Alex Dunstan of North Glos BSAC recalls a classic Cornish dive from the summer of‘ 26
UKDIVING
Lophius piscatorius, also known as the angler fish, typically grows to about 60cm
Monkfish on the Mohegan
Alex Dunstan of North Glos BSAC recalls a classic Cornish dive from the summer of‘ 26
Porthkerris has a way of rewarding those willing to travel for its secrets. For us at North Glos BSAC, the long drive from Gloucestershire has become a familiar ritual, a pilgrimage to one of Cornwall’ s most atmospheric stretches of coastline. It’ s a site we return to again and again, not because we know what we’ ll find, but because we don’ t. Every descent feels like opening a new chapter of the Atlantic’ s story.
On this particular day, that story unfolded on the SS Mohegan, lying at around 26 metres. The wreck’ s skeletal remains rise out of the seabed, creating a dive that is equal parts history and habitat. Conditions were calm, visibility generous, and spirits high as Elliott Beamish, accompanied by myself and Oliver Etheridge, dropped down the shot line and into the blue.
We’ ve explored the Mohegan many times, but this dive carried that quiet feeling that something interesting might be waiting. As we moved along the wreckage, Elliott’ s torch swept across a shape that didn’ t belong to the rusted metal and kelpdraped structure of the ship.
There, resting squarely on the wreck itself, was a monkfish. Broad, prehistoric, and perfectly camouflaged against the corroded iron, it sat like a sentinel of the Mohegan, unfazed by our presence. Monkfish are one of those creatures divers whisper about— the kind you hear stories of but rarely see. Elliott froze, Alex drifted in with his camera, and Oliver arced wide to take in the full scale of the encounter. It was one of those moments that makes every mile of the journey worthwhile.
We eventually continued along the wreck, letting the monkfish reclaim its patch of twisted metal. And that’ s when the dive took a comedic turn.
Just after we swam away, an octopus sat perched on a rock directly beneath Elliott, barely half a metre below him. I spotted it instantly. Elliott, fresh from his triumph of finding a monkfish, sailed right over the octopus without noticing a thing. Classic.
To be fair, this is the same man who still can’ t spot a nudibranch even when it’ s practically waving at him, so the octopus didn’ t stand much of a chance.
Between the monkfish encounter, the octopus cameo, and the brooding presence of the SS Mohegan, our dive became one of those unforgettable Porthkerris stories; the kind that stays with you long after the kit is rinsed and the cylinders are back in the car. It’ s exactly why Porthkerris remains one of our favourite dive sites, even if it’ s 200 miles away. Not because of what you expect to find, but because of what you don’ t. And as for Elliott, we’ re still holding out hope that one day he’ ll spot a nudibranch. But given his track record, we’ re not placing any bets. �
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