St Mary's Bay

Weather not too bad, hazy sun, slight southerly breeze, but the visibility was poor owing to the spring tide. Timing my swims for slack water (supposed to be 2hrs before, or 4hrs after high tide) didn't help much. Yas now has wetsuit, boots, and fins, and tried everything out on a short swim near the beach. But poor visibility and continual mask fogging problems, despite lots of spit and rubbing, made it less than fun for her [toothpaste didn't help but a switch to a different type/fit looks like it might].

Swam to Mussel Rock, in the southern part of the bay, not far from the shore; around here there were ballan wrasse, a bass, sprats and a few spider crabs. On a longer second swim over to the north side of the bay to explore the rocks there, found a good sized (and living) compass jellyfish (~10-15cm). Didn't see much else becuase of the poor vis. But underwater scenery might be good. Plants in the bay about Mussel rock included very large (~2.5m) S.multicum and kelps (esp. furbelows). Plenty of wracks, c. officinalis on Mussel Rock itself.

I wore usual stuff: FJ/boots/X3s/2kg and used a spearfishing sled-type plastic float as marker while swimming around Mussel Rock. I anchored it with grapnel anchor, which soon lodged fast under a rock; was able to swim down and sort ok. Next time I used a bag of stones, far better for rocky/overgrown places and can be filled at the beach. The float can't be paddled on but, it's easy to push or tow. Highly visible and handy for holding things [after second trip to St Mary's I sorted out A-flag for it].

Also tried out some neoprene gloves and hood - both wrong type [embarrassingly poor choices and hadn't checked mask fit with hood]. Free car park below Sharkham Point. Ought to go back on neap tide. Good sized beach unlikely to get very crowded.

Hope Cove

Another trip with Jon, this time to Hope Cove near Bolt Tail, Devon. Out of the water it was warm; sunny and light (>5mph) southerly winds. I had my usual kit and the cold getting in made me think again about getting a thermal rash vest and that actually a 5mm wetsuit, made out of real neoprene, would be a good idea. I think Jon wore two 3-mm wetsuits and was still cold. He didn't have a weight belt but I lent him mine here and there so he could do some dives. The times while I had the weight belt I was able to take some pictures. Without the belt I'd float back up very quickly; but it was excellent practice for doing a good duck dive.

Visibility was very good, but deteriorated slightly later on when the tide dropped. Saw some big wrasse around the rocks between inner/outer Hope; also some oranges sponges on the rocks about here. There were also some small bass, and blennies, spider crabs (some mating), a smallish edible crab. A spider crab Jon found had a snakelock anenome on top; this is actually quite common - the crab gets a bit of protection from the anenomes' tentacles - imagine having a hat with waving arms that flail about and sting people! - and the anenome gets free transport and bits of whatever the crab dislodges as it eats.

There were iridescent turqoise blue seaweeds among the rock gullies running out from the shore. Also wracks, string weed, kelps and mossy dark brown seaweads. My finning was a bit better, trying to use whole leg, Ankles sore again though - but thankfully not getting any worse.

Jon tried to get me to swim over the shallow submerged ledges between rocks in the way that he enjoyed doing; when we got out he discovered that his suit was all grazed and cut up!!!!

Anstey's Cove

A gloomy morning, and not really ideal, but it was the weekend and I really wanted to swim. It was overcast and there was a light southerly breeze - the stronger winds of the preceeding days dying away. Down at Anstey's it looked ok and I phoned Jon and he drove over. We had a short swim, exploring the sides of cove, but we didn't see very much; visibility was moderate and in places quite poor. It was still quite cold and Jon wore two 3mm suits - and getting ready he enjoyed telling me I'd freeze. I knew it would be uncomfortable with the cold water flushing through my the open neck of the FJ I wore, and it was. Jon had had enough after 30 minutes or so and got out. I later went past Redgate Beach and rocks; and the visibility improved slightly after high tide. Some animals here and there: a few spider crabs, glimpse of a small dogfish, orange fish - young wrasse I suppose and lots of A. Digitarum (Deadmen's fingers) on a south facing rock overhang on the way to Long Quarry Point. Wracks and slimy stringweed abundant, and some Irish moss. This was my first time using proper scuba fins (Mares X3), and I experimented with weights finally settling for 2kg. Ah yes,. I had to be careful to avoid cramp, and my ankles - achillies tendon - really hurt from being stretched.

Durdle Door / Man-o-War Rock

Jon came with us to Durdle Door. Visibility was very good. Water was very cold. First swim was around Man-o-War Rock and the north side of Durdle Door. Saw some spearfishers around later. Got out, warmed up, had a sandwich, Jon felt the cold very badly (shivering uncontrollably it was highly amusing watching him trying to eat a sandwich) then walked to Bat Hole Cave for a swim around there. I swam back because my feet were so sore from the shingle [I still had full-foot fins]. Around Man-o-War rock there were spider crabs, ballan wrasse, and some orange sponges. Plants - especially sargassam multiculum. Near Bat Hole there was a lot of slimy string weed (which can trap swimmers, and the slime itself is an irritant). Also thongweed, with its bright green, mushroom-shaped holdfast/base and many others. Various types of kelp and lots of c. officinalis. The beaches got very busy about midday. As I was swimming round the end of Durdle Door for a RIB suddenly appeared with a group of lads for tombstoning; so I made my way past and headed in. Jon had gone ahead again, and I was getting tired.