The viz was 5/8m and the sea temperature a reasonable 13C. There was a fine silt in the water and on several rocky reefs due to previous big Atlantic storms, however, as on all high energy sites the colour was a fabulous mix of red, yellow and white. Wrecks, reefs and walls were covered in Deadmens Fingers, Plumose Anemones and Devonshire Cup Coral. We finned past walls of pink, green, purple, white and burnt orange Jewel Anemones, rocky surfaces peppered with Boring, Elephant Hide and Volcano Sponge. We saw Cotton Spinners, Spiny Starfish, Feather Stars, Antennae Hydroids covered with nudibranch eggs, masses of Dahlia Anemones interspersed with patches of White Striped and Elegant Anemones. Cracks and crevices were full of Velvet Swimming Crab, Crevice Sea Cucumber, Squat Lobster, Leopard Spotted Gobies, Ascidia Sea Squirts and Common Prawn. Best finds: Crayfish, Common Lobster, Edible, Sponge and Spider Crab, Conger Eel, Three Bearded Rockling, Catshark, a shoal of Pollack, Cuckoo, Ballan and Corkwing Wrasse, large Pollack, Tompot and Yarrells Blenny, Butterfish, Scorpion Fish and Compass Jellyfish.

Above water Loz & Alison spotted dolphins on the first morning and Loz and Wilf spotted a Minke Whale on Thursday. We also saw porpoise, seals, gannets, shags, fulmars, razorbills and auks.

Thanks to buddies Anna & Mark, Loz & Alison, Ken, Steve, Rob, Chris, Wilf and Rosie for joining us on a very successful trip.

Underwater photos taken by Mark & Ken. Additional photos by Rob & Alison.

Underwater films by Alison.

Pat & Phil