Lydstep Cove

We had been looking for a way down to the cove between Old Castle Head and Manorbier, and driving around the cliff-top backroads near some desolate military camp [it is actually possible to get down to the sea at Skrinkle Haven]. Anyway, it didn't look possible so we went to Lydstep. Lydstep is an attractive sandy bay with interesting rocky sides, there's an NT car pack at the top of steep hill above the bay, and access is though a sort of holiday village/park.

The weather was perfect, hot and sunny; and visibility excellent, even though we were close to a spring tide. I first had bit of a swim around the sandy west side of the bay enjoying the good visibility and shoals of SSF, then begun to explore the rocky extremities and make my way round to the caves I'd seen on the map. There was also a nice arch here that's good to swim through.

In the submerged gullies going out of the bay there were lots of spider crabs clinging to the sides, and the white shells of very many more piled up on the bottom. Around here I saw a small round jellyfish - perhaps a very small moon-jellyfish, and some wrasse. Found some prawns in one of the caves, and around the arch on the way back a colourful variety of sponges - green, orange, and yellow. This was a really good swim/exploration and I was pleased with the pictures I'd taken. Later, when I got back, there were jet-skiers speeding up and down very close to the beach and between swimmers, sometimes towing or with passengers (I don't think they even noticed people in the water): I later learnt that this is all organised there! If you want a proper swim and are eccentric enough to be outside the rather small yellow-flagged section (however close to the shore) you are in their way. [I don't know if it's like this all the summer, or if it is still like this today]. Otherwise it was really nice- we stayed all day- and people there were very friendly.

Caerfai Bay

Caerfai Bay was the first of just two, but really great, snorkel dives I managed to do on our holiday to Wales. Looking back I think this was because, although the weather wasn't terrible, I was skin diving with just basic kit and I wanted some sunshine on me. Caerfai looked likely on the map and we had taken a detour on the way home the previous day to have a look at it. The next morning we arrived early, and because it was a bit cool and overcast I thought I'd have a look around the sides of the bay from the cliff top and see where I might end up. It was very cold getting in, but the visibility was excellent and the best I'd known; the wind was very light, and later on the sun got out properly. Caerfai Bay is sheltered, good for swimming, and has varied scenery. I would like to go back there one day. I saw a few fish, wrasse I think they probably were, spider crabs, blue jellyfish, a big horrible spiny starfish, but the best encounter was a big blue spiny starfish. The beach got very crowded later on but away from the beach it was nice and quiet.

Watcombe

A short swim with basic kit around the sides of the cove. Visibility was very good and the water was warm enough in the shallows and there were those nice warm spots here and there. Took my first decent close-up picture of a fish, a tame blenny; they seemed to be quite common on the rocks just below the water's edge. I saw a bright purple/blue jellyfish. Got stung to legs. The stinging was very mild, less painful than nettles, but I understand it can vary from person to person, and I suppose on the jellyfish too and how much of it you come into contact with. There was a small compass jellyfish washed up on beach.

Teignmouth

First go with camera underwater, an early evening swim opposite the Jubilee shelter again [hoping for better visibility there, or even some scenery if the tide was low enough]. Visibility was not great, but could have been a lot worse. I took a few pictures of crabs and stuff. Saw a nice little flatfish. Not only was it great to take pictures underwater, but to have a water-level perspective. I also experimented with the movie recorder, also making some accidental clips which started off with the thing I'd actually wanted to take a nice still picture of. And so here is one of my first underwater wildlife pictures! A crab on one of those barnacle encrusted groynes.