Babbacombe (night dive)

Brixham Breakwater

Derek and I dived Brixham on Sunday. Vis wasn't great - 3m - milky and snotty, and a bit gloomy. But it was worth it! Especially if you like crabs.

We went off the beach and had a look round the eel-grass. Not a lot here that we could see, then carried on eastwards along the edge of the reefy stuff where it turns into rock strewn silt, and I spotted a couple of cuttlefish. Saw the usual gobies (lots of 2-spots in the weedier places) and dragonets around, but little else I can remember- till we got to the 'nice' reefs with the trumpet anemones. We had a look around here then looped west back across the bay.

Before very long- about half way through the dive- we stumbled on a great horde of spiny spider crabs. We'd just seen one or two, then realised the crusty monsters were everywhere. Neither of us had seen so many in one place, and some were absolute giants. After a few snaps we let them think they'd seen us off and we carried on- over silt and spider crab remains. Around the derelicts, twiggy, long legged spider crabs scavenged.

Continuing our crab-fest, we enjoyed velvet swimmer crabs, harbour/swimmer crabs (I like how they swim!), and little angular crabs - scampering away, pincers out-stretched, saying 'I'm BIG'. There were a few edibles, and lots of hermit crabs - many of the larger ones weighed down with outsize parasitic anenomes.

Some other things live there too, like burrowing anemones, worms and brittlestars.

We surfaced at the beach, near the wall, after 86 minutes. Good plan of Derek's and navigation,.. and was pleased with him for zipping up my difficult drysuit.

Shoalstone Point

Met up with Geoff and Derek at Shoalstone point. A gloomy morning, overcast, windy (WSW) and showery. I wore my wetsuit, thinking it would have warmed up a little more - my last UK dive in it was fine; but it was actually colder than June and the whole 70 minutes very chilly. Just before we dived I noticed my compass's disk spinning wildly and realised it had burst. Underwater it re-filled a bit and worked, though not very well.

Vis was about 3m and the large cruddy weeds and soupy water quite novel! This time off the pool we veered east along the edge of the reef/stones. Could have used my camera but just fancied a dive without and didn't miss it too much. Creatures I recall inclded, 2-spot gobies, small wrasse and a couple of smallish cuttlefish, trumpet anemones and parasitic anemones, a squat lobster and a tiny yellow feather-star. Quite surprised to find (on reef) some more sea-hares - I thought they'd all gone. Also some small scallops, and lots tiny netted whelks. A 1" cuttlefish I later found on the sand flashed patterns just as a fully grown ones I've seen. Back over the weed at the end of the dive Geoff saw a big dogfish.

Cold, poor vis, but overall quite enjoyed it and being back in green water.

Brixham / Breakwater Beach

Went to have a look in spite of weather forecast and we (Geoff and me) had excellent 6m vis, and some sunshine! Very nice easy and very shallow dive - just 5m. Few other divers there getting ready, but the place very nice and quiet.

Off the beach we went north and east and pottered along at the edge of the rocks. Mixed weed and remnants of kelp. Nice reefy slabs. Found a larger rock with a small tunnel that had sponges, dead-men's fingers, small anemones, sea squirts and horse-shoe worms. I'd brought my camera - just in case - and got a few pictures of a black-faced blenny. He was quite bold - much like the tompots sometimes are.

So close to Shoalstone expected to see a few sea hares - but there were none. Lots of tiny netted-whelks. Spiny, and velvet swimmer crabs. A solitary brittlestar.

Still fine, we sat out and had a bacon sandwich and a cuppa. Coming home I made the mistake of taking us around Paignton on the main road and got stuck in the Torquay/Newton traffic.

Morris Rogue (off Meadfoot Beach)

Had for a long while wanted to dive this submerged rock outcrop off Meadfoot beach. With neapy tide, fine weather and 5-6 metres vis, it was a good time to try it.

Towing a DSMB we swam straight out to East Shag Rock then bore 120° until the small rock of Thatcher lined up with Orestone. I couldn't see Shag Rock/Daddyhole car park scrub transit. After some re-adjustment, I did a final check on the back-bearing and transit and we dropped down right next to a sloping mound of rock with lots of plumose anemones, dead mens fingers, boring sponges and sea firs.

Round and about in all other directions flatish and silty - deep soft silt, black a few inches down, littered with razor shells, mussels etc,.. with feeding starfish here and there. I sorted myself out and we went off nice and slowly anti-clockwise around the rock - which grew and became more craggy and interesting as we followed it round, to the 3-4 metres stated in South Devon Diver guide.

There were lots of colourful Dahlia, browny Daisy anenomes, and a rich animal turf (with bryozoans, sea-squirts, sponges etc). Wicked looking velvet fiddler crabs, harbour crabs, as well as a few edibles lurked around the base of the rock or perched up the sides. Most remarkable was the number of long-legged spider crabs (scorpion etc,..) I'm not sure of the types, they're a bit similar and can be difficult to tell appart when they're covered with crud. Also a one-armed -and pretty sorry looking- lobster, a small cuttlefish, and a nudibranch I'd not seen before.

There weren't masses of fish around the rock: a few wrasse, a tompot blenny, but lots of dragonet, gobies (inc. leopard spot and what was most likely a giant goby), and a scorpion fish. On the silt were worms, razor-shells, anenomes, brittlestars, netted whelks and hermit crabs.

After a go round the rock we headed north toward the coast. Found a few smaller reefy bits (low vis round one of these) on the way. We got about halfway back before needing to surface and swim the rest of the way, which didn't take very long. We had 75 minutes, max 12m. Wetsuit comfortable.

I thought it was a really good dive and would do it again one day, if I could find it!

Pros: lots of interesting animal life (especially, I reckon, the long legged spider crabs), it's exposed to current, below the kelp, and fairly craggy with a variety of habitats. (12-14m). Cons: long (600m) swim, would be easy to miss, boat traffic. Requires a buddy with patience and some stamina.

Note: would avoid springs if not diving from boat.

Shoalstone, Brixham

A very nice dive staying mainly around the low reefy ledges fairly close in (a bit over the sandy/silty stuff) and taking it very easy. Vis was much better than last time. Lots of interesting wildlife, including nudibranchs, usual crabs and a recently moulted long-legged spider crab, 2-spot gobies - and the trumpet anemones. Also, very many sea hares, sometimes stuck together in a chain.

We went first north from the carpark then west with the current - which felt quite strong but wasn't in fact too bad as we hadn't drifted as far as I thought. Derek towed the blob, so I was able to concentrate more on concentrate a bit more than I would otherwise have, on photography and testing a new camera case - all fine. But undersuit wet and right arm soaked; almost certainly the zip (which kinks and the fabric on which the teeth are set is broken).

Babbacombe

Good dive. Not amazing vis, but not terrible either, and the main thing for me today was to try out my twin-set. Not too bad carrying; got fins on at the bottom of the steps and walked in. Took a minute to get down (with 6kg) and a bit light; still need to weigh all the rocks that Geoff helped me stuff into my pockets (and a bit more because I was a long way off emptying the tanks). Set-up all fine. Hoses all in the right place. Saw some pipefish and took a few pictures.

Babbacombe

Dived in a three with Derek and Lucy. Once Lucy's bouyancy was sorted (needed a little extra weight), we had a very smooth dive. We went out from the beach, and it wasn't long before I spotted a pair of cuttlefish on a bit of reef. I got Derek and Lucy over and fortunately managed to find the cuttlefish again. We watched for a while and got a few pictures.

Later, out over the silty sand, I spotted the anchor (vis was 4-5m) and we had a look at that. Derek went up the line to check location. As the silt cleared I looked for scorpion spider crabs - but couldn't see any this time. Lucy found a long legged spider crab out on the sand. On we went (I think we did bit of a circle) and Lucy found a well camouflaged topknot resting on lump of concrete. Out the water after 70-something minutes, and we stopped at the café for a sausage and egg baguette.

Babbacombe

Original plan was to dive Ladram, but as we'd done this recently (and good vis there slightly doubtful), decided to go to Babbacombe. Just Derek and myself diving. Vis was reasonable; and as ever lots to see. Found over the gravel ridges a big diamond-shaped flatfish, elongated body.

Lots of hermit crabs, including one covered with live tube worms. Necklace shell, and a 'great' goby, and much other wildlife around the little boulders out on the sand. Later on we found a big rope that had lots of plumose anemones stuck to it. Very pretty with the sun behind. Snake pipefish and two-spot gobies around the weedy stuff closer to shore.

Babbacombe

Drysuitless, I resolved to dive in my 5mm wetsuit. It would also be an opportunity to do a weight-check in it for possible summer diving. It was very cold getting in (water 9°C) and chilly throughout dive.

Vis was awful. At the shore it hadn't looked 'too' bad, but it was fairly murky a few metres out. We headed north from the slipway and the visiblity worsened as we encountered dense brown 'wallpaper-paste' patches. Around a few rocks managed to take some close-ups; concentrating on photography allowed me to disregard the cold for a few minutes. But I didn't really get much. My Sealife strobe stopped firing - possibly too dark, and housing buttons were sticky (at just a few metres).

Saw one or two masked crab, and a good sized spiny starfish. Lots of netted whelks about. Signalled to Derek 'cold' and 'home' after 25min and we turned around. Each time I pointed out critters to him (spiny spider crab, pipefish etc) on the the way back, I regretted it - but hoped he would be able to take a decent picture. Total dive time was 61 minutes.

Babbacombe

Excellent weather (sunny NW breeze) and vis at sheltered Babbacombe. Water a cool °8C. Early start and in the water at 08:00. HW (spring) was about 09:00. Went in with Derek and we headed ~45° from the slip and found Mushroom rock (a mushroom shaped rock) had bit of a look round it. Turfy with sponges and soft coral and small jewel anemones. Lost Derek but found him again easily enough. Then went N a little and W (left). Over some fairly bouldery stuff (below). Velvet swimmer crabs and squat lobsters in crevices. Snakelock anemones. Then over rubble becoming smaller and siltier. Common starfish. A bit further on crossed sand/gravel ridges.

Many hermit crabs; but also lots of masked crabs (carapace 40-60cm) which would scurry about and eventually decide to quickly dig in backwards to escape. Derek found a rockling which he thought was dead. There were some netted whelks on it - and some hermit crabs interested in it - but it 'woke-up' swam about and even had a go at Derek before settling down again and rolling on its side.

We didn't find the anchor this time (though agreed we were probably close). But a solitary orange plumose anemone. I played a bit more with my camera set up - using another layer of green plastic taped over the built in flash to compensate on flash photos for the orange filter. On no-flash 'landscape' pictures I manually set white balance. On flash pictures I just used Auto White Balance. Using custom settings C1 and C2 I could switch from macro to landscape and their particular settings very easily.

We made our way back to mushroom rock. javascript:void(0)Lots of fry about. Had another and closer look at the growth there and the jewel anemones. Up to the wall (our dive time 70 minutes) and surface swam to the slipway. Lots more people about now and the car park full. With the sun in my eyes I strayed onto the green weed and slipped collapsing forward, jarring my shoulder; should be ok. Sorted kit out and had a cup of tea at the cafe enjoying the sun and the sight of the clear blue/green water we had just dived.

Brixham Breakwater (OWIC)

The day of the Open Water Instructor Course had finally come. I arrived at Brixham Marina car park and was careful to park nicely within the white lines (it's the law here) and found the Ibex Canoe hut.

Over a quick cup of tea and some choclate biscuits before our intro, lectures and lesson planning got underway, I met and chatted with a few of the other trainees. Some were at November's IFC. No break for lunch - managed a few bites of a sandwhich while transfering my (DSMB) lesson to slate and readying kit. Trainee Sophie had drawn the compass navigation lesson and we did that first, with a dry run - then snorkelling in drysuits (with weightbelt) in the chop just off the beach. We went back and forth to the mini-shot. I went next, at that point quite keen to get on with it. I did the SEEDS brief - including lesson plan, followed by the dry run, kit up/BAR check and the wet lesson. Then was Ed's turn and he taught AS. Quite cold by then end. Weather not bad at all, nice sunny day,- though breezy. Vis that had looked 4 or so in the morning dropped about to 1-1.5m.

The course was excellent - it was quite demanding and I had to concentrate hard - but was very enjoyable and interesting and all the instructors were really good. Amongst the kit things I picked up: were a pully system using a reel and blob for a datum that can be adjusted at depth; and knotting the blob so it can be pulled back down after each practise inflation.

Babbacombe

First dive of the year! Hooray! Not too cold out and water was 8°C. Dry and bright. There was a little breeze, not really felt at Babbacombe however, with much stronger SW winds forecast.

On the bottom - not very nice, it being a bit murky (lot of rain lately), our torches and any few pieces of bright equipment were just about perceptible at 1.5-2 metres; but concentrating on the macro there was plenty to see. There were hermit crabs (above in a netted whelk) including a few largish ones; and also very many squat lobsters (new to me) around the rocky reef we pottered about after our short swim 040° or so from end of slipway. Also one or two small edible crab and usual abundant velvet swimmer crab. There were very few fish. I saw a dragonet and a juvenille wrasse. Geoff said he saw some blennies.

Great to be back in the water and exploring and taking a few pictures. My Canon G9 case buttons still sticking despite careful use and recently some hotter water. Will try some silicone spray next. It's done about 27 dives, and despite reading that some regard them semi-disposable, this just too few.

We located bit of an engine (?) I hadn't seen before and a large wheel. I found a silt covered cloth that was a jumper or fleece, but didn't retrieve it. Think it was a bit small for me. We had nearly an hour (getting cold at 50 minutes) and max depth 10 metres. Newly serviced- and DIN converted- regs were perfect.

Brixham

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.

Babbacombe

Paul L, Derek and Lucy, and myself dived Babbacombe on Sunday; vis wasn't great - a bit misty - but it was a lovely day and very nice dive. WNW/flat calm. High tide at 8am was ideal. Did the brief, then I led Derek and Lucy according to plan, while round and about Paul on his re-breather lurked 'in stealth mode' and assessed my leading. Ballan wrasse, gobies, lots velvet swimmer crabs, prawns, a long-legged spider crab 'skin'. No underwater pictures - too busy!

On the way back we stopped at Smugglers Cove (Holcombe) to look at access for shore-diving Parson and Clerk rocks.

Shoalstone (Brixham)

Forecast was 45mph WSW, and not looking great, but decided to have a look - and it turned out well. Shoalstone Point sheltered; it was also neapy. Vis was ~3 metres. So had a very good dive of 67min (max 10m) with Derek and Geoff. Headed out from near the swimming pool 330° (then left) and explored the low reefy and bouldery stuff. Derek and Geoff got a few scallops, but they were sparse and of these not many were big enough. I concentrated on photography.

Quickly the kelp thinned out and there was good weedy turf, and lots of trumpet anemones. Apart from the gobies there didn't seem to be any fish around, but found there to be amazing variety of crabs: harbour, long-legged spider, hermit (in whelk, top, and tower shells) velvet swimmer, angular, and a particularly interesting spot - a Bryer's nut crab (above).

I took quite a few pictures. I use the custom settings on my camera to allow me to switch between close-up mode (where I need, and it's ok, to use flash) and general shooting. It was made more of a challenge as Derek's new flexible split fins wafted the silt from the bottom most effectively.

Started to feel quite cool after 40-60 minutes but was nice and light when the sun was out. No headache or anything - drinking plenty before the dive seems to be working well. All in all a very interesting and enjoyable dive.

Babbacombe

Rainy. Stong NW. Arrived 07:30. Derek and Geoff H just behind me. Geoff H decided to do weight check in new suit. Derek and I went N then E (over rubble and bouldery stuff, then box pattern over sand). Very early in dive Derek spotted a cuttlefish, and simultaneously a dog-fish, and a largish wrasse. Onwards, lots of gobies, another couple of cuttlefish. Lots of velvet fiddler crab around the boulders.

Derek and I separated at one point - noticing this I headed for the hazy water, and had a quick look round. No sign of him so I surfaced to locate his marker (which was only ~3m away!) and dropped back down (5m). Over the sand was very interesting, lots of hermit crabs, some quite big, and harbour/swimmer crabs (top). Various anemones. Netted whelks. Then we found an anchor inverted and upstanding. It was covered with orange plumose anenomes. There were also some mussels. With a closer look I found a few (relatively large ~7cm) long-legged spider crab, and Derek found a nudibranch. There were also some pasty white tunicates in small clumps.

Several sights brought to mind Jeff Wayne's musical version of the H.G Wells classic, The War of the Worlds. The empty shells of crabs like defunct alien war machines lay strewn across a desolate landscape; and later we found a rock covered with vivid red algae - I could hear The Red Weed' in my head.

We made our way back on to the rocky stuff and slowly W and S towards the beach. The water was 14°C but was getting cold after about an hour; I felt I was ideally weighted for dive (with 15l bottle and usual kit), I had 12kg on belt 1kg in jacket, but more air in the suit would have been a good thing. Total dive time 67 min and surface air consumption was about 17l/min. Drank plenty of water beforehand. Excellent dive and photo oportunities.

Anstey's Cove

A shallow pootle with Tony W, out of Anstey's cove. With winds >20mph and a bit gusty, and no other diving looking likely, Babbacombe looked the spot for the weekend (either day). I felt like a change, and though I'd snorkelled at at Anstey's a few times had never dived there, so was keen to see what it might be like. Checked the weather/tides and arranged to meet Tony there for a dawn raid. Parking was free (meter broken), and walk down not too bad - with a 12l, you even have a choice: steep tarmac slope or steps. Coming back up was a bit more effort but do-able for anyone reasonably strong/fit,.. or with trolley or kit-wallah.

Vis wasn't great (2-3m) and it was very kelpy around the boulders about Long Quary Point, where I hoped the scenery would be better. Simple route - straight out from Anstey's cove, down (6m) then clipped the rocks at the side of the cove and carried on NW along Redgate beach. Worms (casts and holes), hermit crabs, pollack here.

Sand marks, depth and compass used to navigate and arrived at rocks (checked position). Some larger boulders with kelp on top, with turfy bits and colour. Edible crab, dead mens fingers, beneath an overhang.

We had a look along rocks to the north (vis worse round here) and below the kelp line it was stony and, so it seemed, lifeless (9m). Surfaced with 70 bar (Tony had more) and we surface swam back.

Admittedly not the greatest dive, but all went very smoothly, it was good practise and was nice to try a new (for me) place.

Babbacombe

All week the weather forecast for the w/e looked pretty grim with lots of wind and heavy rain. All very depressing it was, and another rubbishy non-diving weekend seemed likely. But towards the end of Saturday the winds were predicted to ease off by the morning, and Babbacombe would become a possibility.

Arriving earlier than planned- already the car park was 2/3rds full with a contingent from Gloucestershire- I went and had a look at the vis. (and it seemed OK) had a swig of tea and started to get ready. The others soon arrived and Derek, Geoff and I put in off the bouldery beach the west side of the breakwater. It was a bit tricky, but managed and once clear of the rocks we went down and headed 0°-30°. On the bottom (6-9m) the vis was awful (0.5-1m). Side by side we could only see each other very dimly, and it was dark and gloomy. A separation had occurred almost as soon as we started. I had the blob (and soon a torch out so the others could see me). The bottom was very silty sand with some pebbles and gravel. [Needed to be closer on descent and use buddy line].

My new UK Sun-Light torch was very good, it cut through the gloom and and was great for picking out the animals. Over a ~50 metre long / 0.5 metres wide strip I saw numerous hermit crabs (several appeared to be fist-size but were probably smaller) and velvet fiddlers - sometimes aptly called devil crabs on account of their red eyes. What with the the bizarre animals, tatty looking shreds of plants, and Hadean atmos it was something like one of those nightmarish Hieronymus Bosch paintings.

There were lots of clumps of slipper limpets dotted about in little piles, something I hadn't seen before (but I have read they can become very numerous). Apparently the limpet at the bottom of the pile is female and those above are male and in a queue to mate - if she dies though the male above becomes female and the males above him - fertilise 'her'). It was pointless going very far or fast, and it made much more sense to concentrate more on a very small area; and appreciate such things as the delicate-looking and beautifully pearlescent baby gobies.

A little way into the dive, Derek did some buoyancy checking; and we stopped and I enjoyed having got my own buoyancy right (for now). The QR clip on the blob was useful (but need to monitor the line and any depth changes carefully).

After about 35 minutes another separation occurred, after a brief look all around (Geoff had a torch but we couldn't see that) Derek and I surfaced and we rendezvoused. We decided then to swim back in over to the breakwater. It was 9°C on the bottom and hands were starting to get a bit cold. At the breakwater Geoff went in and Derek and I for a look around the wall. It was murky here but nice to have a point of reference. Not much to see on the wall. I gathered a few lead weights - there were many more but I didn't want the wire bits poking into my BC.

It was an ideal time to look at the wall, normally there's a few fishermen there, but today there was just the one and he was only now setting up. I also found a folding knife [back home I sprayed it with WD and it cleaned up quite well]. There was some fishing line that snagged me but easily broken, and a dead dogfish - dead from eating floating rubbish. The 20 min potter about the wall dive was just 3m max and quite pleasant as it was lighter and I could see a bit more about me. I even took a couple of pictures of the snakelocks anenomes and a stripy winkle. Unfortunately my Canon WP-DC21 Waterproof Case wasn't exactly waterproof. So I have to try and get a replacement.

Vis was poor; but was nice and calm and only a very gentle swell. It was excellent practise, and we saw some stuff.