Nolton Haven

Another likely spot picked out using aerial photographs from Local Live. It was cool to start with and there was some hazy cloud, becoming hot later. Usual kit [FJ/Rash vest/boots/X3s/3kg] and borrowed Yas's mask because of the big panes- but soon found it fogged really easily. [Later toothpaste worked excellently to remove film and without affecting glass. Also good to use saliva on mask before getting wet].

Nolton's Haven had nice fine sand - but Yas said it was too fine and it got everywhere. For snorkelling there are good range of habitats to explore close by. I liked it here, though unfortunately, perhaps because the very big beach just to the north bans dogs, there were loads here. People we watched left shit behind - tied up in plastic bag; and continously dogs barked - the echoes reverbereating off the surrounding cliffs.

I had three swims here, the first was quite short because I had to come out to get my old Speedo mask. I had started going around the north side towards caves. There were lots of light sandy-coloured fish in small schools that were possibly gobies, and a big lobster (my first) making for crevice under large rock. The second swim took me a bit further in the same direction - but not much, as by now there were more people fishing and I didn't feel like long swim out and around them. It was around here I found a big barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma Octopus) swimming about; I watched and photographed for a while before it moved out into deeper water. Interesting beasts those jellyfish, I read somewhere that their guts can harbour a strange little crustacean (with big green eyes) that lives nowhere else. They're also a favourite food for turtles. Other things I saw around the caves (there was a arch about here somewhere too) included spider, shore, and edible crabs, several bass, sbf (wrasse), ssf. One bay I swam through felt particularly creepy - cold and deep, it also contained suspended fishing line.

My third S. side (toward arches) to cave/arch in headland. Didn't find arch - obscured, small, or map error - or collapsed. Crabs as above, ssf, more bass, flatfish (brill) on rocks (~20cm) had slightly nibbled fins. Hermit crabs on sandy bottom. Plants as yesterday + olive green ferny branched weeds. More kelps less UL. Legs tired on third swim and ankles sore. Used arms more in breaststroke - not textbook but helped.