Harbour dive tradition continues 50 years on

Organised groups in Guernsey will be allowed to dive in the Harbour on Christmas Day once again.

The festive tradition gives divers the opportunity to search the seabed for fresh scallops, old artefacts and other finds.

Prior permission from the harbour master and fewer scheduled boat movements on Christmas Day makes diving in the area possible.

Richard Keen said: "I've lived through the best years of surprises of things found underwater."

Around seven to eight boats usually took part in the festive dip, however the harbour has cut down, only allowing a pair of divers in the water at any one time

Mr Keen no longer dives but works on the boats with divers to keep them safe

Previously, Mr Keen found a 3rd Century Gallo Roman shipwreck known as Asterix where parts are displayed at the Guernsey Pearl museum.

He said: "The pottery tells a story of the harbour, we've got pre-Roman pottery, Roman pottery and we've got medieval pottery, but haven't got an material from about 400AD to 1200AD. I would love to find some Viking material."

Other Christmas Day dives have led to the discovery of antique bottles and cups.

All divers are required to have a surface marker buoy and be accompanied by a support vessel with marine VHF Radio monitoring Guernsey VTS (channel 12) at all times.

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