New film release - Ray: a Life Underwater

Yacht Havens, and particularly Plymouth, are to star in the movies this month, with the release of Ray: a Life Underwater, on September 6th.

Watch the movie to discover Plymouth from a whole new perspective, as the film-maker and artist, Amanda Bluglass, takes us on an eerie and fascinating journey to Ray's intriguing world beneath the waves.

Ray: A Life Underwater

Produced and Directed by: Amanda Bluglass amandabluglass.co.uk

Editor and Director of Photography: Danny Cooke dannycooke.co.uk

Dive photography: Neil Hope divingimages.co.uk

Soundtrack: Tony Higgins tonyhiggins.org

With stunning aerial footage of Plymouth, shot using state-of-the-art camera equipment by the team who shot BBC's Coast series, it tells the true story of 75 year old Ray Ives, a former commercial diver who's been scouring the seabed for treasure his whole life. 

The documentary was commissioned by Dylan Kalis, Managing Director of Yacht Havens, who discovered Ray and his collection:

"Yacht Havens decided to commission this short film about one of our customers for two primary reasons; to coincide with the British Art Show, which comes to Plymouth this September, and to celebrate what a great diving venue Plymouth is. We want to invite everyone to visit the Dive Museum at Yacht Haven Quay, where Ray can be found most days tending his extraordinary collection of marine artefacts."

Ray has been plundering the deep for over fifty years, bringing to the surface anything that glittered - even gold! In a shipping container at Yacht Haven Quay in Plymouth, Ray tends his briny museum of cannons, bells, bottles, swords, portholes and diving gear. He even still takes to the water in a 1900s diving suit supplied with air from a hand-pump.

A rogue with an eye for salvage - and the ladies - Ray: a Life Underwater is an affectionate portrait of one man's deep sea diving career, told through his extraordinary collection of marine artefacts.

"I would be a very good pirate and a scrannyer," he admits, "but to me the little pieces are just as good as the big pieces. And being underwater, well, it's just like being on the moon."

As a parable for our times, Ray is also the story of the original recycler: nothing he uses in his life is new - it's all found and reused.

Shot beautifully by Bluglass entirely on location in and around Plymouth Sound, the film reveals the secret treasures littering the seabed, as Ray reflects on his pioneering years of deep sea diving.

In his own words, "After all, everyone wants to find gold … and a mermaid."

Watch the film Ray: A Life Underwater from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

Limited edition DVD or Bluray Compatible version is available for sale at £12 including p&p from Yacht Haven Quay on 01752 481190 or email lorna@yachthavenquay.com

Visit Yacht Haven Quay, Plymouth 

* Photo: Neil Hope