Drawna Bay by Fee
Full of life and colourful seaweeds – at only 10m depth at high tide, the bay is perfect for an hour long exploration. Loved the wrasse diving in and out of clouds of pastel coloured cotton balls, Mermaid’s Tresses towering heights trying to reach the sky, golden kelp swaying in the swell sheltering crabs, starfish, prawns, urchins, and a reported sighting of a cuttlefish. Large yellow and green wrasse patrolled their territory, followed by smaller wrasse in their shadow saying hello to the frequent jellyfish.
Drawna Bay night by Anna
I undertook my first ever night dive, an experience I can truly say was out of this world. We waited for dusk to set in and as the darkness took hold we descended into the waters. We were greeted by the eerie darkness, a forest of swaying kelp luminated only by torchlight and a couple of free swimming baby conger eels. At one point we switched off our torches to play with the phosphorescence in the water. Then as we swam to the shallows we saw shoals of feeding fish darting across our light beam. Magical, ghostly, mesmerising.
Memorable aspects by Peter.
It was my first opportunity to provide shore cover on a sea dive (Friday night dive). The big crab spotted on the Carndu dive (which Anne didn’t seem that interested in! She’s maybe seen bigger). The jewel anemones on the Vase dive together with the privilege of buddying Anne on her 500th dive. My second dive on a large wreck (Volnay with Brad). Last but not least, Anne & co’s excellent cooking.
The Mohegan by Shira
This was the dive I enjoyed the most, because I love the history behind Wrecks especially those that have sank for a reason and not man made sinking like those in Wraysbury or Stoney Cove for the sake of training. To know that this Wreck sank in 1898 and took 106 lives, as much as it is sorrowful that people died, what you find from the Wreck itself is a vast amount of sea life making it their habitation, and in the hidden cracks you would find lobsters, cray fishes or even crabs, making it their home. The array of beautiful colourful sea plants, anemone, sea cucumbers, dead man fingers, sponges, wrasse and many other splendours certainly made this dive my favourite.
Video from various dives at Porthkerris. Thanks to Jun-Ho for the brilliant creature shots and Fee for editing this video.
British bbq haiku by Andy
The heavens open
Umbrellas to the rescue
It’s barbecue time
Helford River by Anne
As a Porthkerris addict, every dive has reasons to shine out, but there is something special about the Helford river which reveals its secrets subtly. Dropping down with Benji to 10m we were entertained by the antics of tiny hermit crabs and sea spiders as we drifted gently along the sandy riverbed which was punctuated with clusters of long, elegant whips and curly ribbons of kelp signposting the current. My head constantly swivelling through 360 degrees in the hope of providing at least a few of the much raved about attractions, a large plaice was spotted and filmed, strange black and white bodied giant whelks (?) investigated and finally the prize revealed: a beautiful thornback ray. Yes! Evidence secured with the GoPro we reluctantly made our ascent – until the next time…
Porthkerris Krypton Factor by Mick.
I’m going for the first dive. After a mammoth cross country drive what better than to overcome the wonderful obstacle course of our first shore dive. Abseiling into the briny was a fun challenge and a worthwhile shake down dive. I also loved the post dive cross country hike to the delightful Five Pilchards with its fab mural in the gents and the slightly sozzled hike back. Then wonder of wonders, thanks to Dylan, to be able to see the amazing rings of Saturn and Andromeda and the Milky Way in the crystal clear night sky.
We missed the Perseids due to the weather and my car blew up homeward bound but who cares, the dives were all fun and thanks all for a great time.