The SHIPS Project lecture series Tales of The Sea is a selection of inspirational and informative talks about the sea; how we work, play and interact with the sea and how our actions or lack of action affect the marine environment. The talks are on important subjects we should be discussing about our seas and oceans. 

Our speakers are pushing boundaries and are leaders in their field, they will talk about their passions and their work related to the sea. These talks are designed to raise awareness and create a narrative about maritime subjects and how they relate to you, bringing people together in an environment that allows inquisitive discussion. The first tales were very popular, with most being sold out before the event, so book early!

Please follow this link to read about the previous Tales of the Sea

Directions

The Tales of the Sea lecture series is on occasional Tuesday evenings and runs from November 2025 to April 2026; see the list of talks below. The talks will be hosted at Sandford and Down Dive Shop, the home of Zulu BSAC Dive Club, at 24 Pier Street, West Hoe in Plymouth. The venue will be open from 6 pm, the talks start at 7 pm, lasting approximately one hour, and the bar closes around 9 pm. We will charge a small admission fee of £3.

Drinks will be available to purchase at the dive shop: tea, coffee, beer, wine, and, of course, One Breath from Death rum!

Parking - Paid street parking is available along Pier Street. The Grand Parade Car Park is on the same block as Sandford and Down and highlighted in yellow on the map (right). The entrance is via the alley behind Sandford and Down.

Time - Doors open 6 pm, talks start 7 pm, and last for approximately 45 minutes.

Tickets - £3

Address - 24 Pier Street, West Hoe, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3BT

What3Words - ///acid.flap.dust

2025 - 2026 Tales of the Sea

Recent Dives and Discoveries

Tuesday 25th November 2025

Dominic Robinson

Dominic Robinson is a former Army Officer and military helicopter pilot; he is better known on social media as Deep Wreck Diver.  An experienced technical diving instructor, Dom was previously Head of Diving and Training for the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) and, after that, a senior manager at Babcock International, delivering projects for the UK Special Forces.

Dom Robinson is back again, this time talking about his recent dives and discoveries, including visits to the SS The Greek, MV Ingrid Green and SS Boduognat.

Dom’s passion for diving, love of history, and desire to tell tales of lost shipwrecks come together in this talk where you can hear about lost vessels in deep water explored by local divers.

Dom’s YouTube channel is at: https://www.youtube.com/@D33pUK

Octopus Bloom!

Tuesday 9th December 2025

Dr. Keith Hiscock

Keith has studied shore and seabed communities in Great Britain and various parts of the northern hemisphere, whilst also maintaining a broad interest in marine ecosystems throughout the world for over 40 years.

In 1998, he established, along with others, the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) at the Marine Biological Association, supporting marine environment management, protection and education in Britain and Ireland via the Internet. From November 2010 to February 2012, he served on the Government’s Marine Protected Areas Science Advisory Panel. Now partly retired, he continues to contribute to the work of the MBA but has more time to pursue my passions for photography, marine biology and diving.

The Cattewater Wreck

Tuesday 6th January 2026

Peter Holt, The SHIPS Project CIC

Peter is a marine technologist and archaeologist who has designed underwater navigation systems, built small submarines for the US Navy, built robot submarines and robot boats, has been a lecturer at Plymouth University, and is a director of The SHIPS Project. Peter is currently applying technology to marine habitat mapping for Sonardyne, and has recently written a book on Plymouth Castle and the early military defences of Plymouth.

Peter will be talking about the Cattewater Wreck, a medieval armed merchant ship sunk in the Cattewater. The wreck was found accidentally by a dredger in the 1970s, it was investigated by underwater archaeologists in the 1980s, and now lies buried in the seabed.

Further talks to be confirmed.