Wonders of the Sea!

In our latest meeting, we welcomed Alison and Paul Pettitt to tell us all about the fantastic sights and sounds that exist literally meters from the shore in our local area.

Alison and Paul are divers, originally from Cambridgeshire, who moved down to Swanage as much as anything because of the opportunities to study the marine life in our location. Swanage Pier is reknowned worldwide as an excellent location for people wishing to learn to dive and experience the wonders of the sea and hosts one of the older diving schools in the country. 

They spend a large part of their time underwater taking photographs of the marine life that exists below Swanage Pier, as well as further afield. Far from the impression often given, the water is full of life and colour with numerous species which either spend much of their time in Swanage Bay or which, in some cases, are not readily found elsewhere.

Alison and Paul were at pains to point out that their prime concern is for the species that they find and photograph. There are areas around the world where tourism is endangering the wildlife itself, so much of their work is only reported on when the animals themselves have moved on, so that it can't be pestered.

The equipment that they use has generated over the years from a fairly straightforward and simple compact camera to the plethora of equipment and accessories that they now use, often requiring an 'excess baggage' allowance when travelling further afield. Their photos, however, are remarkable and demonstrate the full range of widlife and plant life that exists locally in our area. More photos will appear here soon.

On behalf of the group, Rotarian Steve Parsons proposed a vote of thanks to Alison and Paul for coming to speak to us.