Babbacombe

Weather looking a bit rubbishy but Babbacombe would be fine. Strong NW winds 30-40mph were forecast and later on it was very windy; water riffled in the bay, and white horses further out. Tide was neapy and low tide put in not a problem (and the vis ok too 5-6m). Gloomy weather to begin with, then some sunnier spells and rainbows. Geoff H soon appeared and I finished my leisurely kit up. I took the blob and led - it seemed much easier than last week, and took pictures and navigated. I made more use of the QR clip and simply used a finger to hold it aside if required going about. Only one minor kit addition (after losing knife on Friday) was Jon's hosepipe knife-holder and ordinary kitchen knife for a spare.

Part of plan was to go out and find anemone covered anchor. Early in dive Geoff managed to catch my attention and point out the John Dory. Snapped a few pictures and got a few ok ones [I only noticed later that it was infested with ectoparasites]. We got to some larger reef, with lots of snakelocks and velvet swimmer crabs, had a look around that before heading out over the sand. I quike like the sand, especially in good, there is actually lots to see. There were hermit crabs and a few harbour crab, and delicate anemones. After a while (thanks to the 5-6m vis) we located the anchor. As before there were large long-legged spider crabs, tunicates, and sponges; also [again spotted in photographs later] several unidentifiable species 'possibly' nut crabs', and a Pisidia longicornis (a little crab with round shell and big right claw).

We had a look round the anchor then headed back to the reef, and followed that. There were some nice big bits to look round and lots of debris. Some of the 'items' I'd seen before, some I hadn't, like the piece in the picture below that had a row of parallel bars, and a cylindrical base(?) that had angled pipes coming in at the side. Onwards and eventually a dark bulk loomed up, it was 'mushroom' rock. Mushroom rock is a big rock shaped like a mushroom. Its sides and overhang are covered with a dense and colourful carpet of sponges, as well as tunicates, anemones, and algae. We surfaced here ending the dive, with only a very short surface swim back to beach. I was pleased with my navigation. Usually it's crap.