First Man in 60 Years Dives into Sellafield’s Radioactive Pond
A specialist team of nuclear divers has plunged into Sellafield’s oldest, most hazardous storage pond, marking the first human entry since 1958.
Josh Everett, a diver from the elite US-based Underwater Construction Corporation Ltd, made history in December 2022 by working inside the infamous Pile Fuel Storage Pond—one of the world’s most challenging nuclear clean-up sites.
Historic Nuclear Site Gets a Dangerous Deep Clean
The sprawling 100-metre outdoor pond dates back to the 1940s and was built to cool and store spent fuel from the Windscale Piles reactors—the UK’s very first nuclear reactors linked to the post-war atomic weapons programme.
Its operation halted in the 1960s, leaving behind a toxic stew of nuclear sludge, algae, and contaminated debris. Since then, decommissioning has been a painstaking and complex mission.
Divers enter through a custom access platform, working in shifts up to 3.5 hours on a metal dive stand with a shielded floor. Their task: retrieve radioactive sludge and debris from every nook and cranny.
Why Send Divers Instead of Robots?
Most nuclear clean-ups rely on robots, but these aren’t ordinary divers. Josh and his expert team have years of experience working inside radioactive environments worldwide— including UK sites like Dungeness A and Sizewell A.
“The Pile Fuel Storage Pond diver project has been 5 years in planning and a huge success,” said Carl Carruthers, Sellafield Ltd’s head of legacy pond programmes. “Safety has been our top priority. The divers are constantly monitored and communicate with supervisors.”
Theirs is pioneering work that will inform future nuclear pond clean-up projects across the UK.
Costly Mission to Secure Nuclear Legacy
Once the pond is fully cleared, its water will be drained, making way for the building’s final demolition. The whole decommissioning project is expected to cost around £212 million and wrap up by 2039—almost a century after the pond’s construction.
David Redpath from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority praised the effort: “This project marks an important milestone. It showcases innovative techniques and teamwork to manage the UK’s nuclear legacy safely and securely.”
Meanwhile, the Office for Nuclear Regulation confirmed the operation is safe. Inspector Alan Wylie said, “Our specialists assessed the safety and approved the divers’ work, enabling progress where robots can no longer reach.”
