Fossil Beds: A seam of clay runs off the South Downs
and swirls into the waters around the Isle of Wight. A
large part lies inside Bracklesham Bay and is known as
the Fossil Beds. The clay was once the sediment held
by a tropical sea full of sharks and manta-like rays.
Something catastrophic must have happened, like the
sea drying up, leaving a large concentration of these
predators. This dive site earned its name from the number of sharks' teeth and manta
mandibles found there. The teeth are brilliantly preserved examples of a number of
species, including raggedtooth, requiem and even mackerel shark.