Plymouth June 2025

Mid Herts Divers returned to Plymouth for a 3 dayer at the start of June, courtesy of James Shelford.

Beforehand we were not expecting to get much decent diving as the forecast was decidedly unsettled, but we couldn't have been more wrong!  In the event we got 6 cracking dives done in 13+ degrees C water and more than passable visibility.  There was a fair bit of sunshine too.

First up was Persier: always a crowd pleaser with plenty of fish life, pink sea fans and on this occasion a swarm of moon jellyfish hovering above the wreck.  Next was Panther shoal, pretty reefs with plentiful juvenile fish in the kelp. As is usual in recent years, there were spiny lobster (crayfish) just about everywhere.

Day two we visited HMT Elk which is a small but perfectly formed wreck just jumping with life everywhere you looked!  On the afternoon dive we were treated to see some of the common octopus which have famously invaded the western Channel in  large numbers this year.  Larger than the curled octopus more usually seen in our waters they are a most impressive animal.  Cuttlefish were also in evidence here as well.

On the final day we dived the Scylla and James Eagan Layne and as usual both delivered great dives.  On the Scylla we encountered a free swimming conger eel nosing around a cabin completely indifferent to the watching divers!

Above the water we enjoyed a great time at the Clovelly Arms, Boringdon Arms and a fabulous curry at the Everest Spice.  All in all this was a great trip, many thanks to James for making it so.