Duo-Divers

Not as common as in Southern waters or even around Howick but here is a Lesser Spotted Catshark, or should that be dogfish? (Scyliorhinus canicula) Years ago you rarely saw any but they are becoming more common, in 2018 a party of divers got photos of a large Tope out at the Farne Islands.....apex predators you have been warned!

A Long Clawed Squat Lobster (Munida rugosa) this one had set up shop in an old broken bottle which I guess forms a good and secure home.

Over the boulders and further along the bottom becomes 'paved', again, plenty of filter feeding life but not much opportunity for crabs and lobbies.

The grunions were soldered in place although they were a push fit.

Atmospheric shot of a Lions Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) come late summer there are more and more close to shore, watch out that pack quite a sting!

As you approach the debris field you will find little lengths of lead coated wiring sticking out of the sand or protruding from under stones.

Another 'arty-farty' showing an empty lobster pot standing on end....

A well known 'lair' and a well known Blue Fiend or Lobster (Homarus gammarus) I've had him out a couple of times and I guess he weighs in at about five pounds!

A scenic of a couple of divers with part of the superstructure infront of them.

There is still some ordanance at the stern end so don't go banging things!!!

The point where the gun meets the turret

Part of a shoal of lesser sandeels (Ammodytes tobianus) there are huge bait balls of this foodstuff through the summer, some of which are attacked from above and below. These fish were quite happy to stay relatively close, they obviously didn't see a diver as a threat.

Fishing lines criss-crossing the bottom, not ideal for divers of aquatic animals......

Another footballer work of some description.......

The Staple Sound side of the site is a wall smothered in Dead mans Fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) and is a great scenic dive!

A Dhalia anemone (Urticina felina) there are loads on the site but most are in the cracks and fissures

A very scenic dip with dead mans fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) covering hard rock with boulders in some of the larger gullies.

In the actual 'submarine hole' it is an absolute mishmash of bits concreted onto the bottom, in this case a heavy gauge cable has been concreted onton steel and rock

There are plenty of King Scallops (Pecten maximus) there are loads about here having been dumped as undersize by divers.

A shaggy mouse slug, or sea mouse or more accurately Aeolidia papillosa, this one was spotted quite early in the season.

And the business end of the same gun, in this case a crab has set-up shop but most of the time they are home to conger eels!

Another larger boiler, showing the fire hole, head from the donkey boiler back along a 10m deep zone and you'll find it.