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!!!!