Chris Wood Devon Delights
Late July and the weather finally decided it was summer - Devon Seasearch had three glorious days diving some of our less dived reefs in near perfect conditions.
First stop was Chicken Rock - well it does look a bit chicken shaped on the chart...
A stunning very tide swept reef with abundant covering of antenna and Indian feathers hydroids, staghorn sponge Axinella dissimilis and large p[ink sea fan colonies, all in 5 star condition - here some divers measured and recorded the sea fans, others completed Seasearch Surveyor forms, much assisted by the new Bryozoans and Hydroids guide! Picture right is of Chicken Rock by Sally Sharrock.
The shallower tide swept reefs of Greystone Ledges close to Bolt Tail provided plenty of sponge habitat with shredded carrot sponge colourfully dominant. Nearby Bolberry Gullies had rocky reef with coarse sand gullies where the rare finger sponge Adreus fascicularis was recorded.
On the last day a new (to us) and so far un-Seasearched reef to the west of the Eddystone was also dived in flat calm conditions. Walls of jewel anemones provided ample opportunities for the photographers.
Report and picture by Sally Sharrock