Baygitano

Hilary and Brian organised a club dive out of Lyme Regis and two waves enjoyed the Baygitano. Hilary and Brian towed, Adrian boathandled, and Chris and Debbie towed the boat home. The diving was superb. Tides were springy, but weather was perfect (just a slight haze) calm and sunny.

Hilary and I dived first, and arriving at the boilers found the vis to be an excellent 10+ metres. The 'Baggy' is flattened but very picturesque and covered with fish - masses of bib, and pollack. We also saw wrasse of various kind, leopard spot gobies (below), several very large conger, a red mullet, and a John Dory.

We swam about the boilers a little then headed in the direction of the stern. We found the spare propeller, various engine parts, hatches, bollards, winches and coils of cables. All very interesting, then we came back - and on the way near the boilers met Brian and Christian. Hilary and I had a few more minutes look around, and returned to the shot and used that for a nice easy ascent.

Back to Lyme Regis, and those of us diving again - Geoff M, Dave, and myself, swapped cylinders and picked up some food and drink for the boat and went straight back out. Soon after arriving at the site we discovered the shot had come away from the wreck, so had to be redeployed (I hadn't been able to lodge it very well). Anyway ready to go again. Geoff, Dave and I went in and had another very good dive. There was more current this time, but we managed to stay on the wreck, swimming slightly across it, and it was not a problem.

Back to Exeter (not a bad trip actually) happy and tired, we washed and tidied up the boat.

Exmouth Dock (Blenny Cove)

Dived with Derek and Geoff H. at Blenny cove - other side of the marina to the fish quay off where I've dived before. An easy put-in at the beach and we surface swam to boulders. In the water at 7:10am.

Descent and down a steep rocky slope, littered with mangled 'stuff' into the abyss. Ballan wrasse on the way. Very dark. Levelling off a bit at about 20m. Sponges, starfish here. Boulders and shelly/gravelly sand. Derek's torch was running down (the light from a working torch didn't exactly carry very far) and we went back up the slope.

On the way up spotted a pipefish. Over a large clayey boulder collected some lead scraps and fishing weights. Swam round assorted sponge/turf crusted boulders, and up to pilings. Lots of blennys (below). Just the one picture (!) partly because of the vis and murk, partly because a vital button sticking on my camera housing. Managed to work it, but not great; pried it loose later.

Some current later in dive, but nothing much, and easy getting back to the start. After the stump round the marina all were ready for breakfast - and went to the cafe along from the fish shop.