Extraordinary sea fan reef discovered off England’s Southwest coast during filming of ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’ - Marine Biological Association
Hidden but vulnerable marine treasure discovered in collaboration between the Marine Biological Association, Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios.
In an extraordinary moment of chance during the production of Ocean with David Attenborough, a vibrant and exceptionally well-preserved pink sea fan reef has been discovered off the southwest coast of England. The find, described as a “little sanctuary”, showcases a flourishing underwater habitat that has remained hidden until now.
This vibrant, undisturbed habitat, teeming with marine life, was uncovered by researchers from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and filmmakers on Ocean with David Attenborough, and underscores both the resilience of the ocean and the urgent need to protect its hidden treasures.
The find was made during a collaborative research project between Dr Bryce Stewart, Senior Research Fellow at the MBA and Associate Fellow at the University of Plymouth, and filmmakers from Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios. After initially discovering the reef by chance with drop down cameras, divers descended onto the reef to film it in high definition. Through a further collaboration with the underwater robotics company ‘Picsea’, the reef was then mapped in 3-D using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
Posted On: 24/06/2025
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