When the weather plays ball on the Isle of Wight, Wight Dolphins get busy. This past week delivered exactly the kind of conditions we love—settled seas, clear water in places, and just enough adventure to keep the smiles wide. From easy-entry shore dives to historic wrecks, here’s how our members made the most of it.

Where We Dived

• Saturday 4 July — Bembridge (shore) A gentle start to the run with an easy shore entry and plenty of life among the gullies and ledges. Ideal for easing back into rhythm and dialing in buoyancy.
• Sunday 5 July — Shanklin (shore) Shanklin’s reefs offered classic south-coast mooching: wrasse and pollack cruising the weed, tompot blennies peering from holes, and those big Isle of Wight boulders that always seem to hide something new.
• Tuesday 7 July — Freshwater Bay (shore) Freshwater rewarded us with dramatic rock formations and kelp forests swaying in the surge—an atmospheric glide when the visibility opens up.
• Wednesday 8 July — SS Spyros (boat, 32 m) The week’s headline: a proper adventure to the SS Spyros. Dropping into the blue and watching the wreck emerge at 32 metres never gets old. Big-structure exploring, metal encrusted with life, and that unmistakable hush of a deeper dive.
• Thursday 9 July — Totland (shore) A calm bay session perfect for skills and slow macro spotting. Pipefish, hermits, anemones, and those little moments that make shore diving so rewarding.
• Thursday 9 July — Alum Bay (boat, 10 m) A contrasting second splash the same day—shallow, scenic, and playful. Great light, easy time, and perfect for newer divers building comfort on the boat.
• Saturday 11 July — Ventnor (shore) A south-coast stretch with character: reef contours, pockets of sand, and the occasional surprise cruising past. Conditions lined up nicely for a relaxed explore.
• Saturday 11 July — Freshwater Bay (shore) Back for another lap, because when a site is firing, you don’t argue. Different tide, different mood—new things to see.
• Sunday 12 July — Totland (shore) A neat bookend to the week: smooth logistics, happy teams, and the satisfying tiredness that only a full run of dives can deliver.

New Divers in the Sea

We had the pleasure of welcoming 2 new Ocean Diver students for their first sea dives. That first saltwater splash is a milestone—confidence grows fast when you have friendly buddies, clear briefings, and a calm bay to learn in. Huge credit to our instructors and dive leaders who make these days feel effortless.

Big Numbers, Bigger Grins

• 130 dives completed
• Nearly 89 hours underwater
• Dozens of stories traded over post-dive coffees and tailgate snacks

Pictures:

Vintage Bottle from Shanklin beach

Sea Lemons from Totland