Getting to Hope Cove village is always very nice when the weather's good and though the sea was a bit choppy because of the persistent SW wind, it was dry and sunny. The sunshine was especially welcome - we'd just had the wettest miserablest June for nearly 100 years!
A last minute alteration of the dive list saw me on a reef dive off Bolt Tail and after a wobbly ride out from the beach at Outer Hope in the 'squidgy' Gary and Alan put in, followed shortly after by Peter and myself. We went straight down through some murky and bitty patches and sent the blob up from the bottom. Then we were off, the overwhelming current took us flying over reefy outcrops and gullies. I had set my compass and was all ready to head east (as suggested by Phil who was boathandling) but this was not going to happen and I think Peter was laughing at me when I pointed at my compass. Anyway Peter taught me to go with the flow and it was great; I was the little boy out of Raymond Briggs 'The Snowman'.
Wildlife highlights were the large shiny blue cuckoo wrasse, and a type of branching yellow sponge I hadn't seen before. There were sea urchins, starfish, and pink sea-fans in some of the gullies. The craggy reef edges were very pretty and had a lot on them. Amongst the knobbly edges were hollows with plants, sponges, fan-worms, sea-squirts etc, and fish that were perfect aquariums in miniature.
Down to 100bar we started our ascent and Peter reeled up (which I know now would have been easier if I'd pulled the line as he did so). We were still going with the current and holding the 6m stop was quite tricky and we yo-yoed between 5m and 7m. On surfacing I was glad to see MIR; better suited to the presently lumpy sea around Bolt Tail. Peter was a bit sea-sick, and I too felt a bit of motion-sickness and had to remind myself to look at the horizon a few times.
It was nice to be back on solid ground, but was very satisfied with a good dive and an interesting and educational experience. I would do it again right now if I could! In the afternoon Yas and I went for a nice walk along the cliff top towards Thurlstone.
1 comment:
Hi, just stumbled upon your blog, interesting to see the nature beneath the sea. I don't dive myself (surfer i am), but know the places you dive at in Devon. I am publishing link to your site from my blog and website for Hope Cove.
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