two portable air compressors, 16 full-size oxygen cylinders for Nitrox, divers personal equipment, petrol and water containers, and a basic supply of food stuffs.
This expedition was awarded the Expedition Trophy in 2008.
Drift and pinnacles, South Scotland REDS expedition | 2008
Max Ruffert led another expedition to enjoy adventurous and challenging drift dives in the Sound of Luing area and explore undived pinnacles in the area.
1981 expeditions
St Kilda | August 1981
The 1981 expedition to St Kilda, led by Gordon Ridley, marked a significant effort in exploring one of the UK's most remote and challenging diving locations, and many adventurous BSAC divers have been back since. Ridley’s team conducted dives around the islands, and scoped out undived new sites for future divers. Since 1980, a rich array of marine life and unique underwater landscapes has been documented. A Submarine Guide has been the go-to-guide for countless divers travelling to St Kilda and is the hallmark for expedition diving reports
