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).

Bretagne / Galicia

Met up with Geoff at Exmouth's fish quay, and very soon on the Wave Chieftan (trip organised by Doc and Jurassic Coast Divers), enjoying flat calm sea and sunny skies.

Vis wasn't great, but although it was quite gloomy it wasn't as dark as my previous dive there. We went down the shot and as requested of the last pair in wrapped the chain around one of the anchor hooks (vis was very bad here). Off we went and mainly swam along and around the deck. Short animal turf, lots Dead men's fingers, some pink sea fans. Found a small nudibranch. Some fish - inc. tompot blennies in pipes etc. Just below 100bar I sent the blob up. Geoff liked the lift on the back and somehow maneuvered himself to get on it first! It was good! Richard Tibbs the skipper also provided lots of tea and mars bars!

On the Galicia, the vis was better and the dive overall pleasanter. Didn't see very much line, and no monofilament net. Bib and pollack. Some edible crab. Those nice white anemones. Short trip back to Exmouth to unload, and took a few pictures on the way. I was using the AF35 strobe, I think for the first time since flooding it - and it was fine! [The good thing now is I'm not in the least worried about it knocking about in the bottom of a boat - any use I get out of it is a bonus.] Geoff and Abigail went back out and dived Straight Point (left out of Exmouth) a reefy dive with gullies that's supposed to be quite good.

Charlestown Shipwreck Museum

Excellent museum! Lots of old dive gear and an amazing variety of artefacts: cargo, personal belongings, ammunition, fittings, and shipwreck memorabilia. Also displays about Charleston, the quay and village life (with mannequins etc).

A couple of things from the centre included this 1920s German diving suit. The ballbearing joints seized up at depth and it became completely immobile far before its intended operating depth. Used more as observation bell, than for anything fiddly. The German divers that brought it over to Britain for a job didn't think much of it themselves - and were apparently a bit wary of it! The bulge round the middle is a ballast tank.

And I liked this early dive computer - and the box with the skinny bird (with the weight belt hanging off her). It's didn't look too much bigger than the one Paul L lent me to try when I was learning to dive!

The centre was very good value and we could have spent longer there. Yas was a bit weary, but my ears were quite painful and was unable to appreciate as much as I might have.

The earache was from an ear infection (trapped water and so on). By the time we left Charlestown I really wanted to get something for it, but the very heavy traffic stopped us getting into town (St Austell) so I went to Boots the Chemist in Bodmin. That was a complete waste of time. The lady at the pharmacy counter said there was nothing they would give me and I went away feeling a bit stupid for thinking they would help me - if not for the pain, for the infection; as well as half deaf, in pain, and with a tiring drive ahead of me (after even more paracetamol and ibuprofen I managed a little sleep in a layby).

Back home I made some ear drops from surgical spirit and white vinegar (50/50); these would have to do the weekend until I could get a prescription. [A few days later Yasmin got some Swim Ear too to try - it smells just like tape cassette cleaning fluid and costs £5 a bottle! I think my homemade stuff will be just as good for getting rid of trapped water after a dive/swimming.

Roskilly

A diving couple at Porthkerris told us they'd been at Roskilly, near Newlyn. I decided to take a look, and maybe snorkel there as it would be sheltered etc,.. Would be a nice shore dive - not sure what's further out, but rocky with sandy patches and below kelp lots of life, inc. cushion stars. Sprats, mullet, tompot blenny, and a couple of Cyanea Larmarkii (blue jellyfish).

Took a couple of awful pictures - blaming kelp, inadequate lung capacity,.. and before too long the flooded battery compartment on my AF35 strobe. The flood was my fault for not tightening the nut (the cover can be attached and in place but not sealed). Anyway that made bit of a mess, opening it up to find grey sludge and burnt terminals, I got rid of the batteries and flushed it out with water. Later on flushed with mouthwash (alcoholic see - and all I had!) and cleaned with cotton buds. Still looking horrible and one of the springs broken. Back home I made a new spring out of a top (B or E) guitar string - it had to be springy enough not to prevent a seal from being made. Anyway I dropped that in and the thing actually works!

Vase Rock (Manacles) / Drawna Rock

Slick excursion to Vase Rock. Kitted up went down the beach to walk onto the Celtic Kitten (the front drops down and makes a ramp). Finished getting small bits of kit on, and in nearly no time at all we were over the reef. There was going to be some tide, but sheltered to the N of the rock. Derek and I went in and down the steppy pinnacle. On the way I saw a nice lobster. Flash AF35 not working wonderfully (could have been the deflector or batteries - dunno). Then caught up with Derek at about 25 metres. We went back up, anticlockwise around the pinnacle. Impressive walls of jewel anemones. There were urchins, sea fans etc,. also cuckoo wrasse and the occasional pollack.

At the top of the pinnacle, nice views over the gullies. Saw some of the other divers making their ascent and I did the blob and we followed not long after. They'd gone to 30+ but we'd had a bit longer.

Later on Derek and I did a last dive round Drawna rock. We swam along the inside of the rock to the deep part at the northern end. The plan was to swim round this end and go over to the reefy lump about 15m-20 further north still, where I had promised Derek that there were trumpet anemones. Lots more sea hares 'cuddling' and spiny starfish on the move - busy attacking things. Nice swim back around the seaward side - even though it is a bit weedy, nice and lumpy.

Drawna Rock / Porthkerris Cove

Drawna Rock, Porthkerris

Durgan, Helford River

Drawna Rock, Porthkerris

Went in from the little beach to the north, near the MOD building. 10kg on wetsuit. Snorkelled round the rock. Vis was very good. Busy Sunday with lots of divers but nice atmos and didn't feel overcrowded.

In the water I saw lots of small >3-4cm, transparent bell-shaped jellyfish, they had a frill of 8-12 thin tentacles around the base and a pink convoluted organ within. Also some 'sea-gooseberries' transparent also, rounded with two thin tentacles either side. Fish included Bass, ballan and corkwing wrasse, and shannies. There were common starfish, spiny starfish, sea urchins, and spiny spider crab hiding beneath the kelp (a lot of kelp 3-7m). Pottered around the rocks nice and easy, did a few dives, and took a few pictures.

Good facilities here: kit/spares shop, showers, kit wash, hot food/drinks + tent. And very reasonable parking and fees to shore dive. It was great and I was looking forward to coming back to dive on Tuesday.

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.

Shoalstone (Brixham)

London Aquarium / HMS Belfast

Yas, an expert bargain hunter, got some money-off tickets (as well as some incredibly cheap 1st class train tickets) and we went to the London Aquarium and HMS Belfast.

Nice aquarium. Lots of interesting British fish. Great to see a tank of John Dory (minus parasites!) and another with wonderfully grotesque wolf-fish. A nice seashore bit for kids with starfish, anemones etc,.. and large open tank of rays (with a spiny starfish scuttling about) which at feeding time was great to see, as well as friendly knowledgeable staff. I can't remember what the full price was but you could spend a long while there and at the time seemed reasonable. Lots of tropical and jungle fish too (if you're interested in them) and of course the big shark tank.

It was a really hot sunny day and very crowded around the county hall and Westminster Bridge. We walked along the river to the Belfast, and spent the afternoon exploring - you can go pretty well everywhere - inside the gun turrets, up to the bridge, see the engine rooms and boilers; the living spaces, galley, sick bay etc are all fitted out and convincing mannequins give good sketch of life on board. Also various interesting displays and superb model boats :)

Babbacombe

Dived with Geoff H. Swam steadily north from beach. Vis was 3-4 metres. Went over weedy/rocky lower shore to the silty turfy rubble and reefy bits. Then went W for a while across the gravel ridges and silty/sand. After a while came up against the rocks jutting out from just beyond the bridge. We went round the edge of these approx NW. About here we separated and rendevoused. Had a look round the rocks here before making our way back.

Lots of fish: ballan wrasse, goldsinny wrasse, pipefish, dragonets, tiny silver fish, a tompot blenny, and a very fast garfish type thing. Gravel sea cucumbers and lots lightbulb seas squirts in the rocks below the bridge. Throughout dive plenty of spiny starfish. Some masked crab, hermits, velvet, etc,.. Little bit of a surface swim at the end. A good exercise: as not great vis, doing towing, navigation, and taking a few pics.

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.

Scylla

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.

Pentewan (Dive Fest)

A very nice weekend, even though no boat diving was possible.

On Saturday (after driving down at 04:30) Yas and me went with Jake for long walk along the SW coast path, passing through Goran Haven and Mevagissey. It was very windy, blowing us sideways at times, and with the occasional downpour - but in between, the sun came out and the views were superb. A pair of divers got in at Goran Haven and a bunch went in at Portmellon but even here the water looked a bit churned up.

The evening of the hog roast stayed dry, and there was a bonfire, band etc. The food wasn't amazing; but the atmos jolly, and the Cornish ale I tried very good.

Sunday, the weather was terrible and diving, unsurprisingly, was binned again. We went round the dive show stands, and even made it to one of the talks. Just as well I got tickets in the end; the hog roast was good, the dive show worth a look,.. and we got a free hat.

Ladram

Weather fortunately settled enough lately for the vis to be ok here. Was a bit misty as we started off but over the reef - straight out from the beach - it was 5-6 metres. Not as much life immediately apparent, but once we started looking there was plenty to see: solenettes, dragonet, hermit crabs (diogenes pugilator busy fighting), a big sea potato. Some dead dogfish, lying together, gills all chewed up. And a few not dead.

Some nice colourful animal turf, with sea squirts etc, nudi eggs on the outer reefs on the overhangs. On the way back, very pleasant with the sun out, I took some bubble pictures, and found some spotted cowries. I've found shells on beaches and diving, but it was the first time I'd seen live ones.

Good to be here during quiet part of season. Parking reasonable, food and shops to hand. Steep hill from car park could be bit of a slog with 15l and a pony.

Babbacombe

Led Dave and Christian - their first UK shore dive; and keen to do a dive before the Pentewan weekend. Unfortunately vis not very good ~2m? We went north out from beach then in elongated loop west then east ending up north of the breakwater. Nice slow pace. Weedy, and lots of drifting weed surging back and forth, claustrophobic. Nicer out on the sand and we found some little 'islands' with life - plumose, crabs etc,.

Exmouth Dock

Just after HW, jumped off the pier with Phil and Dave Mac. Clattered down over rocks, looking for stuff. Later on picked up a thing that turned out to be a 4oz brass weight. Gloomy 2-3 metres vis. Big torch essential. Very dark below 10m.

Had IXUS with me, but rubbish replacement battery failed. Went by the overhang a couple of times. Lots of common starfish. Lots of tompots around the boulders to the south and east of the fish quay. Current strong, springly I think it was, and by the end of the dive quite glad I was well weighted.

Babbacombe

James Eagan Layne

Fine weather- apart from some sea mist- but the diving nearly didn't happen. Fortunately we were able to jump start Mir, bringing her alongside the slipway and Adrian's car. The first wave dived the JEL. I went in with Chris and although I was supposed to be leading and had an idea of going along the port side and then off to the stern section, we stayed on top and went through the wreck. But that was fine. With very good vis (8m+), I saw and was able to identify more than usual. Lots of life - as ever, and Chris found a big conger and a cuttlefish. Shortly after reaching the broken down back end Chris said he was cold and to put the blob up.

In the afternoon, I went in with Chris and Les; it was Les' first sea dive in the UK, and an opportunity for me to do a bit of teaching (brief + some of the drills). Debbie stood by with weight. Margaret and Yas were there too watching the proceedings! Then, after negotiating the rocks that shouldn't have been there, we went off for a bit of a potter. During the course of the dive we observed 'very' many species of British macroalgae. There were also a few 2-spot gobies and juvenille ballan wrasse.

A good day.

Brixham

Exmouth Dock

Jumped off fish quay at 18:40 with Derek and Phil. Bryan provided shore cover. Went down slope in a SW direction (usually go more westerly). Bouldery, sand and clay patches. Dead fish and line close in but less rubbish than along quay. Lots of sponges and sea-firs on rocks. Abundant common starfish. A tompot blenny, shore crab, small mullet (?), and other unidentified fish seen only as fast moving shadows, or lurking at the back of overhangs. Levelling off at the bottom at about 16-17m it was more shingly, with smallish boulders. Wildlife was similar here but thinned out. Phil found a butterfish and a flounder, and I got a quick look at these.

Very dark, and pretty poor (1.5m best) vis. Blobby plankton throughout. Big UK torch made a great difference to the dive; having used some smaller ones lately. Rubbish on bottom included clothing and a bunch of blue fabric. I half expected to see a dead body wrapped up in it. It was quite creepy down there.

Nerdy camera stuff: white balance evaluation on the old IXUS 700 triggers the flash (if on) and uses that 'image'. This is really useful (and worked underwater). Torch also very useful to help camera focus and far more manageable with the latern grip as it can be held with a couple of fingers. These tweaked using GIMP and noise reduction applied with Neat Image.

A bit disoriented after swimming about down there, we eventually headed back up (NE) to light. Current getting much stronger. Found more and different sponges, took a few more pictures, and swam back to the slipway.

Aquarium of the Lakes

Not bad. Though I went mainly to see the local saltwater fish there was some interesting other stuff - cave and South American fish, otters, reptiles, creepy crawlies etc.

Overall the fish looked pretty healthy (wasn't sure about a few of the freshwater ones in the walk-through tank). The shoreline discovery bit was all good and educational. The highlight could have been the large sea fish. A large shallow ~3ft deep open tank contained conger, cod, catshark, thornback ray (wonderful), and a ballan wrasse but unfortunately it was difficult to see these comfortably because the glass faced narrow and busy walkway that led to the exit. I think it was overpriced - and I really like fish and sea-life! We paid GBP 8.75 each, plus 3.00 GBP car parking.

[The lakes, and many of the rivers, looked really inviting - must take snorkel kit (at least) to the Lake District next time.]

Hilsea Point (Pinnacle)

Near perfect weather - sunny and calm. Hilary boathandled us out, and I dived with Brian on a bouldery rock pinnacle near Hilsea Point. We dropped in very close to the rock and I sent up the blob. Vis excellent ~8m(?) and scenery wonderful with extremely large boulders, swim throughs, vertical walls and fairy grottoes.

We saw bib, ballan wrasse, cuckoo wrasse. Spiny spider crab, sea urchins, spiny starfish, purple starfish, seven armed starfish, sea fans, peacock worms, giant sea squirts and others, dead men's fingers (white/orange), boring sponges, sea cucumbers, elephant's ear, etc,.. lots of jewel anemones. Managed to get a few pictures - but not very good - blurred or grainy as filter cut out a lot of light (and white balance not right because buttons sticking).

Max depth 26.5m. Dive time about 40 minutes. Great to be back in drysuit. One of the best dives of the year. Hilary dived with Clint and Anne and they, although didn't land on the pinnacle, found lots to see and had a very good dive too. I drove us back - that was fine, and boat retreived no problem despite very low water.

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.

Budleigh Salterton

Misty start turning into a nice warm day. Getting ready I discovered a small nick in my drysuit neck seal so trimmed to avoid a larger tear and donned very carefully.

Dived with Derek. Geoff decided to go for a walk. We went in opposite the flagpole and surface swam to near buoy (75m or so) to save air, then dropped and continued south. Swam over some rippled sand and shortly arrived at 1st reef. Low rubbly reef with turfy bits and kelp. Usual sort of thing yellow boring sponge, common starfish, snakelocks anemones, a few spider crab, lots gravel sea cucumbers, and an orangey scorpion fish (below). Hermit crab and netted whelks in the sandy spaces. Dogfish and a few sand gobies.

Continued south to second reef - a bit more bouldery and interesting. Some isolated boulders with interesting sponges and dahlia anemones. Around the bigger chunks of reef, lots dead mens fingers, more sponges, nudibranch eggs, and dayglo orange blobs that I haven't figured out what they are yet. More gravel sea cucumbers and brown sea cucumbers. On the way back I saw a solitary baby cuttlefish, some sort of segmented worm, and an interesting snail (below) Euspira catena - necklace shell.

Had another go with my Sealife flash (deciding a new one too expensive) that had so often failed to trigger. And with the G9 it worked far better than it had ever done before. The flash triggered (sensor placed over internal flash, and green filter) every time, and two layers of green bottle plastic over strobe balanced the orange 'green-magic' filter nicely. Photos here used flash; natural light ones with auto ISO and manual WB came out fine too.

Very nice relaxed 75 minute dive at about 5-7m. Didn't matter fill was a little short! Vis was ~3m. But near the shore 1 metre or less, in which I lost a fin getting out - much to everyone's amusement! Must remember not to take fins off if can't see them! And I discovered it is possible to swim with one fin and and not go in circles. Anyway Derek found the fin - luckily tide was coming in, and we could go home. Had tea on the bench by the road enjoying the sun and sorted ourselves out. Had a further play with my neck seal and managed to tear it - easily, so time for a new one of those.