Twin Fears – 20/02/2014



As mentioned earlier my main fear was that we’d see nothing on this dive and Laura would be able to gloat that she provides the ‘animal magic’on our dives. However, in Poseidon’s Parlour there are fears, of which we do not speak. These fears haunt the minds of many divers. One such fear is hideously bad visibility.

 



Swimming crab

Entering the water at Twin Piers first, Andrea and I noticed that as we rinsed our masks the water was, at best, murky. As the others (Big Mac, Fast Ed, Merry L & Pat – Sergeant Chris was there, but had forgotton his weight belt and gallantly offered to provide surface cover rather than stuff his BCD with scrounged lead) entered the water I had a quick dunk under to check out the visibility, it was tolerable 2-3m, the result of the storm the night before.

Progressing the dive we encountered some mid water velvet swimming crabs and a nice looking dogfish before hitting the reef at around 15m. Splitting off in search of congers and the like, Andrea and I enjoyed a relatively pleasant dive, but Poseidon’s currents were about to wreak havoc upon the dive.

As we reached around 20 minutes the tide had brought all of our silt onto the reef just before we all congregated around some of the larger conger friendly rocks. The resulting silt storm was horrendous.

I lay still counting torches and strobes with my own light blocked by my palm - it always amazes me what you can see in the dark without your torch. Attempting to read my computer I estimated my visibility at less than 40cm. I saw a number of the party ascending before discovering Andrea and Pat for a very relaxing 5m swimming safety stop home.

Regardless of the visibility disaster I still had fun. I didn’t take many photos – what’s the point in bad viz? However, I still saw some young scorpion fish, a coiled conger, wee swimming crabs and had a bit of fun in the murk.

Let it be known that I’m not afraid of the dark. J

Plumose Anemone



Blue Mussel Colony