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Sunday afternoon.

We had a group in over the weekend, so Vic and I took the landy down to the clock tower with all the bags and went to meet the boat. As the guys readied to leave, Shep (the skipper) spotted me and shouted over “Est, it’s a perfect time to snorkel!”

Oh heck, he’s right. The water’s pretty clear and the sun is in just the right position for a good look around. I’ve no excuse, even though my gear is at the Villa.

Decision made, I walk two students back to base with a short guided tour, pick up my box of bits (snorkel, mask, fins, wetsuit, hood, gloves, boots, towel) and make my way back to the castle jetty.

The harbour is crammed. There are speeding boats, jet skis, sailing boats and fishing boats, all running back and forth in the channel. I’m standing at the top of the steps looking at the swell as it comes in between the two jetties and up toward me.

Do I really want to go in there? I don’t feel nervous, but I’m a bit apprehensive about the depth and these waves. I sit a while and watch.

Shep has done a second run to Sandbanks in this time.
“Working yourself up to it?!”
How true!

The question is: do I really believe I’m getting in? I’m already talking myself out of it.

We stand on the boulders to the left of the jetty and see small shoals of little fish just off the rocks. There’s a crescent of boulders below the surface close to the shore, and to the right, a small area of eel grass. Shep’s daughter counted six species of fish in the area beneath our feet. There are lobsters, crabs… I should be convinced!

I’m still looking at the swell from passing boats and I can’t see the bottom! It’s eight metres below the buoy to the right, but if I snorkel around to this position it’s around six feet and less. It’s just getting there!!

If I don’t get in by the 7pm run, he’s going to don his gear and come in with me for moral support. I take a look over the other side of the jetty; the beach slopes gradually into the water, and there are steps. This could be the solution!

I move my box of gear round and jump down to the sand below. It’s pretty quiet, so I change into my wetsuit, boots and hood. Spit in my mask and rinse. Mask on, making sure the hood is on the outside and not in danger of breaking the seal – then last of all, fins.

Walking backwards into the water, I roll onto my front and float. I move with the swell and swim parallel with the shore. As confidence grows, I relax and thoroughly enjoy hanging in the water, watching the fish.

I check my position regularly to make sure I’m safe. Keep inside the outer edge of the jetty and look. Most of the fish I see are young. I recognize some of the wrasse from the tank in the Villa, but I don’t know what the small ones are.

After half an hour, I come out and sit in the shallows to warm up in the sun. It’s a mermaid, yeah? More like sea cow!

Back in, and I swim toward an old submerged section of the castle thirty yards along the shore. I arrive at some boulders and slow down. Within a small distance, these small blocks turn into seaweed covered masses. I hover, watching fish hide and re-appear.

Returning to the jetty, I decide to slip off my fins. I make a dash to the other side, replace my fins at the bottom step and lay in the foot of water looking over the ledge.

Small wrasse come up and look at me, then turn tail and quickly disappear below. There are small dark fish hanging at eye level. I’m not brave enough to attempt a swim for the shallows. Bet I look a picture!

At 5.30 or 6am tomorrow, it may be calm and clear. I’ll come back then!

I get changed in the back room and use the hose on the jetty to rinse off my gear. A little more underwater talk, then back to the Villa.

It was a good move going out tonight… I see possibilities!

Monday morning.

I get in the water at 10 past 6 this morning, on the beach side. I look at the ledge and think: no! A fisherman had trawled just outside of the buoys as I got in, disturbing the sea bed and sending clouds of sand my way. Frustrating! It had looked clear!

A small flat fish, peppered like the sand, flits in front of me. There are small sand goby, wrasse and some little dark fish.

I’m enjoying these dips. I spend two hours floating and watching, with a short break in-between.

Monday pm.

I take the plunge, but not off the ledge! I walk around the edge and enter by the oik beach. The shallows, sea grass, sand and calm. Swimming along the crescent, the boulders are covered in mixed weed, all pulsing with the motion of the water. Small wrasse swim out and back. The grass is covered in sediment and much taller than expected. I’m suddenly in ‘Finding Nemo’!

There’s a little box fish hanging in the water below my chin. It swims out,looks in my mask, swims away a few inches, then is back under me. My little companion is so cute. The only species I can think of is a young lump sucker…? We float together a little way and part company.

It’s just got a bit rough. The swell from a ferry un-nerves me and I get out. Five minutes after leaving the water, a fishing boat comes in close. There is a chap with a net, bait fishing. I worry for my little friend and ask them to keep an eye out next time they come in, as I may be in the water.

You would think I’d be pretty invisible to a boat whilst snorkeling, but my wetsuit is so buoyant that apparently two thirds of me floats on the surface! Thank goodness I can’t see myself!

Later on.

Togged up, I lay in a foot of water on the ledge. The water is pretty clear and calm. I have an audience: a couple with two young children.

1, 2, 3… off. I propel myself over the edge and glide into the abyss. So over dramatic! But so true. I hug the rocks until I reach shallow water, then fin slowly, exploring. I’m calm, and I move to deeper water. There are shafts of light shimmering on the grass and sand; it’s quite beautiful.

I head back to the ledge and exit. I’m really chuffed; I did it!

I’ve now tested both my 300lb and 425lb drawing paper. Both weights work well as I snorkel. My arm gets tired before long, but it’s easy enough to swap hands. The drawing leaves a lot to be desired, but ideas are forming.

I have a go with my disposable underwater camera. It’s weird holding something as you swim along, and I don’t hold much hope for my underwater photography skills.