News
Cornwall’s Marine Life is Amazing
Sometimes we can become a bit blasé when it comes to appreciating the wealth of wildlife around our coast. How often do we stand gazing out to sea with our thoughts elsewhere and not really on looking for signs of wildlife? Or in a boat heading out for a dive with our noses buried in our gear and talking with our buddy about the price of the car park? It’s only when we raise our heads above the gunnels and keep watch that we will see things that are truly wonderful. Dolphins passing, Basking Sharks working the tide lines, Gannets plunging into the sea around us like streamlined missiles. How many have noticed Peregrines patrolling the cliff edges while heading along the coast for a dive, or the secretive Fox staring at us from the cover of cliff top bushes? Perhaps we just don’t look hard enough.
I recently met Captain Keith who runs AKWildlife Cruises out of Falmouth in Cornwall. He invited me out on a short trip where he and his crew Sophie were set to guide a small group of snorkellers along part of the northern cliffs from Falmouth bay. In his ‘welcome on board’ speech he talked excitedly about all the animals we had a chance of seeing. There was no shortage of them. Seals – Grey and Common, Dolphins – Bottlenose and Risso’s, Sunfish, Porpoise, Basking Sharks and all manner of bird species. Gannets, Guillemots, Puffins, Cormorants, Shags, Gulls, Razorbills, Peregrines and more.
The enthusiasm in which Captain Keith described all the possible sightings we were about to have got us all hooked. He also talked about the whales and sharks but not for this trip as we were staying too far in-shore. On other days he has had encounters with Fin, Minke Whales and Blue sharks and occasionally comes across super pods of over a 1,000 Common dolphins.
At this point I have to confess to being just a little sceptical as over the years I have met many wildlife guides who talked the talk but quite often failed to walk the walk. Nevertheless, I found Captain Keith’s enthusiasm catching and it was with great hope and excitement we left the dock.
Two minutes after we had cast off, Captain Keith started to talk to us over his microphone and speaker from the ‘flying bridge’. He told us how Porpoise and Seals are often seen far inside the estuary and we should keep our eyes on the look out at all times. It was not long before we came across a couple of Grey Seals hauled-out on some rocks. The seals weren’t bothered by the boat and allowed us to get close. Captain Keith gave great information on the animals before continuing out into open sea and along the coast.
We dropped the six snorkellers in under the cliffs with Sophie and drifted nearby to keep an eye on them. While we waited a Peregrine cruised just inside us, back and forth along the cliff face. What a spectacular bird. Captain Keith told me it was the female of a pair that nested nearby and then described in great detail their life history. Meanwhile Seals continually bobbed up around the snorkelers just out of sight from them. That’s just what Seals do. Occasionally they do get curious and bold and come to visit underwater; that’s when we have those unforgettable interactions.
During the 4 hour trip we visited the Guillemot and Razorbill colony on a small offshore island. We had a brief visit from a small pod of Risso’s Dolphins, watched giant Barrel Jellyfish cruise by just below the surface and counted numerous species of sea birds flying to some secret destination. It was a wonderful day and throughout it all Captain Keith kept us enthralled with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the wildlife we saw.
At the end of the trip as I thanked Captain Keith for a great day, he invited me out the following week for a longer trip, way offshore, to look for Minke Whales, Dolpins and Blue Sharks. I said yes without any hesitation. To my surprise Captain Keith said his best encounters with Minkes and the occasional Fin Whale is over the winter months. Very exciting!
For more information about Captain Keith’s wildlife trips, visit www.akwildlifecruises.co.uk.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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