 Hi I'm Dave, owner and an Instructor at the Silver Dolphin Dive Centre and the person responsible for setting up our charity the Silver Dolphin Marine Education Centre (SDMEC), with the help from the other trustees. If you scroll down the page you will find information on Silver Dolphin Dive Centre and the SDMEC. There is also more information to be found on the side bars. You will also find conservation project news, so as a diver there is plenty for you to get involved with. If your a non diver looking to become an PADI Open Water Scuba Diver then give us a call and once qualified you can join in with these projects. One of my favourite courses to run is DSD where divers take their first step into the diving world and have what is actually a life changing experience. I have seen so much and travelled around the world and dived most tropical oceans, yet still get excited when I see a pipefish while snorkeling off Battery Rocks.
Why learn to dive? well, maybe you snorkeled on holiday and you want to take that next step. People who learn to dive with us will tell you we give that bit extra in your training sessions and your dives,you may think diving is to hard for you to do but its not. Learn to dive with us and we will take care of you. You may just want to do a Discover Scuba session or go on to become a PADI professional and travel the world, it is all possible, right now.
We started the charity to look after people and the environment, as both are important to us. The marine environment is under constant threat and divers are in the best place to see the danger and are the best people to protect the marine life. Surley that is one of the best reasons to learn to dive. So give us a call and start today, it may be the start of a new hobby but it can change your life.
We try to dive all year and are open through out the year but this dosent mean we open 7 days a week. If you want to come diving it is best to call first, to make sure we haven't gone diving without you. So send us an e mail or call us on 01736 364860 or 07881 688 234 to book your diving now.
Spring hasnt been kind to us but the diving season is well underway. We did a dive at Roskilly last week and viz was a good six metres. We managed to find both bits of the wreck and saw light bulb sea squirts on the large part of the wreck.
We have an open water course running over the weekend's at the moment and students will be in the sea as soon as they have finished their pool sessions.
Saw Nudibranch eggs on a dive at Roskilly a couple of weeks ago. Also seems to be a lot of Jap weed which is very invasive, at Roskilly. Loads of starfish around at the moment and the sea is warming up to about 12 degrees C.
 This cream swirl, are the Nudibranch eggs at Roskilly beach seen on 11.04.09. Also seen on the dive were small devonshire cup coral, growing on the rocks on the right hand side of the kelp forest.
 The conservation of the marine life is essential. With out a good protected eco system why would we want to dive. To protect something we must be passionate about it, to be passionate about it we must understand it and for us to understand it we need to be educated about the eco system and its marine life.
 It may be looking at Snakelocks anemones while diving Trenow or coral on the Great Barrier Reef. It all needs protecting, so if divers wont protect it who will? Marine Life Identification is really important, so when you dive don't just log the depth and time, record the species you have seen.
 Now this isn't the best cuttlefish picture I have ever taken The backscatter, that is the small white blobs that were lit up by the flash looked like the juvenile ephyra stage of a jellyfish. When looked at on the full screen of the centres computer they can been seen more clearly.
Its is easy to forget that sometimes even a bad picture can contain good information. This picture was taken last August so we will be keeping an eye out for them this year. Last year we saw something that looked like a Salp, but of course we didn't have a camera. Salps are important in fixing CO2 from the atmosphere and an important species in the fight against global warming. So all marine habitats are important, as we no so little about species such as Salp's and Jellyfish. Key species may disappear and never come back, so remember when diving all marine identification is important, even when at first glance, the picture may look like it needs to be deleted.
At the moment we are carrying out research dives at Battery rocks and Roskilly beach, because if proposed building work goes ahead, these two sites could be devastated.At the moment there is no record of baseline information for theses divesites, so I am going through all my past photography and log books for theses sites to start recording species we have seen in these habitats. The should the building work go ahead we will bee able to compare a before and after effect of the building work on the marine life.
You don't have to be a scientist to carry out research diving. All divers can contribute data to help record the marine life around our coast. Organisations such as MArlin have a great database which we can all contribute to, take a look at www.marlin.ac.uk . If your not sure then we run courses such as PADI Underwater Naturalist, PADI Fish ID and our own distinctive speciality PADI Research Diver. So you can take a course and be sure that you are helping to make a difference. For more information on these courses look on the dive specialities pages on the sidebar and check the course dates on the sidbar.
Scuba diving is not just a great hobby and also a great way to make a living. Its more a way of life. As a 5 star IDC centre we can help you take diving in which ever direction you want. Thats the great thing about it, you can do as much or as little as you want. For just £25 you can complete a discover scuba session with us in the sea or confined water. If you want more you can complete your PADI Open Water course, if thats far enough then you can come when ever you want and have a guided shore dive for just £25, this includes kit hire.
Want to go further, complete your advanced open water and then rescue diver, or maybe do some of our speciality courses. Complete your open water course with us in 2009 and we will give you a 10% discount on any other course you do with us.
Complete 5 specialities with us and get your Master Scuba Diver qualification. Do all five specialities with us in 2009 and we will give you a 10% discount on the courses.
Go Pro and complete your Divemaster and Instructor training with us. Feed up wit hall the gloom and doom that is in the news these days. We have trained divers who are now travelling and working abroad.
Some of you may remember Jonty form last summer when he learned to dive and went on to complete his divemaster training with us. He is now diving somewhere in Thailand or maybe Indonesia and he and Kelly are having a great time.
The chance is there for everyone, its not all doom and gloom, be positive, go diving and travel the world.
 It hasn't been the best weather for diving so far, but on the 25th of February we had the flatest calm conditions we have had for a long time and the viz is getting better. Divemaster Frank went in on Saturday and said it was around 5m viz, best so far.
 Roskilly Beach above is a great dive site and battery Rocks to the left is a good site for your first dive. But both are in danger from the proposed Penzance harbour extension plans. The two sites are both great for marine life. Last year cuttlefish were laying their eggs along the harbour wall. For more info on the proposed harbour work and our conservation efforts click on CONSERVATION on the side bar.
The Route partnership responsible for the application to build battery rocks have admitted an error in the photomontage that they displayed in the pre planning exhibition. Click on the CONSERVATION side bar for more information.
The Silver Dolphin Dive Centre is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre and runs a full programme of PADI training courses through out the year.
 The Silver Dolphin Centre is based in Penzance in beautiful Mounts Bay, as a 5 star IDC Centre we run a full programme of PADI dive courses, from Discover Scuba to Instructor training.We are the longest established PADI dive centre in Penzance and pride ourselves on being family friendly. We also run marine conservation projects and training courses and can put together your ideal diving and conservation holiday, so come diving in Cornwall. Please scroll down the page for latest information or for full details use the sidebar to find the course you want.
Check out the shop for our whale and dolphin book sale.
A half day introduction to scuba diving for £25.
A three day course with a qualification, that takes you towards your open water, £190.
The full 5 day course that lets you dive with your buddy anywhere in the world £290
Go to our Diving Course page for full details of how to get started.
PADI have now introduced e learning so you can complete the classroom session on line. You can complete your e learning then come to the Silver Dolphin Centre for the rest of your training. Our Open Water course will still be run over five days but as you do not have to spend so much time in the classroom, we will increase your time in the water by giving you an extra open water dive. Log on to PADI.com and find the Silver Dolphin Centre in their find a dive centre, then click on the e learning tab and you have started the e learning process. If you need help call the Centre on 01736 364860.
 Feed up with the winter and bleak outlook? Why not start your diving career this year at The Silver Dolphin Centre. Students come to us to do their Open Water and left as a Divemaster. As a PADI 5 Star IDC Centre we offer Assistant Instructor and Instructor training, so come down and talk to us about your next course or just come diving. Then you can head off to the sun and find that being a dive instructor isn't work, its more of a way of life.
 Many people learn to dive for a specific reason. Mine is for the marine life. I'm not a big wreck diver and I am not worried about going really deep. For me its the marine life that I see. Thats why we are committed to conserving the marine environment, so check out the Marine Life Research sidebar for news on the environment and species we hope to see when we dive and species we hope will still be there in the years to come.
 We have our own distinctive speciality PADI Research Diver, this is a two day course that will let you carry out research dives and record data for research projects. The cost of this course is £110 We are at present recording information on the Eel Grass beds at Roskilly which are in danger from a proposed development of Penlee Quarry and we are also going to be researching Battery Rocks which is also endangered by proposed extention to Penzance Harbour. So diving with the Silver Dolphin Centre can help make a difference. The photo is of a Combe Jelly taken at Roskilly Beach.
Battery Rocks is in danger of being concreted over and becoming a lorry park. Click on the CONSERVATION UPDATED 25.02.09 page on the side bar for more information.
Two dolphins wash up on a Cornish beach, see the Latest Sightings page for information.
We have a few whale and dolphin books for sale at great prices in our shop. Click on the SHOP on the sidebar for prices and information.
Species are on the move, see the Marine Life Research page for more information.
See the Sharks page page clicking on the side bar for more information.
 Four candidates, Jenny, Jonty, Jude and Heidi, successfully completed their Emergency First Response Instructor training course. Contact the centre if would would like to become an EFR Instructor. Call to book your place on our next EFR instructor training course.
 The past few months has seen better diving conditions than we had during the summer, so don't hang up your dive kit for the winter, keep diving. This photo was taken by Heidi Worth on Friday 21st November. On the next day we had 9m viz and Frank went diving on Sunday reckoned it was at least 10m.
 Come diving in Cornwall with a friendly, professional dive team at the Silver Dolphin Centre. Or if you are having trouble finding the right present for someone special, why not give them a gift voucher that they can redeam in our shop or for a dive trip or training dive. Gift Vouchers can be for any amount and for anything, so call the office to find out more.
Please click on the side bar for more information on diving courses or call us on 01736 364860
The Silver Dolphin Marine Education Centre SDMEC was formed to run all our not for profit work. We have now gained full charitable status for the SDMEC . If you are interested in this work, please click on the SDMEC side bar for more information. SDMEC is registered charity number 1125147. The Silver Dolphin Centre has always been committed to looking after the marine environment and so much of the marine life conservation work we have done, for the past six years, has been carried out on a 'not for profit' basis. The work we do with the local childrens' groups has also been carried out on a 'not for profit' basis. As theconservation and education work has grown we have been unable to keep up with the demand so now with the set up of the SDMEC as a charity, we will be able to do more work in these fields. Please contact the Centre if you would like more information on this.
We run PADI Open Water courses running throughout the year. Our PADI open water course takes place over 5 days, so by the time you leave us you are fully trained to dive anywhere in the world. There are no hidden costs in our courses and no short cuts taken in your training. The course fee includes all PADI training materials, use of all kit and final certification. We can run your course over five consecutive days or split the days over weekends, this may save you taking a weeks holiday, which could be used for an exotic dive holiday.
As a diver you can help make a difference to the marine environment. All our training courses are run with the environment in mind.
 We run marine education courses for schools and colleges both local and from other countries. The girls in the photo are from a school in Austria which now send regular groups to the centre. For more information please click on Education Programme on the sidebar.
PADI Open Water Diver course is the most popular diving course in the world and we run it throughout the year. So when you learn to dive with us you could do your open water course during a weeks holiday or spread it over two or three weekends.
 Complete your PADI Open Water training with us and then continue your education with a speciality course that plays a part in the research work we carry out at the centre.
The speciality courses listed below are my favourites. Details of all the specialities we run can be found in the diving section of the side bar.
Come and dive with the Centre and complete the PADI Digital U/W photographer course. See dive specialities pages for details.
 All photos used in this website have been taken by the centre staff and divers. Learn to take pictures of marine life in Cornwall with the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course
 Then take photos of the fantastic marine life on your next dive holiday.
 This is our own unique distinctive speciality. This is a chance to learn real research techniques for cetacean research. The four day course includes, dolphin rescue training, whale watching programme and photo identification and passive monitoring. This is not a swim with dolphins exercise but real research on the whales and dolphins that live around the Cornish coast. A 4 day course costs £230
Take part in real underwater projects and learn more about marine life in the UK. Our centre runs several real projects where you can get experience identifying the life in the Cornish coastal waters. A two day course costs £110
The UK has more species of fish in the sea than we have mammals on the land but how many can you identify? Spend a weekend at the Centre and you will start to recognise the amazing fish in our own waters. A two day course costs £110
As the light falls, some fish take cover as other nocturnal predators swim through the kelp forrests searching for food. A night dive lets you see another side of the life in the ocean. a two day course costs £130
 Photo taken by Olivia Haas during a visit to Blue reef Aquarium. The picture is from the Aquarium coral breeding programme.
 We dived with the stingrays at Stingray City on our last holiday in the Cayman Islands. Do you think this is good conservation? it does disturb their natural environment but if a family of rays lived in a Cornish cove would they be as safe? Why not E mail me and let me know what you think?
 Big schools of fish used to be common around the Cornish coast but now they seem to have vanished. If you see large schools let us know at the Centre. Do you think we need marine protected areas around the Cornish coast? If so where should they be and how big should they be? Would a marine protected area make you want to come diving in Cornwall?
We have just had our sixth birthday and it has been our busiest year yet. While the sun may not have shone much this summer we have done a lot of diving and seen lots of marine life. Basking Sharks have just been reported around Lands End and it is late for them to be seen in the first week of September.
The water looks really clear and blue today and we have noticed that the plankton is a bit thin on the ground here in the bay. Basking sharks have been sighted around Lands End and Falmouth so this could mean visibility may drop but it still looks more tropical than any other UK dive site.
Want to join us on a dive ? then see the note on Guided Shore dives lower on this page and come diving, it won't break the bank.
Night diving seems to be good at the moment, we have just done two night dives in the past week. Frank saw two cuttlefish and a baby lobster.
On a recent day time dive I saw a large Nurse Hound also known as a Bull Huss but I like the name of Greater Spotted Catshark. It is the time of the year they come into the shallows to lay their eggs or Mermaid's Purse. Visibility has improved to around 6m. Not much plankton in the water but temperature is up to around 14 degrees C, almost tropical.
 Diving 3rd April. At Roskilly. Visibility was not good but lots of Starfish, including Spiny Starfish as shown in the picture and more baby sunstars than we have seen before.
 A lot of people think UK diving is boring, just grey water and nothing to sea, but we think diving in Cornwall is the best in the UK and we see things like the Purple Henry starfish in the photo, taken by Centre staff PADI Divemaster Jude Chesterfield.
 Underwater Navigation is one of the most important skills you can learn, as with all our training we go that extra little bit further so when you leave us to go diving on your own, we know you will be able to find your way safely back to shore.
 If you have completed you diving course somewhere warm and sunny say the Red Sea or Caribbean, you might think diving in the UK sea is not for you. Many who learn to dive abroad think that UK diving is all deep, dark and murky but it is not. Cornwall offers clear safe diving, better than some more tropical waters, with great marine life, so don't leave your diving till you go on holiday abroad, come and dive Cornwall, now.
 If you have completed your diving in an inland dive site such as a quarry or lake you may be concerned about diving in the sea. Our PADI Discover Local Diving includes tuition on sea conditions such as waves, tides and currents. In fact all you need to know to plan diving in the UK coastal waters.
 A major part of the research work of the Centre will focus on the local dolphin population and bycatch throughout the year. As always, we will be running our popular PADI speciality Whale and Dolphin Research Diver course throughout the year.
Do you think scuba diving is an expensive hobby? Think again, we teach people to dive and the last thing we want you to do is finish your course and then never dive again because it's expensive to buy or hire a full set of kit. So come and do a guided shore dive at the Centre with our PADI trained staff which will give you some of the best diving in the UK. A guided shore dive costs £25 and includes kit hire if you need it. So don't give up on diving come and dive with us.
Weekends are made for diving, often we can be found diving Saturday and Sunday, so break free from the nine to five and and enjoy diving in Cornwall. If you live up country we are not that far away, so why not come and have a couple days diving in some of the best sites in the UK.
 For information check our course dates page on the sidebar. New courses are being added all the time or contact the Centre to arrange the dates you want.
 If you are visiting Penzance, call into the Centre to discuss your diving needs. We are right by the harbour in the Trinity House building. Look for the large red buoys outside.The entrance to the Silver Dolphin Centre is in the courtyard at the back of the building through the green gates by the Isles Of Scilly booking office.
 Divers train for their open water course during the summer months in the Jubilee pool. For our pool training, we also have indoor pools that we can use when the weather is not so good.
 Dive students continue their open water training at Roskilly beach near Penzance, just 5 minutes drive from the Centre. We also use other beaches around South West Cornwall such as Lamorna Cove, so our students gain experience at a variety of dive sites.
 There have now been nine Cornish Marine Life Rescue courses run by the Centre and a mass stranding training course. These have been very popular (despite some bad weather!) and a tenth course is planned for later this year. The day course is free of charge and includes both theory and practical training. Places must be booked in advance.
The mass stranding course was held on 30th July, at Marazion. It was a great day giving those that attended, the opportunity to learn what should be done if a mass stranding occurred.
 Divers exiting the water with St Michaels Mount in the background. South West Cornwall offers some of the best diving in the UK. The Centre is in Penzance, right by the harbour and easy to find. With parking in the Centre, we are located close to fantastic beaches which we use for our shore dives. Other dive sites like Lamorna Cove and Prussia Cove are only a short trip away.
 A group of divers get ready to survey eel grass beds at Durgan. There will be more survey dives carried out this summer. We also offer the PADI Research Diver course as listed on the Diving Specialities page.
 Students from the Austrian W@ltz Viennese Learning Centre, taking their Discover Scuba Diving programme as part of their two week stay at the Silver Dolphin Centre.
Silver Dolphin Centre,Trinity House, Wharf Road Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4BN
Phone 01736 364860
e mail conservation@silverdolphin.freeserve.co.uk
 Bubbles and Flipper hang out on top of the office when not working on one of the dolphin education programmes at the Centre.
 Dolphins playing in the River Fal. Photo taken by Anna Butler
Close to the Sea Front In PENZANCE
Large shop with diving equipment, books and DVDs
During July 2005, the Centre underwent an exciting move to new premises in Penzance. Our new address and contact details are shown below. After starting life in the Old Lifeboat House, Porthleven in 2002 the Centre has grown and expanded requiring more space! Staff and volunteers have worked hard to paint and decorate the new premises and to help move all of our equipment. Many thanks to all who have been involved.
The Silver Dolphin Centre
Trinity House
Wharf Road
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 4BN
Tel: 01736 364860 or mobile 07881 688 234
Email: conservation@silverdolphin.freeserve.co.uk
www.silverdolphinmarineconservationanddiving.co.uk
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