ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Getting There: For those divers choosing a live- aboard holiday, travel and departure points are already organised. For everyone else the most convenient choice is to book a crossing with the Isles of Scilly Steamship, Scillonian III, which operates from Penzance, Monday to Saturday, from April to October. There is a restricted service during October, and then no service during winter. Or, you can choose to fly by helicopter from Penzance, or by fixed wing Sky Bus from Lands End, Newquay, Plymouth, Exeter or Bristol. It is faster, but baggage weight is restricted and your diving equipment may need to travel by sea with the Scillonian. During winter it is possible to book a crossing with the islands freight vessel the "Gry Maritha "(three trips a week). Although the weather can be splendid here in the winter season, the risk of storms is very high and may severely restrict or curtail your diving.

The Scilly Isles have many attractions to satisfy the avid wreckie, marine naturalist, photographer and videographer, while also providing a range of activities and interests for the accompanying family. For many, just the experience of island life is sufficient attraction ­ after a day here most visitors can not quite grasp that they are still in the British Isles, which seem a world away. The proximity of the diving sites and arrangement of the islands means almost guaranteed diving in most weather conditions. It also means that you do not need to spend all day on the water to enjoy two good dives, which leaves you free to devote the remainder of the day to exploring these delightful islands with the family. For the club or independent group, unlimited diving is possible with a range of sites and depths to suit all levels of experience. So, why travel all the way to the Mediterranean, Canaries, Maldives or Caribbean for the island diving experience, when some of the best temperate water diving is to be found right on our own doorstep?

Isles of Scilly Tourist Information Centre, Porthcressa Bank, St. Marys, Isles of Scilly, TR2 0JY. Tel: 01720 422536 Fax: 01720 422049

HM Coastguard, Telegraph Hill, St. Marys, Isles of Scilly. Tel: 01720 422651/422129

St. Marys Harbour Masters Office, The Quay, Hugh Town, St. Marys, Isles of Scilly. Tel: 01720 422768,

Isles of Scilly Travel Centre (for Scillonian III, Gry Maritha,Sky Bus), Isles of Scilly Steamship Co Ltd, Quay Street, Penzance, TR18 4BD Tel: 0345 105555

British International Helicopters, The Heliport, Penzance, TR18 3AP. Tel: 01736 63871 Fax: 01736 64293

The St. Martins Hotel, St. Martins, Isles of Scilly, TR25 0QW. Tel: 01720 422092 Fax: 01720 422298

Isles of Scilly Underwater Centre, Gunner Rock, St. Marys , Isles of Scilly, TR21 0JZ Tel: 01720 422595

Island Underwater Safaris, "Nowhere", Old Town, St. Marys, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0N. Tel: 01720 2732

St. Martins Diving Services, Highertown, St. Martins, Isles of Scilly. Tel: 01720 22848

Mentor Maritime, Highbury, 11 Greenwith Road, Perranwell Station, Truro, TR3 7LU. Tel: 01872 862080/0831 783857

MV McGregor, River View, Beech Terrace, West Looe, Plymouth, PL13 2AQ. Tel: 01503 263584 / 0374 148399

MV Maureen Charters, 23 Lower Fairview Road, Dartmouth, TQ6 9EE. Tel: 01803 835449 / 0860 571012