Reef web-cam shows live pictures

View from the bridge of the sunken frigate

Visitors to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth can now enjoy the sights of the Scylla reef thanks to a new web-cam from the boat.

Scylla, the ex-Royal Navy warship, was deliberately sunk in March 2004 to create Britain's first artificial reef.

Thousands of divers have already visited the new reef off Whitsand Bay to explore the different decks and see the marine life living around it.

The Aquarium say it hopes to be able to add the images to its website soon.

High technology

National Marine Aquarium's Communication Manager, Melanie Cowie said: "This is the first time we've used this technology.

"So far, we've seen a number of different species swimming around the bridge and even a few divers have been spotted."

The system use a series of wireless links which take the pictures from a buoy above the wreck, from where the images are beamed to Rame Head in Cornwall, then on to Staddon Heights in Plymouth.

From here, the images are beamed to the roof of the National Marine Aquarium and then - using fibre optic cables - they are sent to the computer suite.

Visitors to the National Marine Aquarium can see the live footage each day in the Discovery Theatre on large plasma screens.